With Honor and Integrity: Transgender Troops in Their Own Words

Transgender people have fought for the right to serve in the military, with some hiding their sexual orientation out of fear of expulsion. Joe Biden reversed the Trump Administration's ban on transgender people in the military on January 25, 2021. "With Honor and Integrity" provides a powerful collection of first-hand accounts from transgender military personnel in the United States, showing the barriers they face and the experiences they have had. The book is a timely and necessary read, especially at a time when LGBTQ rights are under siege.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2022
Publisher: New York University Press

The United States military has a long history of discrimination against transgender individuals, with policies such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) that forced them to hide their sexual orientation out of fear of expulsion. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military. This has led to a number of high-profile cases of transgender individuals serving with distinction and honor, including Mak Vaden, a warrant officer 1 in the U.S. Army National Guard, and Allison Caputo, a captain in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Despite these advances, transgender people still face significant barriers to serving in the military, including discrimination, harassment, and lack of access to healthcare. In With Honor and Integrity, Máel Embser-Herbert and Bree Fram present a powerful collection of first-hand accounts from transgender military personnel in the United States. These essays show us what it is like to serve in the military as a transgender person, from the challenges of hiding one's identity to the discrimination and harassment they face on a daily basis.

One of the most striking aspects of these accounts is the resilience and determination of the transgender individuals who serve. Despite the obstacles they face, they continue to serve their country with honor and integrity, often at great personal cost. Many of these individuals have faced discrimination and harassment from their fellow service members, including being called names, being subjected to unwanted physical contact, and being denied access to basic healthcare.

Despite these challenges, transgender individuals continue to serve in the military, and their contributions are valuable. They bring a unique perspective to the military, and their experiences can help to improve the military's understanding of and response to issues related to gender identity. Additionally, transgender individuals are just as capable as their cisgender counterparts of serving their country and protecting their fellow citizens.

However, the military's continued discrimination against transgender individuals is unacceptable. It is time for the military to fully embrace diversity and inclusion, and to ensure that all service members, regardless of their gender identity, can serve with honor and dignity. This will require a commitment from the top down, including from the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the military leadership.

In conclusion, the stories of transgender individuals who serve in the military are a testament to their resilience and determination. They show us what it is like to serve in the military as a transgender person, and they highlight the need for the military to fully embrace diversity and inclusion. It is time for the military to take action to ensure that all service members, regardless of their gender identity, can serve with honor and dignity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479820474