For many South Koreans, the mandatory 21-month military service required of all men is an onerous obligation born of the country’s precarious reality of abutting North Korea and its million-man army. Many try to postpone their service, apply for plum assignments or avoid it altogether.
The army’s swift decision to boot the transgender soldier from its ranks comes despite protests from advocates and a national human rights commission recommendation that the case be postponed, and has ignited fierce debate in a country that remains largely socially conservative and where military service is a perennial point of contention in gender issues.Byun’s unprecedented case thrusts South Korea into the forefront of an issue that has been controversial in the U.S.
South Korean authorities said that while the military has no specific regulations banning transgender service members or concerning a soldier’s transition, it considers the removal of genitals a disability necessitating the discharge decision. South Korea’s military similarly does not preclude gay individuals from serving, but has been accused of rooting them out under a law banning sodomy, in some cases for consensual sex that took place off-duty and off-base.
She said that after receiving counseling and mental health treatment through the military, she began receiving hormonal therapy last spring. In August, she came out to superiors in her unit, realizing she needed to be honest with herself and those around her to be a good soldier, she said.
They made the right decision reason is they need to take the meds at a specific time all the time. They can't miss a dose or well things go sideways. So if in combat how can they take the meds. Also more important things are needed at the front like food and ammo.
You can see the crazy in his eyes.
South Korea is ahead of the curve on this
Was it a preschool army (that photo behind xe)
Being transgender and having surgery to accommodate your self worth are personal rights, not automatic rights to employment in a field which prohibits the very things you did.
Human rights 'its' is actually a 'he's get it right
That's funny.
I hope she gets her chance!!
Lmao is that little soldier their military’s logo
He should have seen this coming.
Don’t the army care more about what would happen to all the men and women’s psyche if they had to work along with transgender people rather than their fighting ability?
A militaries sole function is to be good at killing people and destroying things people care about. The fact that we’re getting bent out of shape because a trans person isn’t allowed to participate in state sponsored killing is beyond idiotic.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »
Source: USATODAY - 🏆 100. / 63 Read more »
Source: TMZ - 🏆 379. / 59 Read more »
Source: CNN - 🏆 4. / 95 Read more »