The Secretary of the Navy issued a policy instruction memo entitled Service of Transgender Sailors and Marines dated 23 June 2023 and on 13 Oct 2023 the US Merchant Marine Academy issued an instruction memo entitled Gender Transition Policy.
An academy parent wrote to Congress her concerns about this policy, which serves a good template to use to contact your representatives. See below at the end comments by Lt Gen Rod Bishop.
I am writing to you about my concern for the Secretary of the Navy’s policy that was published in 27JUN2023, which allows gender dysphoria in the military. For the following reasons:
—My concern is that the military is no longer properly screening for mental disorders, when most other mental health disorders get one disqualified from military service (Can You Join the Military With Depression, Anxiety, or Other Mental Illness? (verywellmind.com).
Gender dysphoria is a medically diagnosed condition that is defined in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
This condition is a MENTAL DISORDER. It should be a disqualifying condition similar to other delusional mental conditions.
—Side effects of hormone therapy for transgenders are: suicidal tendencies, violence, panic attacks, and rage.
These are all detrimental to combat readiness. The document even calls out that most transitioning individuals will not meet standards and impacts unit readiness.
—This is an attack and abuse on women in the military.
Confused men will be introduced into their berthing quarters and showers.
A women should not have to sacrifice her virtue, modesty, or safety to serve her country.
Per policy, any complaints on transgender individuals will not be accommodated, which is alarming. A woman has to accept a man in her shower in silence?!?!
—With the dangerous hormone therapy side effects, transgenders will have open access to women in their most vulnerable positions: changing clothes, bathing, and sleeping. This is a significant safety risk.
—Our taxpayer funds should not sponsor body mutilation, which often leads to suicide and depression.
—Why is the Secretary of the Navy defining policies for the US Merchant Marine Academy, when it falls under the Department of Transportation?
With any influence you may have, please help preserve the strength, honor, and readiness or the US military forces.
Respectfully,
Referenced materials:
Excerpt from the USMMA Gender Transition policy dated 13 Oct 2003
SI 2023-10 USMMA Gender Transition Policy (pdf)
“Gender Dysphoria: A medically diagnosed condition that includes a marked incongruence between one’s experienced or expressed gender and assigned gender of at least six months in duration, as manifested by conditions specified in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is associated with clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.”
Full US Navy policy in question: Service of Transgender Sailors and Marines (pdf)
Page 1:
“For the purpose of this instruction, the term “Service Member” includes midshipmen in a contracted Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) status, or attending the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) or the United States Naval Academy (USNA). Reference (a) provides specific considerations for Reserve Component personnel, including but not limited to Selected Reserves, Individual Ready Reserves, NROTC, and USMMA midshipmen….”
Page 4:
“ a. For facilities subject to regulation by the military, the Sailor or Marine will use those berthing, bathroom, and shower facilities associated with the Service Member’s gender marker in DEERS.”
“ A Commander or Commanding Officer will not accommodate biases against transgender individuals.”
Page 5:
“MPDATP policy considers the terms “sex” and “gender marker” as equivalent.”
“Sailors and Marines with a diagnosis from a military medical provider indicating that gender transition is medically necessary will receive the associated medically necessary care and treatment.”
Page 6:
“During a period of gender transition, the majority of Sailors and Marines will not be able to meet standards, and all applicable tools, including those described in reference (a), will be available to Commanders and Commanding Officers to minimize impacts to the mission and unit readiness.”
“…the Service Member may submit a request for gender marker change in DEERS, per reference (a). Once the gender marker is changed in DEERS, the Service Member will be recognized in their self-identified gender and must meet all applicable military standards in their self-identified gender.”
Remarks by STARRS Chairman Lt Gen Rod Bishop, USAF ret:
Love what you say here! Have heard the same from USAFA parents (and cadets) as well–am sure many other MMA parents (and parents of other Service Academy cadets) feel the same as you express here.
But what you express concern about is happening–thanks to our culture being driven astray by a Marxist ideology that “has bamboozled half of America” (quote from a retired 4 star general mentor) and supported by the military leadership of today.
I only honestly wish people would do their “due diligence”, “just read” and hopefully appreciate the “spell” we have come under from the “radical left.” It is a spell that eliminates religion from our lives and emphasizes secularism. Not good for a Judeo-Christian value-based country one might think.
Instead, under the guise of “inclusion”, this (some would say) “perverted” ideology is extended an open invitation into our lives.
My religion here teaches me to be “accepting” and “loving of all”–doesn’t mean I have to “affirm”–what is seems like the “movement” is wanting from me. Not happening.
Hopefully, with more expressions of “not buying into this” as you have articulated below–the craziness will not even become a footnote in history.
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