Someone said, "Less than 1% of the population of the US knows a transgender person."  I think the estimate is low because the majority of transgendered people don't exhibit it in public.  It is a very private thing for many.  Mostly because of fear.

But there are transsexuals (and more generally transgendered people) in every walk of life. 

We know that transpeople are in the military.  Even back in the  dark ages we were there, we just didn't say anything.  Now they are still there and some are getting a voice.  The end of "Don't ask, Don't tell." allowed the gays and lesbians to serve in sight.  It specifically bans transgendered persons.  But they are there and we know of some who did the most heroic acts who are now transitioning.    Pilots and Navy Seals and probably every job you can imagine, even high ranking officers. 

But what would have happened if those people had been outed or had come out before their brave deed.  Everything is connected in this world, one act leads to another.  It is a continuum.  One deviation can change history as we know it.  It is the basic premise of many science fiction novels.  But imagine if you will, that Navy seal who was part of whatever mission they were part of, wasn't there.  Would the mission have succeeded? OK, it was a team effort but there is the possibility that the Seal's action saved a team mate who saved a team mate who saved the person who killed the terrorist.  For want of a nail.

Because that seal was who they always were, their gender identity had not changed, they completed the mission.  And yet, right now, if that same woman came out, she would be discharged, not honorably either.  Does anyone see the hypocrisy?


Canada recently granted a waiver to an acquaintance in their military who is TG.  Great move, they keep a great member and allow that member to live the life they should.  But the question was raised. "How does this affect battle dress, maneuvers or, god forbid, fighting in a war zone""    This is a good question and one I would like to think is easily answered, it would be no different than any other soldier, male or female.    Yet, logically, it would just because of attitude.  The US Army forbid women in combat zones until recently, claiming weakness and distraction.  That has been proven wrong over and over again.  Let's hope the transmilitary arrive at the same conclusion.

We have trans police officers, firefighters, CEOs and virtually every other job in the US.  If you have the skills, who cares what your gender is?   But one bastion remains and when I bring this up to my friends who are sports enthusiasts they get very adamant.  NASCAR.  Of course other professional sports don't have trans (out trans) participants, but they also are behind on having women also.  NASCAR though claims that they are open. 

Can you imagine, and I don't think it is very far off, that right now a a young person, who looks male, is transgender on the track.  When they come out, let's pretend that they had won races before, maybe even a championship or two, would they still command the same respect from their colleagues or fans.  The answer is unequivocally  "NO".  Because they would some have become "less" .  They haven't by any means the skill set is still there, aggression isn't nailed to testosterone and they haven't lost any intelligence.  And yet when push went to shove, as it always does in NASCAR, the "good ol boys" would  make sure the trans didn't get a chance.

The continuum....what would happen if...imagine things ending up with less optimum results.