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1
00:00:10,358 --> 00:00:13,709
Soldiers, sailors and
airmen, the hopes and prayers
2
00:00:13,752 --> 00:00:17,147
of liberty-loving people
everywhere march with you.
3
00:00:25,808 --> 00:00:31,944
We recall the contribution and
sacrifice which so many has made.
4
00:00:39,517 --> 00:00:44,479
They have come from the cities and the
farms and every section of our land.
5
00:00:44,522 --> 00:00:49,092
They have lived in different times and
they have fought in different battles
6
00:00:49,136 --> 00:00:50,702
on different fields.
7
00:00:55,359 --> 00:00:59,450
And they gave up two lives, the one they were living,
8
00:00:59,494 --> 00:01:01,583
and the one
they would have lived.
9
00:01:07,850 --> 00:01:10,200
I ask every American
to find a way
10
00:01:10,244 --> 00:01:14,161
to thank the men and women
who are defending our freedom.
11
00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,999
You who once wore
uniforms of our Army, Navy,
12
00:01:27,043 --> 00:01:31,091
Air Force, Marines
or Coast Guard.
13
00:01:40,274 --> 00:01:46,410
These American heroes risked everything
so that you and I can live in freedom.
14
00:01:46,454 --> 00:01:51,067
To all of our incredible veterans,
to the people in the Military,
15
00:01:51,111 --> 00:01:54,288
thank you. God bless you!
16
00:01:54,331 --> 00:01:59,771
God bless the United States of
America. Thank you very much.
17
00:02:49,604 --> 00:02:51,997
Every day in Kandahar,
18
00:02:52,041 --> 00:02:58,221
our job itself when you go outside
the wire is inherently dangerous.
19
00:02:58,265 --> 00:03:02,791
You're going out where there's people
that their sole job is to kill you.
20
00:03:13,193 --> 00:03:17,893
But what I like about this deployment
is I can be my authentic self.
21
00:03:18,850 --> 00:03:23,899
Here in Afghanistan, a war
zone, I'm just another guy,
22
00:03:23,942 --> 00:03:29,992
whereas back home, I'm still seen as
female. I go by female regs and standards.
23
00:03:33,474 --> 00:03:39,175
Currently in Afghanistan, there's only a handful
of people that know that I'm transgender.
24
00:03:44,311 --> 00:03:50,099
I stand to lose my career,
my future, my foundation...
25
00:03:50,142 --> 00:03:52,014
I stand to lose everything.
26
00:04:04,331 --> 00:04:07,159
I joined the Military
when I was 17 years old.
27
00:04:07,203 --> 00:04:10,902
My job that I was assigned
was an interrogator.
28
00:04:10,946 --> 00:04:14,906
And I deployed to Iraq soon
after basic training at the AIT.
29
00:04:15,820 --> 00:04:20,651
We had followed the most wanted list,
whether we captured them dead or alive.
30
00:04:23,175 --> 00:04:26,135
When the repeal of "don't ask,
don't tell" happened,
31
00:04:26,178 --> 00:04:30,618
I had no idea that
it did not cover the TMLGBT.
32
00:04:30,661 --> 00:04:36,058
There was a fear about being discovered
by my unit, and being discharged.
33
00:04:36,101 --> 00:04:41,716
Transgender individuals in the Military,
it is our time now to step forward and say
34
00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:46,721
Ok, it's not about what gender I am,
it's about if I can get the job done.
35
00:04:46,764 --> 00:04:51,421
And we for years have shown that.
And so... Why not acknowledge us?
36
00:05:01,431 --> 00:05:06,088
I enlisted in the Army,
really to get out of where I was
37
00:05:06,131 --> 00:05:08,351
and to get my life in track.
38
00:05:10,048 --> 00:05:14,488
I was homeless and a high school drop--
out. Uhm, I had an abusive stepfather
39
00:05:14,531 --> 00:05:18,361
and the relationship with my
mother wasn't very strong.
40
00:05:18,405 --> 00:05:20,189
And I didn't have
anywhere else to go.
41
00:05:20,232 --> 00:05:23,366
I am now a captain, I am in
the Intelligence Corps.
42
00:05:23,410 --> 00:05:26,326
I am responsible for all of
the intelligence collection
43
00:05:26,369 --> 00:05:29,459
and analysis within
the infantry battalion,
44
00:05:29,503 --> 00:05:32,680
of about 400 soldiers
that I am assigned to.
45
00:05:35,291 --> 00:05:38,338
I loved being in the Military. They
gave me everything, gave me a home
46
00:05:38,381 --> 00:05:40,818
and the ability
to care for my family.
47
00:05:40,862 --> 00:05:45,606
Since I've transitioned, all my
performance reviews have been excellent.
48
00:05:45,649 --> 00:05:49,000
It cleared my head. It's Made me
have more confidence in myself.
49
00:05:49,044 --> 00:05:52,221
And over all I think it
made me better at what I do.
50
00:05:56,312 --> 00:05:58,923
All of the challenges
of being transgender
51
00:05:58,967 --> 00:06:01,665
have come from military policy.
52
00:06:01,709 --> 00:06:03,406
That's where
it's been the hardest.
53
00:06:10,457 --> 00:06:14,417
I am a human resources
officer in Strike Brigade
54
00:06:14,461 --> 00:06:18,378
in the 101st Airborne Division
at Fort Campbell.
55
00:06:18,421 --> 00:06:24,253
As an officer in the United States Army,
I am not just a soldier, I'm a leader.
56
00:06:24,296 --> 00:06:28,431
Everything that I do, every single
day, is in service to soldiers.
57
00:06:31,521 --> 00:06:34,916
The army, you know
Identified me as female.
58
00:06:34,959 --> 00:06:39,616
The simplest way that I can
explain what being trans is,
59
00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:44,099
is I'm a male,
just born in a female body.
60
00:06:45,492 --> 00:06:48,146
And I have taken and am taking,
61
00:06:48,190 --> 00:06:54,675
right, the steps to make my
biological, physical body
62
00:06:54,718 --> 00:06:57,765
reflect my gender.
63
00:07:00,898 --> 00:07:03,466
I am concerned about
the Military discharging me.
64
00:07:03,510 --> 00:07:04,989
I am concerned every day.
65
00:07:42,549 --> 00:07:46,291
I'm Sue Fulton, I am one of the
founding members of Sparta,
66
00:07:46,335 --> 00:07:47,989
army veteran
and West Point graduate.
67
00:07:48,032 --> 00:07:52,123
We founded Sparta
in the summer of 2013
68
00:07:52,167 --> 00:07:56,563
with one of our primary goals to
get the transgender ban lifted.
69
00:08:02,699 --> 00:08:05,136
Couple of months ago
we got an agreement
70
00:08:05,180 --> 00:08:09,010
from Under Secretary of the Army, Brad
Carson that he would meet with our people.
71
00:08:09,053 --> 00:08:14,406
And a big part of this is, you know by
coming out as transgender service members
72
00:08:14,450 --> 00:08:19,847
that raises a risk that the folks who
come to this meting might be discharged.
73
00:08:24,678 --> 00:08:27,724
Everybody is gonna actually rehearse
these a couple of times and time them.
74
00:08:27,768 --> 00:08:31,554
This is the excruciating part of
this you're gonna have to say this.
75
00:08:31,598 --> 00:08:34,862
You have to say it to a timer
and then you have to do it again.
76
00:08:34,905 --> 00:08:36,907
It's gonna be
nerve racking for them.
77
00:08:36,951 --> 00:08:39,344
The thing about being a soldier
is if you say:
78
00:08:39,388 --> 00:08:42,565
Well, here's the task
and it's a tough task.
79
00:08:42,609 --> 00:08:45,568
A good soldier would say,
well, then give it to me.
80
00:08:45,612 --> 00:08:47,744
And those are the folks we have.
81
00:08:47,788 --> 00:08:50,704
You'll talk briefly about
the deployment in Korea
82
00:08:50,747 --> 00:08:55,578
and, you know the commander of the CSH
said that you were her best platoon leader.
83
00:08:55,622 --> 00:09:01,279
They need to understand the kind
of people that we might be loosing
84
00:09:01,323 --> 00:09:03,238
because of this stupid policy.
85
00:09:15,511 --> 00:09:19,297
We may be talking about our individual life,
but we're not just talking about our life
86
00:09:19,341 --> 00:09:21,691
You have people that have
pending investigations
87
00:09:21,735 --> 00:09:24,389
for something that doesn't
really matter.
88
00:09:24,433 --> 00:09:29,612
Or people who are putting off their
own transition out of shear fear that
89
00:09:29,656 --> 00:09:34,269
just saying anything is gonna get
them kicked out of their livelihood
90
00:09:34,312 --> 00:09:36,663
what's putting food on the table
for their family.
91
00:09:43,974 --> 00:09:47,412
When your country sees you
as being able to serve
92
00:09:47,456 --> 00:09:53,070
and be an officer, be, you know a Sergeant
Major, be those things, you gain respect.
93
00:09:53,114 --> 00:09:57,858
And as a group, if you deploy
in some sort of combat
94
00:09:57,901 --> 00:10:03,646
or fly, you know a jet into to
combat or be on a submarine...
95
00:10:03,690 --> 00:10:05,735
And then say:
"Oh, but you can't work here."
96
00:10:53,261 --> 00:10:58,005
We walked out of the meeting today basically
saying, like what the hell just happened?
97
00:10:58,048 --> 00:11:00,355
We were supposed
to have one meeting
98
00:11:01,225 --> 00:11:04,707
and then...
We had three meetings.
99
00:11:04,751 --> 00:11:07,449
Everybody just was like, did I
just really hear what I just heard
100
00:11:07,492 --> 00:11:09,277
or did I just
completely make that up?
101
00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:10,931
The Under Secretary of the Army
102
00:11:10,974 --> 00:11:12,976
saying that he was gonna do
everything he could
103
00:11:13,020 --> 00:11:16,676
to protect us, and apologize for
how the Army had treated us.
104
00:11:16,719 --> 00:11:18,808
I was about to
break down and cry.
105
00:11:18,852 --> 00:11:21,506
These are like the coolest things
you can ever get in the Military.
106
00:11:21,550 --> 00:11:23,552
-Behind this coin actually.
-What are they?
107
00:11:23,595 --> 00:11:25,206
-This is--
-So, these are military coins.
108
00:11:25,249 --> 00:11:27,817
-Are you gonna let me talk?
-Ok, go ahead, talk.
109
00:11:27,861 --> 00:11:30,864
We receive that one for
Department of the Airforce,
110
00:11:30,907 --> 00:11:33,780
and Under Secretary
of the Airforce
111
00:11:33,823 --> 00:11:36,696
this says Department
of the Army, Under Secretary.
112
00:11:37,609 --> 00:11:41,309
And then at the back, it says Brad
Carson, his name with his signature.
113
00:11:41,352 --> 00:11:44,007
After we were done talking to
him, he treated us like people.
114
00:11:44,051 --> 00:11:46,749
He talked to us,
he spent time with us.
115
00:11:46,793 --> 00:11:49,534
Like he carried our coats
and got our trash,
116
00:11:49,578 --> 00:11:54,409
he told us where we should go to lunch, I mean,
he was the first person that I've ever talked to
117
00:11:54,452 --> 00:11:59,631
outside of this group that I felt
like cared about us as people.
118
00:11:59,675 --> 00:12:03,592
And really had it in his heart that
he wanted to make our lives better.
119
00:12:15,560 --> 00:12:19,434
It was my first time being in
the Pentagon, and it was amazing
120
00:12:19,477 --> 00:12:23,307
It was so empowering to be
open with these people.
121
00:12:23,351 --> 00:12:28,138
And in some form you regained your integrity
because it feels like a lie for so long.
122
00:12:28,182 --> 00:12:30,750
And now you are telling people
the truth about who you are.
123
00:12:32,186 --> 00:12:34,841
About two days before I was
supposed to return to work
124
00:12:34,884 --> 00:12:38,148
I got a message on my phone
from someone I knew.
125
00:12:39,149 --> 00:12:44,024
Everybody knows. The leadership talked
about it. Everybody in the office knows.
126
00:12:44,067 --> 00:12:45,590
It's-- It's out there.
127
00:12:50,508 --> 00:12:55,209
Going back to work those first couple
of days afterwards was terrifying.
128
00:12:56,514 --> 00:13:01,781
I reported to my new job at Division
Headquarters. And I was on a Thursday.
129
00:13:01,824 --> 00:13:07,221
On Friday I was told that I was gonna
immediately go back to my old regulations.
130
00:13:07,264 --> 00:13:09,701
Have my hair cut
with the male regulations,
131
00:13:09,745 --> 00:13:12,661
that I was gonna correct people
with the male pronouns,
132
00:13:12,704 --> 00:13:15,316
I was gonna use male gender
segregated facilities,
133
00:13:15,359 --> 00:13:19,494
My command barked that I was making
all this up, that I was lying about it.
134
00:13:19,537 --> 00:13:22,279
And they were concerned that
this was just for attention.
135
00:13:22,323 --> 00:13:26,718
They ordered me to go and speak
t the local psychiatrist.
136
00:13:26,762 --> 00:13:30,592
This provider decided
that I wasn't transgender.
137
00:13:30,635 --> 00:13:33,464
There was a concern that if they
had diagnosed me as transgender,
138
00:13:33,508 --> 00:13:37,164
that they would be forced to
discharge me from the Military.
139
00:13:37,207 --> 00:13:42,430
And everything that I'd been so
positive on over the last few months
140
00:13:42,473 --> 00:13:45,868
had been taken away. No one
ever talked to me about my work.
141
00:13:45,912 --> 00:13:51,569
No one ever discussed the products that I
should be doing or the performance that I had.
142
00:13:51,613 --> 00:13:55,791
I'd sort of been relegated to
a corner where no one wants me.
143
00:14:05,366 --> 00:14:09,500
So apparently somebody complained
that I was using the female bathrooms.
144
00:14:09,544 --> 00:14:13,504
And I tried to explain to them that I
didn't feel safe using the male bathrooms.
145
00:14:13,548 --> 00:14:16,594
If you start looking at sexual
assault rates across the Military
146
00:14:16,638 --> 00:14:17,944
and how many happened I'd post
147
00:14:17,987 --> 00:14:20,424
and then you end up
in a bathroom
148
00:14:20,468 --> 00:14:24,124
early in the morning before anyone else
gets there or you're working late at night.
149
00:14:24,167 --> 00:14:28,737
No, I don't feel safe in there, I don't
feel safe in an all-male bathroom.
150
00:14:28,780 --> 00:14:32,349
And so I was told that I could
either used the male bathrooms
151
00:14:32,393 --> 00:14:36,919
or there was a porta potty out back
from the construction that was going on.
152
00:14:36,963 --> 00:14:40,009
And so I could leave the building
and go outside and use that.
153
00:14:47,538 --> 00:14:49,410
Even on my most difficult
days, I come home
154
00:14:49,453 --> 00:14:54,197
and I've got a wife and three
kids who need me emotionally.
155
00:14:54,241 --> 00:14:57,679
And they need me physically to be
here and go do things with them.
156
00:14:57,722 --> 00:15:01,074
Autumn, I found another present
you haven't opened.
157
00:15:01,117 --> 00:15:02,684
Autumn.
158
00:15:10,518 --> 00:15:15,131
So the first thing when we got out here,
we completely separated our family life
159
00:15:15,175 --> 00:15:17,917
from the military life.
It's really hard to do,
160
00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:21,398
Because the Military promotes, you
know family involvement so much.
161
00:15:27,317 --> 00:15:31,147
And they have barbecues and get
togethers and holiday parties,
162
00:15:31,191 --> 00:15:34,063
I was told that I wasn't allowed
to attend any more unit functions.
163
00:15:34,107 --> 00:15:37,458
That couldn't come to hail and
farewells and organizational days.
164
00:15:45,335 --> 00:15:48,425
I've put in 11 years of my life
165
00:15:48,469 --> 00:15:53,996
I've deployed every combat zone
that my generation have served in.
166
00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,172
I deserve to be there
as much as anyone else.
167
00:15:56,216 --> 00:15:58,044
This is my army too.
168
00:16:37,997 --> 00:16:42,871
-Hi, babe. I missed you.
-I missed you.
169
00:16:43,915 --> 00:16:48,703
-Your hair looks good today.
-Your face looks good today.
170
00:16:55,057 --> 00:16:58,104
Honestly,
if it wasn't for missing you
171
00:16:58,147 --> 00:17:00,802
and wanting just to be back
in the States in general,
172
00:17:00,845 --> 00:17:05,372
I would extend out here.
I totally would.
173
00:17:05,415 --> 00:17:08,462
-Please don't do that.
-But it's been great
174
00:17:08,505 --> 00:17:14,294
'cause I am seen 100% as male,
and I'm not questioned
175
00:17:14,337 --> 00:17:17,079
uhm... about anything.
176
00:17:17,123 --> 00:17:21,083
I can grow my male rags and standards
and grow my horrible mustache.
177
00:17:21,127 --> 00:17:24,478
Which by the way, babe, I really
don't like your mustache.
178
00:17:24,521 --> 00:17:27,437
You know when I-- when I grew
it out the first time
179
00:17:27,481 --> 00:17:29,657
when we first got here
you hated it,
180
00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:32,486
you hated it, you hate, hate it, hate it
and then when I shaved it off you're like,
181
00:17:32,529 --> 00:17:35,445
"You know what? I-- I actually
liked it, I kind of miss it.
182
00:17:35,489 --> 00:17:37,186
Okay, okay, okay.
183
00:17:38,318 --> 00:17:41,408
I'm gonna go grow mine now,
so you can see how it feels.
184
00:17:49,503 --> 00:17:52,897
But for real, if you do have an extra facial
hair from electrolysis, I will take it.
185
00:18:26,409 --> 00:18:30,021
I grew up in Honolulu,
Hawaii, with, uh, my family.
186
00:18:30,065 --> 00:18:31,632
I'm the oldest of four children.
187
00:18:35,592 --> 00:18:38,943
My brother is in the Army and my
younger sister is in the Navy.
188
00:18:38,987 --> 00:18:41,294
And my dad was in the Army
before as well.
189
00:18:42,730 --> 00:18:49,389
As far back as I can remember actually,
um, I never identified as being a male.
190
00:18:49,432 --> 00:18:54,655
Once I realized that I was way
different from the other children
191
00:18:54,698 --> 00:18:59,921
I was too afraid to explore the
possibility of even being transgender
192
00:18:59,964 --> 00:19:06,449
because I come from such a-- a
religious family that wasn't an option.
193
00:19:20,855 --> 00:19:24,206
During my first deployment, I didn't
really see eye to eye with my family
194
00:19:24,250 --> 00:19:26,426
based on my life choices.
195
00:19:26,469 --> 00:19:32,997
When Laila did eventually come out I
was in denial. I was mad at-- at Laila.
196
00:19:33,041 --> 00:19:36,914
The exact phrase I remember telling them
was, I felt like I wanna be a woman.
197
00:19:36,958 --> 00:19:39,178
I didn't know
what transgender was.
198
00:19:39,221 --> 00:19:41,876
I didn't know there were other people
out there that were just like me.
199
00:19:41,919 --> 00:19:44,748
For a long time
I was not accepting it
200
00:19:44,792 --> 00:19:47,534
because I felt this is my child,
201
00:19:47,577 --> 00:19:52,103
I brought her into this world
as the opposite gender.
202
00:19:53,801 --> 00:19:58,327
I threatened Laila, I said, "You're
gonna do that, I'm gonna disown you.
203
00:19:58,371 --> 00:19:59,633
Don't shame me like that."
204
00:20:01,983 --> 00:20:07,684
I didn't hear from them for
several months into the deployment.
205
00:20:07,728 --> 00:20:10,339
That probably crushed me
more than having to leave home.
206
00:20:13,647 --> 00:20:16,258
There was a mission
that we were tossed out to do
207
00:20:16,302 --> 00:20:21,524
and early in the morning, we got notification
that the mission had been dropped
208
00:20:21,568 --> 00:20:23,222
and it was given
to our sister unit.
209
00:20:26,616 --> 00:20:30,359
The mission also called for
an extra vehicle and a driver.
210
00:20:31,317 --> 00:20:33,406
Because I was not in the area,
211
00:20:33,449 --> 00:20:38,149
they had pulled my vehicle and one
of the troops that I work with.
212
00:20:40,456 --> 00:20:42,980
From what we were told,
there was a Pressure-Plate IED
213
00:20:43,024 --> 00:20:47,768
and it detonated
right underneath his seat.
214
00:20:49,552 --> 00:20:53,861
We got a call from the Commanding
Officer for the families to come
215
00:20:53,904 --> 00:20:59,910
to the armory up in Wahiawa
because there had been a death.
216
00:21:00,998 --> 00:21:06,047
My gut, I needed to pick it up off the
floor, a lump in my throat and shaking.
217
00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:10,878
I remember coming
back to my quarters that day
218
00:21:10,921 --> 00:21:16,275
and there was
a piece of paper on my door
219
00:21:16,318 --> 00:21:20,714
and they were messages from tons of
people in the unit basically saying,
220
00:21:20,757 --> 00:21:22,585
"We love you and we miss you."
221
00:21:26,720 --> 00:21:29,288
Assuming that we were
on that vehicle that day.
222
00:21:30,724 --> 00:21:34,423
There's not a day that goes by that I
don't think that that could have been me.
223
00:21:35,468 --> 00:21:38,209
The minute Laila called
home, I just balwed my eyes,
224
00:21:38,253 --> 00:21:40,299
I was like, "Are you okay?"
225
00:21:44,564 --> 00:21:49,090
It took them years to come around,
but they came around nonetheless.
226
00:21:50,047 --> 00:21:51,527
That's when I said to myself,
227
00:21:53,312 --> 00:21:56,402
"I've got to love him.
You just have to love him."
228
00:22:09,980 --> 00:22:13,897
I've been on this journey
with Logan from the beginning
229
00:22:13,941 --> 00:22:18,424
and I support him every minute.
230
00:22:21,644 --> 00:22:25,126
At first, I was thinking,
you know, just tomboy.
231
00:22:25,169 --> 00:22:27,389
-Do you have that on video?
-Yes.
232
00:22:30,349 --> 00:22:33,830
But, you know as he got older,
233
00:22:33,874 --> 00:22:41,490
I knew, you know that well, he's
probably gay. Transgender, though?
234
00:22:41,534 --> 00:22:45,929
It's a term
I was ever exposed to.
235
00:22:45,973 --> 00:22:47,801
He had to educate me.
236
00:22:49,150 --> 00:22:52,414
And he thought me a lot,
237
00:22:52,458 --> 00:22:56,505
he's always taught me a lot
growing up, on what is normal.
238
00:22:56,549 --> 00:22:58,507
You know,
you create your own normal.
239
00:22:58,551 --> 00:23:02,772
-Picture How does, blank, blank,
blank? -You're guarding gr--
240
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:08,778
You know, I would laugh and say,
"Well, you know my lesbian daughter
241
00:23:08,822 --> 00:23:11,694
ended up turning out
to be my straight son."
242
00:23:17,308 --> 00:23:20,355
My closest friends
at work, they don't know.
243
00:23:20,399 --> 00:23:25,273
They know my daughter is in the
Military and is in a Military MP
244
00:23:25,316 --> 00:23:28,624
and the police, and I keep
a few people informed on,
245
00:23:28,668 --> 00:23:33,455
"Hey, he's-- she's going to Afghanistan."
You know, It's like I wanted to--
246
00:23:33,499 --> 00:23:37,677
I wanna be able to talk with some people
at work about-- you know, 'cause I'm proud.
247
00:23:41,594 --> 00:23:46,425
I mean, we're mechanics. You know, We're
men mechanics and always got their opinion,
248
00:23:46,468 --> 00:23:50,820
but there's usually one opinion
when it comes to this situation.
249
00:23:50,864 --> 00:23:56,173
Now, if they knew Logan's circumstance,
I think they'd write me off as a friend.
250
00:23:56,217 --> 00:24:00,569
You know, and I almost second guess myself,
"Do I really need these people as friends?"
251
00:24:00,613 --> 00:24:04,181
And right now, their opinion of my daughter
being in the Military is one that I liked
252
00:24:04,225 --> 00:24:05,661
for them to have.
253
00:24:05,705 --> 00:24:07,271
It's honorable.
254
00:24:07,315 --> 00:24:09,926
But as soon as I would
possibly mention that,
255
00:24:10,971 --> 00:24:14,844
I think they're going to do a 180
and I don't want their opinion of me
256
00:24:14,888 --> 00:24:16,890
or of my son to be that.
257
00:24:19,806 --> 00:24:23,462
The Military has you
in these compartments,
258
00:24:23,505 --> 00:24:27,944
and you have to fit in
to a certain group
259
00:24:27,988 --> 00:24:33,950
and Logan didn't fit in.
I felt to blame.
260
00:24:33,994 --> 00:24:38,607
I was like, "Gosh, did I do that, just
saying be yourself, be who you are?"
261
00:24:40,566 --> 00:24:44,352
I don't know where the mix up was.
If you want to call it that, you know what?
262
00:24:44,395 --> 00:24:48,312
Maybe I'm mixed up, maybe that's
the norm, you know, I don't know.
263
00:24:48,356 --> 00:24:51,054
But I know that God
created these people,
264
00:24:51,098 --> 00:24:55,276
this person and you need to accept
that person for what that person is.
265
00:24:55,319 --> 00:24:58,540
Logan is the most caring person and
that's what really matters to me.
266
00:24:59,585 --> 00:25:01,761
The bottom line is this
is an American going fighting
267
00:25:01,804 --> 00:25:03,632
for your
liberties that you have here.
268
00:25:20,780 --> 00:25:22,303
So, basically what happened,
269
00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:26,002
if I get quiet it's
because somebody's coming by.
270
00:25:27,613 --> 00:25:33,140
My Homebase Commander
called the commander here
271
00:25:33,183 --> 00:25:35,795
over my unit as a whole.
Called him and said,
272
00:25:35,838 --> 00:25:39,102
"Hey. You're going to be getting
an individual coming there.
273
00:25:39,146 --> 00:25:42,192
She's born female, though
she doesn't look it at all."
274
00:25:42,236 --> 00:25:44,455
Because of them knowing,
275
00:25:44,499 --> 00:25:48,982
the leadership here, they told my
Master Sergeant, called him in,
276
00:25:49,025 --> 00:25:51,637
"Sir, do you understand, uh, the
situation and what's going on?"
277
00:25:53,290 --> 00:25:55,597
Him being
himself was like, "Yeah.
278
00:25:55,641 --> 00:25:58,121
We fucking went to Fort Bliss
together, we trained together,
279
00:25:58,165 --> 00:26:00,428
you know, there's nothing wrong
with him. What's the problem?"
280
00:26:00,471 --> 00:26:03,692
and they're like, "Sheneeds to
be put in a female barracks.
281
00:26:03,736 --> 00:26:05,520
Sheneeds to be
addressed as such."
282
00:26:05,564 --> 00:26:07,000
And he said, "Let me
correct you right there.
283
00:26:07,043 --> 00:26:08,654
His name is Logan.
284
00:26:08,697 --> 00:26:10,569
He is gonna to be
living with his brothers.
285
00:26:10,612 --> 00:26:12,527
You don't need to be worried
about him.
286
00:26:12,571 --> 00:26:14,485
We have everything
figured out on our end."
287
00:26:14,529 --> 00:26:18,272
If anybody knew the policy,
they could say, "Oh, hey.
288
00:26:18,315 --> 00:26:21,188
This Airman shouldn't be here anyway.
This Airman needs to be kicked out."
289
00:26:21,231 --> 00:26:25,845
The more people who know, puts me in a
really awesome position to get discharged.
290
00:26:39,510 --> 00:26:43,340
With me are like my five
best friends since college.
291
00:26:43,384 --> 00:26:48,737
We all went to the Military
Academy, went to West Point.
292
00:26:48,781 --> 00:26:52,132
I think it's been almost three years
since all six of us have been together
293
00:26:52,175 --> 00:26:55,178
in the same place, at the same
time. I'm headed out again here
294
00:26:55,222 --> 00:26:58,965
end of April to another deployment
and so we were just like,
295
00:26:59,008 --> 00:27:01,315
"Hey, before I leave like,
we gotta all get together."
296
00:27:02,795 --> 00:27:04,187
I love your face, man.
297
00:27:05,275 --> 00:27:07,495
This is the worst part
of the fucking transition.
298
00:27:07,538 --> 00:27:10,541
-You don't seem to notice... -You have
nice skin and then that shit goes.
299
00:27:10,585 --> 00:27:14,545
I saw your shit and I was, "Shit. Should
I start taking some of the stuff too?"
300
00:27:16,199 --> 00:27:19,376
I was like, my shit
isn't even, what the fuck?
301
00:27:19,420 --> 00:27:23,250
I was so mad.
I was mad. I was like damn.
302
00:27:23,293 --> 00:27:25,687
Your beard be on mother
fucking fleek and I'm over here
303
00:27:25,731 --> 00:27:27,167
with this spotty patchy shit.
304
00:27:27,210 --> 00:27:30,605
Speaking of cosmetic changes,
305
00:27:30,649 --> 00:27:36,176
I took a look at a picture of myself
when I was going to prep school, 19,
306
00:27:36,219 --> 00:27:37,568
and I look at my hairline.
307
00:27:39,570 --> 00:27:42,661
I'm right here with you.
308
00:27:42,704 --> 00:27:45,751
The side effects of this shit.
You know like,
309
00:27:45,794 --> 00:27:50,190
I tried to take a little sexy picture
today and my hairline was like,
310
00:27:50,233 --> 00:27:51,670
"No, the fuck you won't."
311
00:28:26,487 --> 00:28:29,577
- That's what's going
on? I'm sorry. - Oh yes.
312
00:28:29,620 --> 00:28:34,625
You know, like you and like Clichy and
even me sometimes would always be like,
313
00:28:34,669 --> 00:28:38,847
"You know, is El
like a man? Is El gay?
314
00:28:38,891 --> 00:28:41,981
Like, what's going on?
315
00:28:42,024 --> 00:28:45,462
-Is so and so fucking with so
and so?" -Let's ask the shit
316
00:28:45,506 --> 00:28:49,423
that you have been curious about
but you just haven't asked about
317
00:28:49,466 --> 00:28:52,295
and maybe you're not-- 'Cause to
me, I hate misrepresenting people.
318
00:28:52,339 --> 00:28:53,949
I hate it when
people misrepresent me.
319
00:28:53,993 --> 00:28:56,778
So, I don't want to misrepresent
somebody to anyone else.
320
00:28:56,822 --> 00:29:00,913
You've been saying, "I'm El Cook.
I'm a fucking man," your whole life.
321
00:29:00,956 --> 00:29:06,048
Yes. As a kid, like yeah, as a
kid, I was like," I knew this."
322
00:29:06,092 --> 00:29:11,924
At some point it becomes far easier,
actually, to say that you're a lesbian
323
00:29:11,967 --> 00:29:16,755
than to say, "No, no, no,
this is what I really am."
324
00:29:16,798 --> 00:29:19,105
Because if you're a trans, you're
some kind of fucking mutant head.
325
00:29:19,148 --> 00:29:20,933
Right, anytime you talk
about being trans,
326
00:29:20,976 --> 00:29:24,327
like for most people they
generally have one question.
327
00:29:24,371 --> 00:29:26,808
Their mind goes
to one place, like...
328
00:29:26,852 --> 00:29:29,855
Even top brass in the Army, and I
know this because I've talked to them,
329
00:29:29,898 --> 00:29:31,987
right, it's just like: "what do
your genitals look like?"
330
00:29:32,031 --> 00:29:34,207
That's really
all they care about.
331
00:29:34,250 --> 00:29:36,862
Just like black people,
trans people are not anomalies.
332
00:29:36,905 --> 00:29:41,605
You'll have men who have vaginas
and there are women out there
333
00:29:41,649 --> 00:29:44,043
who have other...
334
00:29:44,086 --> 00:29:50,005
I don't ever want people to think that
that somehow invalidates who they are.
335
00:29:50,049 --> 00:29:54,618
Like, I don't need to see anybody
else's vagina or a penis to know
336
00:29:54,662 --> 00:29:56,316
that they're a man or
a woman, nor do I care.
337
00:29:56,359 --> 00:29:58,057
If you tell people, "I've
got something in the bar."
338
00:29:58,100 --> 00:30:00,276
and they're like, "I'm a
woman." "Cool, you're a woman."
339
00:30:00,320 --> 00:30:03,845
So, to do in surgery and all that,
like completing the transition,
340
00:30:03,889 --> 00:30:07,718
you are not like worried about negative
like professional repercussions?
341
00:30:07,762 --> 00:30:11,200
Yeah, like, I think every day,
every day of my life, right?
342
00:30:11,244 --> 00:30:13,986
I mean, they can still mess with
you at a lower level, right?
343
00:30:14,029 --> 00:30:16,858
Like so they're like, "All right. Fine.
We're not gonna try to discharge you
344
00:30:16,902 --> 00:30:22,298
and send it up, you know, but maybe, I
will find everything about you to, like,
345
00:30:22,342 --> 00:30:27,695
-if you park and your tires are
over the line," right? -Yeah. Yeah.
346
00:30:27,738 --> 00:30:29,653
Gonna cancel you.
You know what I'm saying?
347
00:30:29,697 --> 00:30:34,397
If you show up, any less than
15 minutes early, right?
348
00:30:34,441 --> 00:30:37,096
Like, if you get any less
than a 300 on, right?
349
00:30:37,139 --> 00:30:38,880
They can like still find ways.
350
00:30:38,924 --> 00:30:41,535
It kinda just
makes me feel like,
351
00:30:42,797 --> 00:30:47,846
"Damn." Like, people are out there
being hurt, being, uh, you know.
352
00:30:47,889 --> 00:30:49,935
There's like
violence against them
353
00:30:49,978 --> 00:30:54,069
all because we can't
open our minds and accept.
354
00:30:54,113 --> 00:30:56,550
This isn't what I've
been told I'm supposed to like.
355
00:31:24,099 --> 00:31:27,494
The killings of three trans- women
were reported over a 24-hour period.
356
00:31:27,537 --> 00:31:30,192
Another was killed
the following day.
357
00:31:30,236 --> 00:31:33,239
These women are more than
just a compilation of names,
358
00:31:33,282 --> 00:31:38,157
and ages, and stories of violence,
and trauma. They were people,
359
00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,421
people living at a vulnerable
intersection of race, gender and class.
360
00:31:41,464 --> 00:31:45,207
People whose names are only
spoken by the majority of us
361
00:31:45,251 --> 00:31:47,209
when they can no longer respond.
362
00:32:00,483 --> 00:32:03,834
The first time I met Laila
was in the office,
363
00:32:03,878 --> 00:32:08,361
very bubbly, positive,
the patients love her.
364
00:32:08,404 --> 00:32:13,932
We have gotten far more positive comment
cards with Laila working on the front desk.
365
00:32:17,239 --> 00:32:21,983
Laila has had some challenges
with her chain of command.
366
00:32:22,027 --> 00:32:24,768
We thought that she'd
been treated differently.
367
00:32:24,812 --> 00:32:28,729
This place makes me
like my stomach a little-- --
368
00:32:28,772 --> 00:32:31,340
I get knots in my stomach.
369
00:32:31,384 --> 00:32:32,559
- Morning. How are you
today? -Good morning.
370
00:32:32,602 --> 00:32:34,256
Good. How are you?
371
00:32:34,300 --> 00:32:36,606
- Great. Have a great
day. -Thank you.
372
00:32:36,650 --> 00:32:39,827
You know they'll come in. And they'll
say, "You need to wipe off the blush off,"
373
00:32:39,870 --> 00:32:41,785
and she's like,
"I have no blush on." You know,
374
00:32:41,829 --> 00:32:44,571
or "Wipe off the mascara
and so, like wipe it off.
375
00:32:44,614 --> 00:32:45,833
Just like it's nothing."
376
00:32:47,574 --> 00:32:53,014
Coming to campus, like, I don't
know what's gonna happen today.
377
00:32:53,058 --> 00:32:56,409
We had unofficial meetings by.
378
00:32:56,452 --> 00:32:59,194
When the staff
showed up for the meeting,
379
00:32:59,238 --> 00:33:02,371
we had to identify our gender.
380
00:33:02,415 --> 00:33:06,288
So, I just thought that was really
odd to open the meeting in that way,
381
00:33:06,332 --> 00:33:09,030
but it was almost like they all
had something against the gays,
382
00:33:09,074 --> 00:33:12,120
the lesbians,
you know, and transgender.
383
00:33:12,164 --> 00:33:15,036
And so, all of them
were always flagged.
384
00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,865
What can I possibly
get into trouble for today?
385
00:33:17,908 --> 00:33:20,085
If I do the right thing,
I get into trouble.
386
00:33:20,128 --> 00:33:22,435
If I do the wrong thing,
I get into trouble.
387
00:33:22,478 --> 00:33:26,221
And if I ask a question or ask
questions about it, I get into trouble.
388
00:33:26,265 --> 00:33:27,918
And so my experience with Laila,
389
00:33:27,962 --> 00:33:32,358
she's just an asset
to the team, valuable.
390
00:33:32,401 --> 00:33:35,448
I'd like to see
everyone be treated fairly.
391
00:34:00,081 --> 00:34:04,216
Me and Logan are both in the Alpha
vehicle at the front of the zoom.
392
00:34:04,259 --> 00:34:07,132
I'm the lead gunner
and he's a lead driver.
393
00:34:18,404 --> 00:34:21,407
I consider Logan to be
one of my better friends here.
394
00:34:21,450 --> 00:34:25,454
He's easy to get along with
and a fun person to be around.
395
00:34:25,498 --> 00:34:27,674
You know what?
This is as far I'm gonna go.
396
00:34:31,460 --> 00:34:36,291
Logan, being transgender,
and us working outside the wire
397
00:34:36,335 --> 00:34:39,773
does not affect
his ability to do the job.
398
00:34:39,816 --> 00:34:41,992
I'd say most days
that we go out our mission,
399
00:34:42,036 --> 00:34:43,994
there's an element
of danger involved
400
00:34:47,172 --> 00:34:52,481
And I have full confidence in him
that he can get us through it.
401
00:34:54,918 --> 00:34:57,791
I don't feel burdened carrying the
secret that Logan is transgender.
402
00:34:57,834 --> 00:35:02,187
It's Logan's personal life
and I think it's his choice
403
00:35:02,230 --> 00:35:05,059
if he wants to
let people know that.
404
00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:11,718
And I feel like he trusts me as a
friend, him being okay with me knowing
405
00:35:11,761 --> 00:35:13,937
and talking to me about it.
406
00:35:13,981 --> 00:35:16,679
All transgender troops want to do
is serve like every other troop.
407
00:35:19,552 --> 00:35:22,903
I actually met Logan when
he came because of an injury
408
00:35:22,946 --> 00:35:26,428
that he had received as
the course of the deployment.
409
00:35:26,472 --> 00:35:28,126
A couple deep breaths for me.
410
00:35:30,040 --> 00:35:32,521
I was a little surprised to find out
that there was a transgender person
411
00:35:32,565 --> 00:35:34,958
who was deployed.
412
00:35:35,002 --> 00:35:39,137
By all accounts, you know he was just as
qualified as anybody else who was there.
413
00:35:43,663 --> 00:35:47,580
It's like technically acquired
this from an old DoD compound.
414
00:35:49,190 --> 00:35:51,540
I just keep all my shots in here
415
00:35:51,584 --> 00:35:54,369
and put them in a safe
container for afterwards.
416
00:35:55,544 --> 00:35:58,068
Very conspicuous and in case
somebody wants to go in there
417
00:35:58,112 --> 00:36:02,638
I have my prescription already put
in it, so they can see it is legal.
418
00:36:07,904 --> 00:36:11,865
If you're doing it
every week for over three years,
419
00:36:12,866 --> 00:36:14,259
you just kind of get used to it.
420
00:36:15,956 --> 00:36:18,350
Where's the most
awkward place you've done this?
421
00:36:18,393 --> 00:36:22,223
I had to give myself my shot
one time in a porta potty.
422
00:36:22,267 --> 00:36:25,357
This puts my stocks through for my
natural middle range for my age group.
423
00:36:33,669 --> 00:36:34,540
And that's it.
424
00:36:47,379 --> 00:36:52,471
Oh my goodness. Like once in a
lifetime chance this was seriously--
425
00:36:52,514 --> 00:36:55,517
So, Jesse messages me.
426
00:36:55,561 --> 00:36:59,217
He's like, "Hey,
a really big 747 just landed."
427
00:37:01,219 --> 00:37:04,918
Perhaps, you know we ought to
see if there's an opportunity
428
00:37:04,961 --> 00:37:06,528
to meet whoever had arrived.
429
00:37:08,051 --> 00:37:10,228
Secretary Carter
was sworn in on a Monday
430
00:37:13,231 --> 00:37:18,845
and we left Friday for Afghanistan,
and we're in a hangar with,
431
00:37:18,888 --> 00:37:22,631
I don't know, a hundred troops. He's
doing a question and answer session
432
00:37:22,675 --> 00:37:25,417
talking about priorities,
taking questions.
433
00:37:25,460 --> 00:37:27,549
When I was sitting there listening
to the Secretary of Defense
434
00:37:27,593 --> 00:37:32,554
deliver his update, I couldn't
get away from this idea
435
00:37:32,598 --> 00:37:35,731
in my mind that there
was this perfect opportunity
436
00:37:35,775 --> 00:37:38,343
to ask him a question
about transgender service.
437
00:37:38,386 --> 00:37:41,998
And, You know,
I turned to Logan and said,
438
00:37:42,042 --> 00:37:44,827
"If you could get up and ask
a question what would you ask?"
439
00:37:46,176 --> 00:37:49,832
I'd probably ask him what his
thoughts are on transgender troops
440
00:37:49,876 --> 00:37:52,574
serving in austere environment
such as Afghanistan.
441
00:37:52,618 --> 00:37:55,273
The press were there,
this was a high profile moment
442
00:37:55,316 --> 00:37:58,276
and I knew that there was
no turning back
443
00:37:58,319 --> 00:38:01,453
if I asked this question.
That it would be reported.
444
00:38:01,496 --> 00:38:05,631
It could potentially expose Logan
in a way that would have jeopardized
445
00:38:05,674 --> 00:38:08,329
his deployment
and his service and his career.
446
00:38:09,374 --> 00:38:11,506
So, Jesse makes
a beeline for the mic,
447
00:38:12,377 --> 00:38:17,382
introduces themselves and
flawlessly asks that same question.
448
00:38:17,425 --> 00:38:20,733
What's your thoughts on
transgender service members serving
449
00:38:20,776 --> 00:38:22,778
in an austere environment
like this here in Kandahar?
450
00:38:22,822 --> 00:38:25,955
I'm in the back of the room
and I hear, "transgender"
451
00:38:25,999 --> 00:38:31,178
and it sort of focused
my attention very quickly
452
00:38:31,221 --> 00:38:33,920
as I raise my head, look around
who's asking this question.
453
00:38:33,963 --> 00:38:36,618
Everybody in the room
immediately looks over.
454
00:38:36,662 --> 00:38:40,405
Every cam in
the room starts going nuts.
455
00:38:40,448 --> 00:38:44,278
We want to make our conditions
and experience of service,
456
00:38:45,584 --> 00:38:51,851
uh, as attractive as possible to
the best people in our country.
457
00:38:51,894 --> 00:38:57,509
I'm very open-minded
about their personal lives
458
00:38:57,552 --> 00:39:02,427
and proclivities are, provided they
can do what we need them to do.
459
00:39:03,645 --> 00:39:07,519
Everybody gets up, we started
heading over to Carter.
460
00:39:07,562 --> 00:39:11,131
Literally, at the last split second
I decided to introduce myself.
461
00:39:11,174 --> 00:39:16,963
"Sir, I'm Senior Airman Logan Ireland.
I am representing one of the 15,000
462
00:39:17,006 --> 00:39:20,662
actively serving transgender
members at the Military."
463
00:39:20,706 --> 00:39:25,275
His eyes bugged out, and he is
the sweetest guy, and he's like,
464
00:39:25,319 --> 00:39:27,452
"Wow, this is--
this is incredible.
465
00:39:27,495 --> 00:39:29,845
Thank you so much. Thank you
so much for your service
466
00:39:29,889 --> 00:39:32,935
and having the integrity to come
up here and tell me that."
467
00:39:32,979 --> 00:39:36,069
And he gave me a coin.
468
00:39:38,245 --> 00:39:43,337
Yes, it says, "Presented by the Secretary
of Defense, United States of America."
469
00:39:45,470 --> 00:39:46,384
That was pretty cool.
470
00:39:49,648 --> 00:39:53,347
During a Military Town Hall
event yesterday in Kandahar,
471
00:39:53,391 --> 00:39:57,133
Secretary Carter expressed an openness
to the idea of openly transgender service
472
00:39:57,177 --> 00:40:00,963
saying "only suitability for service
should bar an American from enlistment."
473
00:40:01,007 --> 00:40:04,053
Does the President share
Secretary Carter's views on this?
474
00:40:04,097 --> 00:40:07,187
Chris, I've seen the reports
of Secretary Carter's comments.
475
00:40:07,230 --> 00:40:10,364
I can tell you that the President
agrees with the sentiment
476
00:40:10,408 --> 00:40:14,194
that all Americans who are qualified
to serve should be able to serve.
477
00:40:14,237 --> 00:40:18,503
For that reason, we here at the White House
welcome the comments from the Secretary of Defense.
478
00:40:18,546 --> 00:40:22,332
Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter
has ordered a six-month study
479
00:40:22,376 --> 00:40:25,771
to review the Military's policies
on transgender service members
480
00:40:25,814 --> 00:40:29,688
and to consider the effect that
changing those policies would have.
481
00:40:29,731 --> 00:40:34,344
The review includes looking at a
40-page document of medical conditions
482
00:40:34,388 --> 00:40:39,959
that preclude service including sexual conditions or disorders
like transgender.
483
00:40:40,002 --> 00:40:45,486
But Officials say senior
military leaders are pushing back with serious reservations.
484
00:40:45,530 --> 00:40:48,271
There are questions about
where to house those troops,
485
00:40:48,315 --> 00:40:52,624
where do they go to the bathroom, what
effect will it have on their units.
486
00:40:52,667 --> 00:40:55,278
Retired general
John Kelly of the Marine Corps
487
00:40:55,322 --> 00:40:57,542
believes it may not
be that simple.
488
00:40:57,585 --> 00:40:59,369
Right now if you are being
medicated
489
00:40:59,413 --> 00:41:03,417
unless it's fairly temporary,
you will get a discharge.
490
00:41:03,461 --> 00:41:07,856
It is my understanding that some transgenders
need lifelong hormonal treatments,
491
00:41:07,900 --> 00:41:10,598
tend to depression issue
in many cases. It goes back
492
00:41:10,642 --> 00:41:12,948
to this issue where it,
does it make us more lethal?
493
00:41:12,992 --> 00:41:16,822
And I clearly would argue that
it doesn't make us more lethal.
494
00:41:16,865 --> 00:41:20,826
We don't know if we're on
track to get a change in policy
495
00:41:20,869 --> 00:41:24,482
but we've been hearing things from
people we know inside the building,
496
00:41:24,525 --> 00:41:27,093
and some of them are positive
and some of them are concerns.
497
00:41:27,136 --> 00:41:31,358
The deadline really is the election.
There's just the political reality that
498
00:41:31,401 --> 00:41:37,320
a new president in their first term is not
gonna necessarily wanna take on this issue.
499
00:41:43,370 --> 00:41:45,894
I've gotten to know
General Milley, and I asked him,
500
00:41:45,938 --> 00:41:50,551
"Can I come in and talk to you about
it just to understand your issues,
501
00:41:50,595 --> 00:41:52,510
maybe provide some
additional information?"
502
00:41:52,553 --> 00:41:56,426
He agreed to me, and that's
what we're planning to do.
503
00:42:05,348 --> 00:42:08,221
The only thing I want to hear
is I want to hear your intro.
504
00:42:08,264 --> 00:42:09,962
-My intro?
-Yup.
505
00:42:10,005 --> 00:42:11,790
Good morning, sir.
My name is Jennifer Peace.
506
00:42:11,833 --> 00:42:14,053
I'm a captain in the United
States Army, currently stationed
507
00:42:14,096 --> 00:42:16,490
with the 7th Infantry Division
at Fort Lewis, Washington.
508
00:42:16,534 --> 00:42:19,275
We're here for our
soldiers and ourselves.
509
00:42:19,319 --> 00:42:22,670
Our concern is that we're being offended,
but we are being able to provide you
510
00:42:22,714 --> 00:42:25,151
any answers to
questions that you may have.
511
00:42:25,194 --> 00:42:28,546
I don't intend to have your
job before you're done with it
512
00:42:28,589 --> 00:42:31,157
but if you could keep this
seat warm and perhaps go ahead
513
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:32,767
and settle their
nameplates for the door.
514
00:42:32,811 --> 00:42:34,682
I think it would be
beneficial to everyone.
515
00:42:36,466 --> 00:42:39,557
You're killing me.
516
00:42:39,600 --> 00:42:41,167
Gonna give her a heart attack.
517
00:42:41,210 --> 00:42:43,082
Seriously. Seriously.
518
00:42:43,125 --> 00:42:46,476
Really, General Milley
may never have another chance
519
00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:50,742
to talk to a transgender service
member before he makes a decision.
520
00:42:50,785 --> 00:42:56,574
And right now, I think
the solution is looking for him
521
00:42:56,617 --> 00:43:02,014
to know where he really stands.
This is gonna be a pivot point.
522
00:43:02,057 --> 00:43:04,886
It's gonna be a huge pivot point
because if he comes out of here,
523
00:43:04,930 --> 00:43:10,370
even neutral,
even neutral, we've won.
524
00:43:10,413 --> 00:43:12,285
We've won.
525
00:44:58,086 --> 00:45:03,135
Didn't start out bad.
He basically said: "I'm opposed while I'm in here,
526
00:45:03,178 --> 00:45:04,919
you know, don't know what
I don't know."
527
00:45:04,963 --> 00:45:07,008
He said look my job is
readiness,
528
00:45:07,052 --> 00:45:10,751
it's not about equal opportunity
or equality. My job is readiness.
529
00:45:10,795 --> 00:45:12,884
More like that's what we're
all about. That's all yours.
530
00:45:12,927 --> 00:45:15,887
And Jenn said, "Sir, they
treat me like a male soldier."
531
00:45:15,930 --> 00:45:18,063
He says, "Well, I don't
actually want them to do that.
532
00:45:18,106 --> 00:45:20,239
They should treat you as a female
soldier." Right, Is that what he said?
533
00:45:20,282 --> 00:45:22,589
It's like they're making you use
male pronouns and I'm like, "Yeah."
534
00:45:22,632 --> 00:45:24,765
He's like, "And you going to--
which bathroom are you using?
535
00:45:24,809 --> 00:45:26,506
I said, they want me
using the male bathroom.
536
00:45:26,549 --> 00:45:28,943
And then he said like,
"Like have you had surgery?"
537
00:45:28,987 --> 00:45:30,945
She said, "I've had three
surgeries." And then he said,
538
00:45:30,989 --> 00:45:33,643
"What's up with your hair?
I need to hear this story."
539
00:45:33,687 --> 00:45:36,951
I was just like, "Well,
I keep it because I hope
540
00:45:36,995 --> 00:45:42,609
that it will convince people that I am a female
soldier that I have to pass as one of them."
541
00:45:42,652 --> 00:45:44,132
And here is
the other thing, he said,
542
00:45:44,176 --> 00:45:46,004
"I just want you
to know I had never met,
543
00:45:46,047 --> 00:45:49,007
to my knowledge, I have
never met a transgender person."
544
00:45:49,050 --> 00:45:53,141
That means he's never knowingly spoken
with a transgender soldier before.
545
00:45:53,185 --> 00:45:56,014
- And now it started -Yeah, he needed
to know, the applicants will tell you
546
00:45:56,057 --> 00:45:58,712
anything and you go, "Sir, I am not
an advocate, I'm just a soldier."
547
00:45:58,756 --> 00:46:01,933
The questions he had, we had
answers for all of them.
548
00:46:01,976 --> 00:46:06,546
He's like, "Transgender people commit suicide
at four times the rate of everyone else,
549
00:46:06,589 --> 00:46:08,809
-Is that correct?"
-And here's the thing,
550
00:46:08,853 --> 00:46:11,377
if you don't have access to
healthcare and you don't have a job
551
00:46:11,420 --> 00:46:14,380
and you don't have social support,
you are at risk for suicide.
552
00:46:14,423 --> 00:46:19,689
What do people in the army have? Access
to healthcare, a job, social support.
553
00:46:21,474 --> 00:46:28,002
I have a tremendous experience
and this very kind of real to me
554
00:46:28,046 --> 00:46:30,178
and maybe a little sobering.
555
00:46:30,222 --> 00:46:32,137
If I thought that
the same thing that,
556
00:46:32,180 --> 00:46:36,445
you know, this four-star general
Princeton Grad
557
00:46:37,359 --> 00:46:42,277
was struggling with in his mind is
gonna be the same for the rest of,
558
00:46:42,321 --> 00:46:45,628
you know, for so many more
Americans, specifically soldiers.
559
00:47:00,165 --> 00:47:04,560
We turn now to North Carolina
where a new measure restricting
560
00:47:04,604 --> 00:47:09,043
protections for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people
561
00:47:09,087 --> 00:47:12,307
is being called the toughest
law of its kind in the nation.
562
00:47:12,351 --> 00:47:16,181
Well, here's the bottom line,
the reason that the bathroom bill
563
00:47:16,224 --> 00:47:20,098
is center stage in the presidential
campaign is because it represents
564
00:47:20,141 --> 00:47:26,321
more than bathrooms. Some would argue,
I'm might, of an unraveling of our culture
565
00:47:26,365 --> 00:47:30,848
and perhaps our ability to plan
for the future as a species.
566
00:47:30,891 --> 00:47:35,026
I'm Jessica Taylor, I'm an
airline pilot, I am transgender.
567
00:47:35,069 --> 00:47:39,552
I wanna know, if you can see me, first
of all, what would make you uncomfortable
568
00:47:39,595 --> 00:47:41,946
with me using
the women's restroom?
569
00:47:43,382 --> 00:47:45,819
- She's a very attractive woman.
- Well,
570
00:47:47,038 --> 00:47:49,997
Very.
571
00:47:50,041 --> 00:47:56,308
A lot of transgender people are not-- a
lot of people-- a lot are not convincing
572
00:47:56,351 --> 00:47:59,789
in their presentation as the
opposite of their biological sex.
573
00:47:59,833 --> 00:48:04,011
And so, it's obvious to the people who see
them that this is actually a man in a dress
574
00:48:04,055 --> 00:48:06,144
and not a biological woman.
575
00:48:06,187 --> 00:48:10,017
OK, so who's gonna set the standard
as to appearance of female?
576
00:48:10,061 --> 00:48:13,064
Is there gonna be a TSA watching
the door of the bathroom
577
00:48:13,107 --> 00:48:15,718
and you're gonna say,
"Oh, you're not womanly enough."
578
00:48:15,762 --> 00:48:20,549
I know a lot of women and that are
very, you know, neutral in their gender
579
00:48:20,593 --> 00:48:22,987
and you're gonna tell them they can't--
they got to go use the men's restroom
580
00:48:23,030 --> 00:48:26,294
now in North Carolina?
Well, that makes sense.
581
00:48:26,338 --> 00:48:30,733
The point is-- This is an issue that
you and other transgender people
582
00:48:30,777 --> 00:48:34,172
have brought on yourself by choosing
to present yourselves-- -Oh, wow.
583
00:48:34,215 --> 00:48:36,914
-as the opposite
of your biological sex.
584
00:48:52,538 --> 00:48:56,716
So, today is Friday the 24th,
585
00:48:56,759 --> 00:48:59,023
we'll be leaving
out here on Monday.
586
00:49:03,244 --> 00:49:08,119
I don't want to leave.
I much rather stay here and extend if I could.
587
00:49:09,598 --> 00:49:16,127
I spent the last nine months being
seen as myself, being seen as male.
588
00:49:16,170 --> 00:49:22,655
I've gone by male reg and standards,
have lived with males without fault.
589
00:49:22,698 --> 00:49:25,005
I really don't
wanna go back home
590
00:49:25,049 --> 00:49:27,790
and have to go by
female reg, female standards.
591
00:49:29,618 --> 00:49:32,970
It sucks, 'cause out here people
think of it as real shitty conditions.
592
00:49:33,013 --> 00:49:37,409
You're in Kandahar, Afghanistan
going outside the wire
593
00:49:37,452 --> 00:49:39,585
and doing a dangerous mission.
594
00:49:40,499 --> 00:49:44,111
But I would much rather
be here than home.
595
00:49:53,642 --> 00:49:56,906
I'm really hoping that everything goes
well, that with my home based commander
596
00:49:56,950 --> 00:50:02,825
when I tell him about myself
and "Hey, I'm a trans-troop.
597
00:50:04,305 --> 00:50:09,006
I don't really want you to see me as
that, but I need to tell you that."
598
00:50:09,049 --> 00:50:14,707
Maybe see if they can give me some
leniency on dressing appearance,
599
00:50:14,750 --> 00:50:18,058
so I don't have to wear female
dress blues. I really don't--
600
00:50:22,106 --> 00:50:27,024
I just can't fathom that-- I can't fathom
having to do that after being out here.
601
00:50:37,947 --> 00:50:40,602
-Hey.
-Hey, my love.
602
00:50:40,646 --> 00:50:44,824
-We start boarding in an hour.
-I miss you.
603
00:50:46,086 --> 00:50:51,918
- I miss you. Are you going to be able to sleep?
- No, I'm not.
604
00:50:57,402 --> 00:51:01,884
My transition experience
is very different from Logan's.
605
00:51:01,928 --> 00:51:07,107
I've had a sit down with
my, uh, my second supervisor.
606
00:51:07,151 --> 00:51:11,155
And my question to her was, do
you think it will be best that I,
607
00:51:11,198 --> 00:51:15,246
you know, volunteer this
information to our main supervisor?
608
00:51:15,289 --> 00:51:18,118
And she said, "You know what?
Keep it to yourself.
609
00:51:18,162 --> 00:51:23,384
Don't say nothing because she's not for
anyone that falls under the LGBT Umbrella."
610
00:51:25,473 --> 00:51:29,129
I've seen other people by the
command, in general, in Hawaii,
611
00:51:29,173 --> 00:51:32,698
they have discharged, uh, service
members for being transgender.
612
00:51:32,741 --> 00:51:39,226
I have to pretend
that I am a male soldier.
613
00:51:39,270 --> 00:51:45,276
Every morning before I head to work, I spend
at least 20 to 25 minutes fixing my hair.
614
00:51:45,319 --> 00:51:52,370
I carry around a printout of the AR 670-1
regarding the hair regulations for males,
615
00:51:53,327 --> 00:51:56,765
because I know that someone
is going to say something to me.
616
00:51:56,809 --> 00:52:03,772
I slick it back and I part it, make
it look convincing that I'm a male.
617
00:52:03,816 --> 00:52:06,166
This face doesn't even say male.
618
00:52:06,210 --> 00:52:07,341
It's crazy.
619
00:52:10,388 --> 00:52:15,132
Society has painted
this picture that transwomen
620
00:52:15,175 --> 00:52:18,222
look like men in dresses where
they wear makeup and glitter
621
00:52:18,265 --> 00:52:21,877
and they prance around and they're
loud and that's all they do,
622
00:52:21,921 --> 00:52:24,576
but truth of
the matter is they don't.
623
00:52:26,317 --> 00:52:30,190
Incoming call from husband.
624
00:52:31,496 --> 00:52:32,584
Hello?
625
00:52:34,586 --> 00:52:35,413
Babe?
626
00:52:36,675 --> 00:52:38,111
- Where are you?
- I'm driving.
627
00:52:40,026 --> 00:52:45,510
-Just FYI, I smell like shit. -I
love you either ways, stinky or not.
628
00:52:46,989 --> 00:52:49,731
How far away are you out of---I don't know.
629
00:52:49,775 --> 00:52:54,040
-I'm just driving 60 miles.
-60 miles?
630
00:52:54,083 --> 00:52:57,304
-Yes. -Well, I'll message you
whenever we leave here, okay?
631
00:52:57,348 --> 00:52:59,915
-Okay, I love you.
-I love you. Bye.
632
00:53:07,314 --> 00:53:11,231
If you've met me in 2011 and told me
that I was going to be marrying a man
633
00:53:11,275 --> 00:53:14,060
who also happens
to be transgender,
634
00:53:14,103 --> 00:53:15,844
I would've told
you to get out of here.
635
00:53:18,107 --> 00:53:20,762
That in itself would have been just like,
"Who are you and why are you lying to me?"
636
00:53:20,806 --> 00:53:24,113
Like I know that--
that no way, but here I am
637
00:53:25,811 --> 00:53:30,381
engaged to a transman
638
00:53:31,382 --> 00:53:34,776
from Texas
who's in the Air Force.
639
00:55:13,135 --> 00:55:15,050
How are you going to do
this? How are you to do this?
640
00:55:15,094 --> 00:55:17,575
Go into the road.
641
00:55:37,072 --> 00:55:41,381
We've been married for 11
years but together for 13.
642
00:55:44,732 --> 00:55:50,477
She decided to join the Military
and so we married on a Saturday
643
00:55:50,521 --> 00:55:54,133
and she left for basic
training that Wednesday.
644
00:55:58,093 --> 00:56:00,705
- Hold up.
- -Alright children, come here.
645
00:56:07,494 --> 00:56:10,062
- Love you.
- Where's momma?
646
00:56:10,105 --> 00:56:12,673
- Oh, right here.
- Where's mommy?
647
00:56:14,066 --> 00:56:15,937
Right here.
648
00:56:15,981 --> 00:56:19,245
I was about six months
pregnant with Emilia
649
00:56:19,288 --> 00:56:23,771
when she told me she
thought she was a transwoman.
650
00:56:25,643 --> 00:56:30,604
I absolutely thought at
the time that it would go away.
651
00:56:30,648 --> 00:56:32,563
I ignored it for months
652
00:56:33,564 --> 00:56:38,264
and I would just become very angry
every time she wanted to talk about it.
653
00:56:44,183 --> 00:56:46,446
I was scared
she would get kicked out
654
00:56:46,490 --> 00:56:49,623
and she was
the breadwinner of the family.
655
00:56:51,973 --> 00:56:55,455
I didn't know how we would
move on with our lives
656
00:56:55,499 --> 00:56:56,761
if something happened.
657
00:57:04,508 --> 00:57:07,641
Um, I went through
a grieving process.
658
00:57:07,685 --> 00:57:11,906
The very last stage, I finally
grieved the person I thought she was.
659
00:57:11,950 --> 00:57:17,521
I had to say goodbye to this
person that I thought she was.
660
00:57:25,311 --> 00:57:28,009
And all of a sudden,
it was just different.
661
00:57:28,053 --> 00:57:32,666
It didn't matter, I didn't
care, um, I just loved her.
662
00:57:32,710 --> 00:57:35,843
Being scared about
the Military kicking her out,
663
00:57:35,887 --> 00:57:38,455
I just told myself we'll figure
it out if something happens.
664
00:57:42,589 --> 00:57:45,897
But I need you to do this
because I don't want to lose you.
665
00:57:57,474 --> 00:58:00,825
So today, I'm being pulled
into my commander's office,
666
00:58:02,479 --> 00:58:04,481
I don't know what he
wants to talk to me about.
667
00:58:09,703 --> 00:58:14,229
We go in, he's like, "Hey man, just want to
thank you for everything you did at Kandahar.
668
00:58:14,273 --> 00:58:16,710
Um, we heard really
great things about you."
669
00:58:16,754 --> 00:58:21,236
And he said, "We have your back 150%.
Whatever you need to do, do it."
670
00:58:21,280 --> 00:58:24,196
He's like,
"Okay, um, you're blues.
671
00:58:24,239 --> 00:58:28,548
They-- You're not wearing
them, are you or are you not?
672
00:58:28,592 --> 00:58:31,725
Because you have female blues and
those are way out of standard for you,
673
00:58:31,769 --> 00:58:35,860
you need to get rid of those."
I'm like, "No shit?"
674
00:58:35,903 --> 00:58:39,428
-So that means? -That means
I got to go buy male blues.
675
00:58:41,039 --> 00:58:44,129
I got so excited
because that's huge.
676
00:58:44,172 --> 00:58:47,785
-This is the first to
my knowledge. -Yeah.
677
00:58:47,828 --> 00:58:51,571
Yes, you're telling me to screw dressing
and now I'm going by male dressing
678
00:58:51,615 --> 00:58:53,660
appearance standards too.
679
00:58:53,704 --> 00:58:57,011
So, I don't have to
grow my hair out ,
680
00:58:58,012 --> 00:58:59,710
and I can have
a shitty mustache.
681
00:59:44,929 --> 00:59:49,063
So this is where, like
it becomes really irritating
682
00:59:49,107 --> 00:59:54,068
because... he has a situation
683
00:59:54,112 --> 00:59:56,723
where he has to wear
a male uniform.
684
00:59:58,638 --> 01:00:00,161
And I have to go today--
685
01:00:01,293 --> 01:00:03,730
I have to go today
and get my hair cut,
686
01:00:03,774 --> 01:00:06,690
because it's not
within male standards.
687
01:00:08,300 --> 01:00:09,518
It's quite unfortunate.
688
01:00:14,262 --> 01:00:15,133
Whatever.
689
01:00:16,264 --> 01:00:18,440
They need a change
of policy ASAP.
690
01:00:23,924 --> 01:00:27,536
- What?
- -Then in 15 minutes I can come and help.
691
01:00:28,494 --> 01:00:29,582
15, huh.
692
01:00:32,106 --> 01:00:33,934
I cannot tell
if these are clean.
693
01:00:37,721 --> 01:00:38,722
They smell clean.
694
01:00:45,380 --> 01:00:47,339
I've been
deployed before, twice.
695
01:00:48,645 --> 01:00:52,387
For a total of 24--
25 and a half months.
696
01:00:52,431 --> 01:00:55,086
This is going to be
my second deployment to Iraq.
697
01:00:59,307 --> 01:01:02,180
I'm not out
to anyone in this unit.
698
01:01:04,225 --> 01:01:09,317
I'm just gonna make sure everything
that needs to get in here, gets in here.
699
01:01:10,492 --> 01:01:14,671
So, the coming out thing,
I don't think it's simple.
700
01:01:16,760 --> 01:01:21,765
Imagine if you're my soldier or you're my
battle buddy and I'm deploying with you
701
01:01:21,808 --> 01:01:24,942
and I tell you this thing. Now
we're scheduled to be roommates,
702
01:01:24,985 --> 01:01:27,161
you have to sleep
in the bed next to me.
703
01:01:27,205 --> 01:01:29,511
You share a room with me, right?
704
01:01:29,555 --> 01:01:32,297
So I've been the same person
with the same deep voice,
705
01:01:32,340 --> 01:01:37,345
with the same five o'clock
shadow, come 1:30 in the day.
706
01:01:38,912 --> 01:01:41,175
But now you're uncomfortable
and you have a name for it.
707
01:01:41,219 --> 01:01:44,918
Then it becomes very much not
about my comfort or my safety,
708
01:01:44,962 --> 01:01:47,181
it becomes about your
comfort and your safety
709
01:01:47,225 --> 01:01:51,359
because you feel threatened that
I'm the same person I was yesterday
710
01:01:51,403 --> 01:01:53,797
or an hour ago before I
told you anything about me.
711
01:02:01,456 --> 01:02:03,720
I had to get ready he'll come in a minute.
There's my son.
712
01:02:07,811 --> 01:02:08,942
Hey, my darling.
713
01:02:09,943 --> 01:02:12,467
No key. Oh.
714
01:02:13,686 --> 01:02:16,776
Oh, mama.
715
01:02:16,820 --> 01:02:19,692
-Alright. -I really have to
get you a ride, for real.
716
01:02:19,736 --> 01:02:23,783
-No, no, no. -So, tell
me about your leaving.
717
01:02:23,827 --> 01:02:25,480
-Leaving me.
-My leaving.
718
01:02:25,524 --> 01:02:28,745
How many is going to deploy
with you tonight?
719
01:02:28,788 --> 01:02:35,839
Total is like 1300 of us. It's like 10
flights over, you know, throughout the month.
720
01:02:35,882 --> 01:02:38,711
If I told you what this day,
kind of, has been like--
721
01:02:38,755 --> 01:02:41,758
That's why I try not
to call you 50 times a day,
722
01:02:41,801 --> 01:02:45,413
-I only called you three.
-Okay, that works.
723
01:02:46,850 --> 01:02:49,548
-And then I didn't talk long.
-I appreciate it.
724
01:02:50,897 --> 01:02:56,381
El always identified with
the boys and I just thought,
725
01:02:56,424 --> 01:03:00,777
"Oh, he's just going to be
a tomboy like I was growing up."
726
01:03:03,692 --> 01:03:09,394
El came out transgender, it was like
something had hit me in my chest.
727
01:03:09,437 --> 01:03:13,224
At the time
he was away at West Point.
728
01:03:13,267 --> 01:03:18,229
And so he came home
and he was saying things like,
729
01:03:18,272 --> 01:03:22,363
"Mom, you know you going to
have to change those pronouns."
730
01:03:22,407 --> 01:03:26,933
And so, I would walk away not
knowing what the heck he meant.
731
01:03:28,674 --> 01:03:32,069
Until one day I said,
"What does that mean?."
732
01:03:33,287 --> 01:03:36,987
He said, "I'm transgender now."
733
01:03:37,030 --> 01:03:39,206
And I said, "Well,
what does that mean?"
734
01:03:39,250 --> 01:03:44,690
She goes, "Okay. I mean, can't you
just be a really masculine lesbian?"
735
01:03:44,733 --> 01:03:48,476
I had to go on the computer,
I had to do a little research.
736
01:03:48,520 --> 01:03:54,047
I went to a pastor because
I was so torn, I was so broken,
737
01:03:54,091 --> 01:03:58,617
I was looking for answers and he
didn't seem at all surprised.
738
01:03:59,487 --> 01:04:02,708
And he said, "well,
Jean, just simmer down,
739
01:04:02,751 --> 01:04:06,451
he said you know he'll be all
right and you'll be all right."
740
01:04:06,494 --> 01:04:10,324
And so he took me to,
I think it was the 3rd chapter,
741
01:04:10,368 --> 01:04:17,288
I think of John the 35th verse where
Jesus was speaking to his disciples.
742
01:04:17,331 --> 01:04:20,552
And he left
his last commandment,
743
01:04:20,595 --> 01:04:24,382
"As to love everyone
as I have loved you.
744
01:04:24,425 --> 01:04:28,516
And people will know that you
are my disciples by your love."
745
01:04:28,560 --> 01:04:32,738
He said ,"put a period
there and keep on living
746
01:04:32,781 --> 01:04:35,523
and let El keep on
living his life."
747
01:04:35,567 --> 01:04:38,222
-Oh...
-Sure.
748
01:04:38,265 --> 01:04:40,833
You got big muscles.
749
01:04:40,877 --> 01:04:45,620
She went from being "I don't understand
this" to "I'm your biggest cheerleader."
750
01:04:45,664 --> 01:04:49,537
Any slight talk of discriminating
against a trans-person and she's like,
751
01:04:49,581 --> 01:04:52,540
"Do we need to go to Capitol
Hills? Should I write Obama."
752
01:04:52,584 --> 01:04:55,152
Yes, but I have
had a long day too.
753
01:04:56,501 --> 01:04:58,851
Tell me about it,
what did you do?
754
01:04:58,895 --> 01:05:01,941
-Prayed and cried.
-Cried and prayed.
755
01:05:01,985 --> 01:05:06,250
Prayed to God. Shift me.
Shift me back and forth.
756
01:05:07,904 --> 01:05:10,558
-Love me.
-Love. Let me ask you this.
757
01:05:10,602 --> 01:05:17,391
Would you please stay in touch? Keep
your-- keep your phone charged up.
758
01:05:22,831 --> 01:05:26,009
-Send me on my way. -Straighten
up. Up and up and out.
759
01:05:27,445 --> 01:05:29,969
- Christ.
- -Our Father and our God,
760
01:05:30,013 --> 01:05:34,017
hear us as we pray. Protect
him every step of the way.
761
01:05:36,976 --> 01:05:40,632
- You're going to leave me?
- I'm going. I'll be back.
762
01:05:41,502 --> 01:05:47,900
I guess, like every parent, they have
that fear and they have that anxiety
763
01:05:47,944 --> 01:05:52,383
about their child
going off to war.
764
01:06:33,467 --> 01:06:35,034
When I first
started working here.
765
01:06:35,078 --> 01:06:38,646
I didn't know who knew
that I was trans.
766
01:06:38,690 --> 01:06:41,475
It's been a big deal the last
couple of units that I've been in.
767
01:06:41,519 --> 01:06:47,525
I was here in two or three months before
I even knew that the Command was aware.
768
01:06:47,568 --> 01:06:49,266
The leadership here is amazing.
769
01:06:55,620 --> 01:07:01,408
Going to Mississippi for a week
and then I go to the desert.
770
01:07:02,627 --> 01:07:06,500
So when you go out like, you're driving
your truck and just sleep in the truck
771
01:07:06,544 --> 01:07:10,461
or whatever that you're in
or on a rock somewhere.
772
01:07:10,504 --> 01:07:16,902
And then in the garrison it's like a big,
long, open tent with like 12 bunk beds.
773
01:07:16,945 --> 01:07:19,861
They'll have so many female
tents, then so many male tents.
774
01:07:19,905 --> 01:07:23,474
I'm hoping it goes smooth,
but kind of worried about that.
775
01:07:29,088 --> 01:07:32,961
I am here at Fort
Hunter Liggett for an exercise
776
01:07:33,005 --> 01:07:35,877
and I am sleeping
in the female barracks.
777
01:07:35,921 --> 01:07:39,794
I took a shower in the female
shower, use the female bathroom
778
01:07:40,839 --> 01:07:46,062
and now I'm relaxing in bed,
getting ready for work tomorrow.
779
01:07:46,105 --> 01:07:49,761
There hasn't been an issue. I don't
expect there's going to be an issue.
780
01:07:49,804 --> 01:07:54,200
I may be the first transwoman sleeping
in female barracks in the Army.
781
01:07:54,244 --> 01:07:56,550
It shouldn't be any
more complicated than that.
782
01:07:59,336 --> 01:08:00,206
Good night.
783
01:08:05,864 --> 01:08:07,953
-Hey.
-Hey.
784
01:08:08,823 --> 01:08:09,824
How are you?
785
01:08:12,262 --> 01:08:13,741
A little stressed out, babe.
786
01:08:16,309 --> 01:08:17,789
A little bit.
787
01:08:17,832 --> 01:08:19,138
You want to talk about it or...
788
01:08:21,184 --> 01:08:26,580
No, I just have stuff on my uniform and
it's like I'm on crunch time right now,
789
01:08:26,624 --> 01:08:28,191
but whatever. What's going on?
790
01:08:29,192 --> 01:08:33,979
Well, you look good in it.
If that, that means anything.
791
01:08:34,022 --> 01:08:34,893
Crazy.
792
01:08:37,461 --> 01:08:40,638
So, I have an exception to policy
letter, which means I can go by male regs
793
01:08:40,681 --> 01:08:42,248
and standards
and be seen as male.
794
01:08:42,292 --> 01:08:46,861
Laila, my fiancé,
my rock, my everything,
795
01:08:46,905 --> 01:08:48,124
she's got nothing.
796
01:08:52,954 --> 01:08:57,655
And I almost hate when I have something
positive to tell her about my day
797
01:08:57,698 --> 01:08:59,396
like, "Well, I got to do this."
798
01:08:59,439 --> 01:09:03,095
When hers is, it's
almost never in a positive note.
799
01:09:03,139 --> 01:09:05,184
So, how's your
out processing going?
800
01:09:11,712 --> 01:09:18,937
Uhm, out-processing is out-
processing, and it's become
801
01:09:18,980 --> 01:09:21,069
a hassle running back and forth
802
01:09:21,113 --> 01:09:23,942
because I don't
have certain things
803
01:09:23,985 --> 01:09:30,166
and my gender marker
isn't right in the system.
804
01:09:32,298 --> 01:09:34,779
You know how that goes, so...
805
01:09:34,822 --> 01:09:36,868
Trust me, I definitely know.
806
01:09:39,262 --> 01:09:44,397
I would say that I'm excited about the
fact that when this policy changes,
807
01:09:44,441 --> 01:09:49,837
I'm not going to have to slick back
my hair anymore, but unfortunately
808
01:09:49,881 --> 01:09:54,799
I won't be in to see that change, but
I'll be alive to see that change, so...
809
01:09:54,842 --> 01:09:56,235
-Yes.
-That's a good thing.
810
01:10:02,110 --> 01:10:06,854
So I felt that my leadership was
basically building a case against me.
811
01:10:06,898 --> 01:10:10,380
Anyone who has served knows
that a dishonorable discharge
812
01:10:10,423 --> 01:10:13,296
means you don't
retain any benefits at all.
813
01:10:13,339 --> 01:10:15,863
I wouldn't be able to
get a job on the outside.
814
01:10:15,907 --> 01:10:19,171
And so I chose to stick
with the honorable discharge
815
01:10:19,215 --> 01:10:22,566
and the medical separation because
I wanted to retain my benefits.
816
01:10:22,609 --> 01:10:24,437
Everything that I
worked for in 12 years.
817
01:10:32,053 --> 01:10:34,099
- Does it snow in Oklahoma?
- -I don't know.
818
01:10:34,142 --> 01:10:37,711
Well, it did when I
went for basic training.
819
01:10:37,755 --> 01:10:39,409
That was at Fort, so,
that's about an hour away.
820
01:10:39,452 --> 01:10:42,020
What is it there to do in
Oklahoma? I've never been.
821
01:10:42,063 --> 01:10:44,327
Depends on what part
of Oklahoma you're in.
822
01:10:44,370 --> 01:10:47,112
Like, where I'm going
to be at, there's nothing.
823
01:10:47,155 --> 01:10:49,636
Where's Oklahoma? Is that
the south? Is that the north?
824
01:10:49,680 --> 01:10:52,335
-West. Midwest.
-West? Midwest?
825
01:10:53,379 --> 01:10:56,034
-Central.
-Central.
826
01:10:56,077 --> 01:10:59,124
Yeah, Central. West Central.
827
01:11:00,865 --> 01:11:03,346
-Is that it?
-I'm just trying over here.
828
01:11:04,608 --> 01:11:05,957
There's so much there.
829
01:11:07,828 --> 01:11:11,310
Okay. So like, places like that,
that's what get you like, scared.
830
01:11:13,965 --> 01:11:16,620
I think it's just like that
with anywhere, though.
831
01:11:16,663 --> 01:11:19,536
I'd be scared, except here.
832
01:11:19,579 --> 01:11:22,408
It says, "Oklahoma law
does not address discrimination
833
01:11:22,452 --> 01:11:25,106
based on gender identity
or sexual orientation."
834
01:11:26,020 --> 01:11:29,067
Oh, I don't know if it's joking.
835
01:11:29,110 --> 01:11:30,851
What is-- What does it say?
836
01:11:30,895 --> 01:11:33,854
State law does not address
hate crimes based on gender.
837
01:11:33,898 --> 01:11:36,204
So there's no
laws that address--
838
01:11:36,248 --> 01:11:38,468
So basically you're unprotected.
839
01:11:38,511 --> 01:11:39,947
Kind of, sort of, yeah.
840
01:11:44,387 --> 01:11:48,347
-Yes, see I don't know.
-You'll be fine, though.
841
01:11:48,391 --> 01:11:50,218
Yeah, I think so,
I think It'll be fine.
842
01:11:55,659 --> 01:11:57,878
The Republican presidential
contest is heating up.
843
01:11:57,922 --> 01:12:01,229
I do not appreciate
844
01:12:01,273 --> 01:12:05,364
using
our military as a laboratory.
845
01:12:05,408 --> 01:12:08,236
The Military is
not a social experiment,
846
01:12:08,280 --> 01:12:11,065
the purpose of the Military
is kill people and break things.
847
01:12:12,676 --> 01:12:16,419
If Caitlyn Jenner would walk into Trump
Tower and want to use the bathroom,
848
01:12:16,462 --> 01:12:21,249
-you would be fine with her using any
bathroom she chooses. -That is correct.
849
01:12:21,293 --> 01:12:26,646
LGBT is starting to like Donald
Trump very much like lately,
850
01:12:26,690 --> 01:12:27,821
I will tell you.
851
01:12:35,263 --> 01:12:38,049
This is our meeting with
the chief staff of the Army,
852
01:12:38,092 --> 01:12:40,530
we've been back
for multiple meetings.
853
01:12:47,624 --> 01:12:50,061
I'm meeting with the Commandant
of the Marine Corps.
854
01:12:56,459 --> 01:12:59,026
I'm meeting with the Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
855
01:13:01,202 --> 01:13:03,204
I wish I knew like,
what they want to know.
856
01:13:03,248 --> 01:13:06,773
I wish I knew what it is
that they want to hear from us
857
01:13:06,817 --> 01:13:09,602
or what piece of information
they feel like is missing.
858
01:13:11,169 --> 01:13:14,520
We talked about like, this is what we
think bathroom policy should look like,
859
01:13:14,564 --> 01:13:18,132
this is what we think PT's policy should
look like and they kept getting caught up on,
860
01:13:18,176 --> 01:13:21,048
"Well, what if a service member needs
longer? What if they're not ready?
861
01:13:21,092 --> 01:13:23,007
What if there's
a transitional time?
862
01:13:23,050 --> 01:13:27,664
What if a service member fails
a PT test after transition?"
863
01:13:27,707 --> 01:13:30,754
-Then they fail a PT test.
-Right. And the one guy goes,
864
01:13:30,797 --> 01:13:33,060
"What if a transgender
service member has other issues
865
01:13:33,104 --> 01:13:34,584
outside of being transgender?"
866
01:13:34,627 --> 01:13:36,324
-Well, what issue?
-I'm like, I don't know.
867
01:13:36,368 --> 01:13:37,717
If we couldn't get this done
868
01:13:37,761 --> 01:13:40,067
before this president
leaves office,
869
01:13:40,111 --> 01:13:45,290
it could be
another five to ten years.
870
01:13:45,333 --> 01:13:49,294
My biggest worry is, "Holy shit,
if we're where we thought we were,
871
01:13:49,337 --> 01:13:52,253
these questions should've
been asked six months ago.
872
01:13:52,297 --> 01:13:55,256
They should've been
answered in fucking January."
873
01:13:55,300 --> 01:13:57,650
What are they still doing?"
874
01:13:59,130 --> 01:14:02,089
So, we were still trying to get a meeting
with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
875
01:14:02,133 --> 01:14:05,745
and it's the end of June.
876
01:14:05,789 --> 01:14:09,575
So we get this requested meeting
with the Secretary of Defense.
877
01:14:12,491 --> 01:14:14,667
We didn't see this coming, no.
878
01:14:14,711 --> 01:14:17,017
We did not expect
this meeting to happen.
879
01:14:20,934 --> 01:14:24,242
Every other meeting we've
gone into, you always hope that
880
01:14:24,285 --> 01:14:27,898
they introduce you to more people
and there's another meeting.
881
01:14:27,941 --> 01:14:31,641
And I don't think anybody's
thinking about that today,
882
01:14:31,684 --> 01:14:35,383
I think today is
the last meeting there can be.
883
01:14:35,427 --> 01:14:41,172
After we talked to the Secretary of Defense, I
don't-- I don't know that there's a follow on
884
01:14:41,215 --> 01:14:43,696
that you need to have.
There's nowhere else to go.
885
01:14:45,959 --> 01:14:48,092
I'm hoping that today it's
happening because they're preparing
886
01:14:48,135 --> 01:14:49,833
to release the policy soon.
887
01:14:56,579 --> 01:14:58,494
-Good.
-Okay, you guys ready?
888
01:14:58,537 --> 01:15:00,974
-Yes, ma'am. -All right,
let's rock and roll.
889
01:15:17,817 --> 01:15:19,906
Good afternoon, everyone
thanks for being here.
890
01:15:21,342 --> 01:15:26,260
I'm here today to announce some changes
in the Defense Department's policies
891
01:15:26,304 --> 01:15:28,959
regarding
transgender service members.
892
01:15:29,002 --> 01:15:35,313
The Defense Department and the Military need to avail ourselves of all talent possible,
893
01:15:35,356 --> 01:15:41,449
in order to remain what we are now the finest
fighting force the world has ever known.
894
01:15:41,493 --> 01:15:46,411
Last July I directed the commencement of
a study to identify the practical issues
895
01:15:46,454 --> 01:15:49,980
related to transgender
Americans serving openly.
896
01:15:50,023 --> 01:15:53,418
We had to look carefully
and deliberately, but medical,
897
01:15:53,461 --> 01:15:55,899
legal and policy
considerations that--
898
01:15:55,942 --> 01:15:59,642
We had to take into account the
unique nature of military readiness
899
01:15:59,685 --> 01:16:02,427
and make sure we got it right.
I think it's fair to say,
900
01:16:02,470 --> 01:16:05,822
this has been an educational
process for a lot of people here
901
01:16:05,865 --> 01:16:07,563
in the Department, including me.
902
01:16:09,652 --> 01:16:12,568
I'm announcing today that we're ending
the ban on transgender Americans
903
01:16:12,611 --> 01:16:14,178
in the United States Military.
904
01:16:14,221 --> 01:16:16,659
Yes, yes, yes!
905
01:16:19,531 --> 01:16:22,229
Taking these steps,
we're eliminating policies
906
01:16:22,273 --> 01:16:25,885
that can result in transgender
members being treated differently
907
01:16:25,929 --> 01:16:29,410
from their peers based solely
upon their gender identity
908
01:16:29,454 --> 01:16:31,369
rather than upon
their ability to serve.
909
01:16:33,589 --> 01:16:36,635
We're confirming that going forward, we will apply the same general principles,
910
01:16:36,679 --> 01:16:39,595
standards and procedures
to transgender service members
911
01:16:39,638 --> 01:16:41,727
as we do to all service members.
912
01:16:48,038 --> 01:16:51,694
Policy has been
changed, ya'll, hallelujah!
913
01:16:52,695 --> 01:16:55,654
Oh my God.
914
01:16:55,698 --> 01:16:59,092
All this is definitely hitting me a
little more than I thought it would.
915
01:17:05,490 --> 01:17:07,753
It's just nice to
finally be recognized
916
01:17:10,321 --> 01:17:13,106
and to hear someone else say all
the things we've been saying.
917
01:17:18,329 --> 01:17:19,330
Yeah, it's a good day.
918
01:17:34,650 --> 01:17:37,304
I'm looking up
like, wedding dances.
919
01:17:38,305 --> 01:17:43,963
I can barely walk in a straight
line. I mean, you want me to dance?
920
01:17:44,007 --> 01:17:46,009
-Shopping, shopping.
-Okay.
921
01:17:46,052 --> 01:17:48,359
-I got pepper, pepper.
-Oh, put on some sea salt.
922
01:17:48,402 --> 01:17:49,839
-Salt, salt.
-Oh.
923
01:17:49,882 --> 01:17:52,058
That's good. That was good.
924
01:17:53,756 --> 01:17:55,235
-You all right, Laila?
-Yeah.
925
01:17:58,151 --> 01:18:01,981
You ready? You can chicken out
if you want right now, you know.
926
01:18:03,940 --> 01:18:04,810
I love you.
927
01:18:43,893 --> 01:18:47,766
The Republican
nomination for the US Presidency was finally settled.
928
01:18:47,810 --> 01:18:52,553
John Kasich's exit today
after Ted Cruz's last night...
929
01:18:52,597 --> 01:18:55,600
We gave it everything we've got.
930
01:18:55,643 --> 01:18:57,994
-...left it all to one person.
-The voters.
931
01:18:58,037 --> 01:19:00,474
-Maybe you've heard of him. -We
had a tremendous victory tonight,
932
01:19:00,518 --> 01:19:01,911
It was a tremendous victory.
933
01:19:04,609 --> 01:19:09,832
So when the ban was lifted, I was in Taji,
Iraq and we were supporting an advise
934
01:19:09,875 --> 01:19:13,487
and assist mission
to help the Iraqi army
935
01:19:13,531 --> 01:19:15,489
into Mosul to defeat ISIS.
936
01:19:17,927 --> 01:19:21,757
We were are all sitting around the
table, I'm just nervous, I'm sweating.
937
01:19:21,800 --> 01:19:24,672
I'm just like, "Oh, God." Like, "How am I
going to like, how am I going to tell them,
938
01:19:24,716 --> 01:19:27,632
but I have to tell them."
Then I said, "T,
939
01:19:28,981 --> 01:19:31,244
I want you guys to
know something about me,
940
01:19:31,288 --> 01:19:35,118
this is who I am and this is-- These
are the steps I'll be taking once
941
01:19:35,161 --> 01:19:38,382
we get back to the States, but
I want you all to know that."
942
01:19:38,425 --> 01:19:42,908
And it was so inconsequential
to them that it was like,
943
01:19:42,952 --> 01:19:47,783
"You're ours, you're my officer,
you're my leader, we don't care.
944
01:19:47,826 --> 01:19:51,961
Pass the ketchup, pass the hot sauce.
Let's eat so we get back to the office."
945
01:19:52,004 --> 01:19:55,529
Four polls that have Clinton
up by at least 10 points,
946
01:19:55,573 --> 01:20:00,360
could we be seeing our first
true landslide in a long time.
947
01:20:03,581 --> 01:20:06,323
I am preparing to take
the AFOQT which stands for
948
01:20:06,366 --> 01:20:08,368
the Air Force Officer
Qualifying test.
949
01:20:09,369 --> 01:20:12,459
I've been doing math tutoring on
my days off, paying out of pocket.
950
01:20:17,900 --> 01:20:20,076
I want to stay in
the Military until retirement
951
01:20:20,119 --> 01:20:23,209
and why not take a
shot at becoming an officer?
952
01:20:28,824 --> 01:20:33,045
At this point, it seems the election could be won by either candidate.
953
01:20:33,089 --> 01:20:36,353
The latest average of national polls shows Hillary Clinton
954
01:20:36,396 --> 01:20:38,616
about two points
ahead of Donald Trump.
955
01:20:50,193 --> 01:20:52,891
We watch very closely
company command positions
956
01:20:52,935 --> 01:20:55,633
because we put a lot on the
shoulders of company commanders.
957
01:20:55,676 --> 01:20:57,635
They have incredible
responsibilities,
958
01:20:57,678 --> 01:21:01,030
they can exercise the Uniform
Code of Military Injustice
959
01:21:01,073 --> 01:21:03,859
and they
can also adjudicate law.
960
01:21:03,902 --> 01:21:08,472
These positions are revered in our army
necessarily and we choose very carefully.
961
01:21:14,870 --> 01:21:18,395
It's my prerogative alone
who takes that company command
962
01:21:18,438 --> 01:21:22,616
but I asked five key leaders
who are my closest advisers,
963
01:21:22,660 --> 01:21:25,489
who they thought should be the
next Headquarters and Headquarters
964
01:21:25,532 --> 01:21:28,971
Company Commander and their
recommendation was unanimous.
965
01:21:29,014 --> 01:21:31,495
They all thought Captain
Peace was the clear choice.
966
01:21:41,722 --> 01:21:44,508
If somebody asks me if
Captain Peace serving in my unit
967
01:21:44,551 --> 01:21:49,165
was a social experiment, my retort
would be pretty clear and pretty quick.
968
01:21:49,208 --> 01:21:51,558
I don't experiment
with command positions.
969
01:21:51,602 --> 01:21:56,955
That position was clear and obvious
for me that she was right for the job.
970
01:21:56,999 --> 01:22:00,437
Her performance and her potential
were outstanding and frankly,
971
01:22:00,480 --> 01:22:02,830
outpaced those of her peers.
972
01:22:02,874 --> 01:22:05,224
This is one of the greatest organizations
that I've had the opportunity
973
01:22:05,268 --> 01:22:09,968
to serve in my career. I look forward
to being able to support and enable you
974
01:22:10,012 --> 01:22:12,101
in the mission
of the years ahead.
975
01:22:12,144 --> 01:22:14,320
Head Hunters.
976
01:22:17,367 --> 01:22:20,718
Right now, a historic moment.
We can now project the winner
977
01:22:20,761 --> 01:22:22,981
of the Presidential Race
CNN projects.
978
01:22:23,025 --> 01:22:25,853
Donald Trump
wins the Presidency.
979
01:22:36,038 --> 01:22:39,911
What we're going to learn today,
is about transgender individuals.
980
01:22:39,955 --> 01:22:43,219
Without further ado, I
want to introduce Laila Ireland.
981
01:22:45,569 --> 01:22:48,093
Um, Aloha
and good morning everybody.
982
01:22:48,137 --> 01:22:51,053
Like Lindsey said,
I am a transgender individual.
983
01:22:51,096 --> 01:22:52,532
I'm an Army Veteran.
984
01:22:54,578 --> 01:22:58,451
Since I left the Military, I've been
able to go on these speaking engagements
985
01:22:58,495 --> 01:23:01,715
where I talk about
being trans in the Military.
986
01:23:01,759 --> 01:23:06,894
I came out to my parents two weeks
before I actually left home to deploy.
987
01:23:07,939 --> 01:23:10,768
It was tough.
It was a tough time and...
988
01:23:10,811 --> 01:23:15,338
I really wish that I could still be in
the Military and put the uniform on,
989
01:23:15,381 --> 01:23:20,996
but my purpose is now to make sure that
this doesn't happen to anybody else.
990
01:23:25,913 --> 01:23:31,528
I was at a 30-plus day training
rotation in the middle of Fort Bliss,
991
01:23:31,571 --> 01:23:33,965
Texas/New Mexico
992
01:23:34,009 --> 01:23:38,361
and I... You know, I just started
getting these texts, and it's just like,
993
01:23:38,404 --> 01:23:41,625
"I'm so sorry, are you okay?"
994
01:23:41,668 --> 01:23:44,367
I'm like, "My parents die?"
995
01:23:44,410 --> 01:23:46,456
I'm like, " What is going on?"
996
01:23:46,499 --> 01:23:48,110
I didn't even
see it on Facebook.
997
01:23:48,153 --> 01:23:50,025
I asked them and I was
like, "What do you mean?"
998
01:23:50,068 --> 01:23:53,115
And they like, you know
"The President's tweets"
999
01:24:30,848 --> 01:24:34,199
15,000.
Thank you for your service.
1000
01:24:34,243 --> 01:24:38,116
15,000. Thank you
for your service.
1001
01:24:38,160 --> 01:24:42,077
15,000. Thank you
for your service.
1002
01:24:42,120 --> 01:24:45,819
Secretary of Defense, James
Mattis, is reportedly appalled
1003
01:24:45,863 --> 01:24:49,214
by the President's decision
to ban transgender people
1004
01:24:49,258 --> 01:24:50,737
from serving in the Military.
1005
01:24:50,781 --> 01:24:55,916
Shame. Shame. Shame.
Shame. Shame. Shame.
1006
01:24:55,960 --> 01:24:59,746
Thursday, the Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs, General Joseph Dunford,
1007
01:24:59,790 --> 01:25:03,489
released this written statement, that there will be no
modifications
1008
01:25:03,533 --> 01:25:07,058
to the current policy until the
President's direction has been received
1009
01:25:07,102 --> 01:25:12,368
by the Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary has issued implementation guidance.
1010
01:25:12,411 --> 01:25:16,676
In the meantime, we will continue to
treat all of our personnel with respect.
1011
01:25:17,677 --> 01:25:20,071
But I do want to reiterate
one thing up front.
1012
01:25:20,115 --> 01:25:24,075
Uh, it's this issue of the transgender
news that came out, uh, the other day.
1013
01:25:24,119 --> 01:25:27,774
Uh, and it should be no surprise
to anyone, but the entire force,
1014
01:25:27,818 --> 01:25:33,215
the entire chain of command will,
always has, will today and will tomorrow
1015
01:25:33,258 --> 01:25:37,915
and always should, treat every single
soldier, sailor, airmen, marine, coastguard
1016
01:25:37,958 --> 01:25:42,137
with dignity and respect for their service
and the Cloth of our Nation, bar none.
1017
01:25:42,180 --> 01:25:46,663
Why did you try to
announce the transgender ban reversal a couple of weeks ago?
1018
01:25:46,706 --> 01:25:50,057
-Are you betraying a community that you
pledged to support... -No, no. Look,
1019
01:25:50,101 --> 01:25:51,711
I have great respect
for the community.
1020
01:25:51,755 --> 01:25:55,715
I think I have had great
support from that community
1021
01:25:55,759 --> 01:26:01,112
I got a lot of votes. But the transgender,
the Military is working on it now.
1022
01:26:01,156 --> 01:26:05,638
They're doing the work. It's
been a very difficult situation.
1023
01:26:05,682 --> 01:26:12,123
And I think I'm doing a lot of people
a favor by coming out and just say it.
1024
01:26:12,167 --> 01:26:16,040
As you know, it's been a very
complicated issue for the Military.
1025
01:26:16,083 --> 01:26:18,216
It's been a very
confusing issue for the Military
1026
01:26:19,174 --> 01:26:21,698
and I think I'm doing
the Military a great favor.
1027
01:26:29,445 --> 01:26:32,535
What's the future going to hold for me in the Military?
This is what I want to do,
1028
01:26:32,578 --> 01:26:35,233
this is what I'm focused on.
Now, you're telling me I can't
1029
01:26:35,277 --> 01:26:38,236
because of
what standard or what reason.
1030
01:26:38,280 --> 01:26:41,631
You know, if you give me facts, then we can
talk about it but I don't see facts right here
1031
01:26:41,674 --> 01:26:43,328
as to why I
can't become an officer.
1032
01:26:45,287 --> 01:26:47,811
You know, are we still
going to be allowed to deploy
1033
01:26:47,854 --> 01:26:50,944
and we're still going to allow, you know,
going to different training opportunities.
1034
01:26:50,988 --> 01:26:52,685
Uh, what's that
going to be for medical?
1035
01:26:52,729 --> 01:26:55,645
Are we still going to
get the same medical benefits?
1036
01:26:55,688 --> 01:26:59,083
My wife and I, we have to
put adoption processes on hold
1037
01:26:59,126 --> 01:27:01,128
because I don't know if
I'm going have a job come March.
1038
01:27:01,172 --> 01:27:02,913
I don't know what
the future looks like.
1039
01:27:06,917 --> 01:27:09,615
People that enter the Military,
they want the same things, right?
1040
01:27:09,659 --> 01:27:13,706
They want a better future, they want a more
stable foundation, they want education benefits,
1041
01:27:13,750 --> 01:27:17,101
medical benefits, to do something
that's bigger than them,
1042
01:27:17,144 --> 01:27:20,147
to serve for their brothers and
sisters, and I want the same thing.
1043
01:27:20,191 --> 01:27:23,629
So, my future is the same future
as everybody else in the Military.
1044
01:27:24,891 --> 01:27:29,679
Why are you denying me
that-- that want to serve?
1045
01:28:29,434 --> 01:28:32,959
Please welcome Laila and her
husband, Staff Sergeant Logan.
92945