hellno163 : To be fair, they're kind of the sane thing. See it from his perspective. If he's trying to do what he believes to be right by the nation, he obviously believes the individual stands to benefit. Take Bernie Sanders for example. I think $15/h minimum wage is insane, but I also think he really believes that will help the lower and middle classes. His heart's in the right place, for whatever that's worth.

As someone who believes in traditional gender roles (and not in gender reassignment), I can say that I'm not sure where I stand on this issue. I believe that gender is an eternal characteristic. It doesn't change, even if the body someone is in does change gender in body. Therefore, I see transgenderism itself as illness. Now, that doesn't excuse a lack of respect and civility towards the people that espouse it. But looking at the issue in that manner allows one to put things in the right perspective, I feel. And that may mean, for a lack of a better or truer way to put it, discrimination for the sake of the whole. If you think about it, everything we do discriminates. Our goal is not to discriminate against people, but to discriminate against the things that bring people down. In that sense, I agree with thing1. The problems associated with transgenderism can cause a structure to come down. One that works. Now that structure isn't perfect. But to thrust a problem upon an organization unwilling or ill equipped to deal with the problem can cause more problems than solutions. I don't know all the logistics in the military. I don't know what's going on. I don't know if this is right. But I do want us to acknowledge the benefits of this decision, whether or not it is the best.

I think that they should be able to serve. Maybe they shouldn't have transitions payed for by the military. I don't, however, think that they should serve on any stressful or very important tasks while on hormones or right before or after gender reassignment surgery, as they could break down because of the stress. I don't think you should be able to serve if you have depression, as most transgender people do. It could drive a person to suicide.