Posted on Mar 14, 2018
How do I address a transgender or gender fluid officer?
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I am afraid that the military will update UCMJ for “misgendering” persons, if I was approached by an officer am I now supposed to ask what to call him/her/them and all the other confusing pronouns? And I do end up having to do that how do you go about asking a person how they identify?
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Transgender
Transgender
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 40
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Until Political correctness fully inserts itself into the Military, Sir, Ma'am or rank will serve as a back up. Don't look for problems that haven't occurred yet. Fear not their is a death by power point presentation and a command talk coming to a classroom near you soon. Then it will be annual certifications and metrics sheets.
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SFC (Join to see)
1SG Dennis Hicks That's why I've reminded everyone I work with to not walk on egg shells. While I know of a handful of individuals personally who'd go off for an accidental slip of the tongue (if they knew of the individual) or presumed the gender, in reality mistakes will happen.
And as you said, Top, in the end it's extra training that makes everyone pissed. It's true when someone was offensive, regardless in jest or purposely, we get training. No matter the EO protected class.
And as you said, Top, in the end it's extra training that makes everyone pissed. It's true when someone was offensive, regardless in jest or purposely, we get training. No matter the EO protected class.
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Is this hypothetical, or an actual situation you have encountered? I sincerely hope "misgendering" does not become an issue worthy of UCMJ action. Current transgender policy is to address and treat any service member as they are coded in DEERS. Genderfluid is not currently recognized by the DoD. Personally, I would take a stab at it and have a 50% chance of being right rather than ask what gender someone is. Always maintain professional courtesy. If you are corrected, apologize and move on.
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SPC (Join to see)
In non combat MOS specificially, and politically, it is not necessarily a big shift in practices I’ve seen this in a more ideologically sense and as ideas change so do practices
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - I know of two such individuals. In both cases, the gender identity of the soldier was pretty obvious. If you do guess wrong, just sincerely apologize and don't repeat the mistake.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
There is no "big shift" in political correctness. The military is just always ahead of the country in social issues.
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff That's very true. It's what happened with dissolving the WAC, racial desegregation and gender integration of women into more combat roles.
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You're a PFC so you're allowed (even expected) to make some mistakes. As long as you greeted the officer appropriately as you saw them as male or female, even if they were to correct you, I highly doubt there'd be any major repercussions. Plus, most of us would understand such a mistake being made and may likely make it ourselves. The only way you'd get into trouble if you were under my command would be if you intentionally disrespected him or her.
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