abc interview with the highest ranking transgender army offi

[Anonymous]

Kristyana,

The real relevance of this article is that the Lieutenant Colonel in question not only transitioned whilst in defence, but she was the person who wrote the Chief of Army’s speech immediately after the E-mail scandal of last month. The scandal was caused by a group of soldiers passing around videos and photographs of themselves having sex with women. This was sent via the Defence E-mail network….. Anyway for the Chief of one of the forces to ask an officer who has transitioned to write his speech (and it was a very very good, powerful speech, I heard it via a video), then he is happy that the Lieutenant Colonel was the best person for the job.

There may be some who will cynically say he chose that particular person because of the present defence climate which is undergoing a revue after the recent ADFA SKYPE scandals (the Broderick Revue) but for an Officer of her rank to transition in Defence and play such a pivotal role in the preparation of a very powerful and important speech does indicate that she is not the token TG….. It begs the question: is Defence an area that is starting to value people (gender being irrelevant) as people?

[Anonymous]

Cate mcgregor is the highest ranking officer in the army . One plus one interviewed her and she presented as an intelligent and thoughtful person. In the fifteen minutes that she had she manages to present some of the most pertinent points about the process , emotions and experience of a transgender persons journey I have heard .
And yes there is a reference to the speech that she wrote for the chief of the army however the responsibility was hers prior to transition, so to submit that she had been selected because of her own experiences is a misrepresentation of what was said.

It does appear that the army is actually on a course that will redress the long held veiw of some that it is only for real men . Merritt seems to be on the agenda and that should give all in the service equal opportunity. I am lead to believe that there are six serving members of the army that identify as transgender.

Anyway for those not familiar with the ABC you are able to get the program on iveiw. Iveiw runs a day or so behind the show so if you don’t find it straight away you might have to look another day it should be One plus One 5th July 2013.

[Carol]

Sorry I couldn’t add this to Kristyana’s topic but I’m not a moderator. I caught the second half of this inspiring interview and am determined to catch a repeat. It is Episode 21 of One Plus One and will repeat on ABC 24 today Sat 6 July at 5.30pm and then Sun 7 July at 3am & 9.30pm & Mon 8 July at 3am & 2.30pm unless bumped by “breaking news”.]

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[Anonymous]

“Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour” is the term used in the Army. This senior Commander has jumped on the issue with both feet,with firmness and feeling.Eloquent words indeed from a trans gender subordinate.The speech writer.One cannot doubt the sincerity of the Generals speech when one measures the support given to his friend and colleague.Magnificent.

[Anonymous]

As Krystina points out there are 6 people who are transgender in Defence. This is uniformed people that are being referred to. I have personally known of 4 public servants that worked in the Department of Defence as far back as the early 2000s. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has had transgender information and instructions for over 10 years and has never dismissed a member of the service for sexual identity. As far as an equal opportunity employer might go, all I can say is: They have treated transgender people with nothing but respect. Within Defence, your work and ethics are the only things that are judged.

Bridgette

[Anonymous]

I have to add that the number of six Defence members transitioning is the number of members from the Army, there are others transitioning in the other two Armed services so that number could be anywhere from 12 to 20. As Brigitte correctly stated Defence has had a robust policy for transgender members for the past decade and compared with other large organisations has been pro-active in this field.

Further to this the RAAF has a draft instruction ready to be issued to give commanders and others the process by which any transgender people are to be treated when/if they transition.

These initiatives tend to fly in the face of the problems at ADFA, most of which are caused because those at the Academy are young and very high spirited. They do the same things as others from same age group form other areas of the community.

The ADF is n effect an organisation that cares about its people and if they do their job to the required standard, then it tends to accept them for who they are.