The Canadian Forces — which, under then-Prime Minister Jean Chrétien refused to join the U.S. and U.K. in sending troops into 2003’s Iraq War — are revising guidelines for transgender soldiers. Which, in a concept foreign to American military officials, are allowed to serve! And while trans soldiers, sailors, and air force personnel are entitled to privacy, the new rules stipulate they must wear the uniform of their “target” gender, or the one they identify with. Not that the new regulations, sent to personnel via email, went over with everyone.
Some within the Forces, though, were irked by the document’s appearance in e-mail boxes last week, just after a report by the military ombudsman that lambasted the National Defence Department for giving short shrift to the grieving families of fallen soldiers. The armed services are still largely the domain of men who view themselves as “warriors,” believe headquarters staff are out of touch, and resent what they consider “politically correct” policies, said Scott Taylor, publisher of Esprit de Corps, a military-affairs magazine. “You couldn’t get much worse timing on that internally,” he said, referring to the juxtaposition of the transsexual document and the ombudsman’s report. “It’s so removed from what the guys are facing over in Afghanistan … That doesn’t really relate to dress codes of the transgendered.”
FWIT, the new rules will effect approximately one to two persons each year. That’s how many trans troops the National Defence Department says transition per annum.
rodrigo
OHHHHHHHH CANADA!!!
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ron
Canada – a joke of a country with a worthless military. Fact – Canadians showed up to serve in Afghanistan wearing jungle fatigues. Without the oil, Canada would be North Mexico. Seen a Canadian movie lately? Enjoyed a meal at a Canadian restaurant? lol
Soupy
Canada fought very successfully in WW1 and WW2 and years before the yanks came in. And please remember who took in thousands of stranded passengers after 9/11. Canada is no joke. But we do occasionally like to laugh at the U.S.
Skeezix
@Ron, I started to respond to your post, then realized that it was a joke! Well played, and very amusing. Your impression of an uneducated moron was very realistic. Well done.
Natalie Murray
Scott Taylor is so clueless.
JESS
@ron: @ Ron: Serious? Or is Skeezix right and you are joking? The reason the military isn’t as strong as the US is probably because they haven’t managed to piss off the entire planet like the US has. You really sound like a true American though.
John McLaren
Poor US troops serving UN missions may have to take orders from gay or transgendered officers. Talk about fighting about liberty and the “home of the free and the brave” US troops have nothing to teach the world about true FREEDOM.
Ash
@Soupy: I see that you’re playing nicely into the American stereotype. Another completely self-absorbed “only knows what I sees on the TV” American.
Ruhlmann
@ron: Canada, the nation that told George Bush non merci to his agressive military invasion of Iraq. Canada, the nation that gave complete equality to gay and lesbian citizens. Canada the nation that keeps religion out of politics. Canada the nation that didn’t flinch when we helped American citizens escape Iran. Canada that without blinking let potential terrorist airplanes land on her soil. America who knows who her enemies are because she made them so, always forgets who her friends are…always.