If a DoD physician can recommend transgender change, what about weight disorder surgery?

SGM Erik Marquez, you are correct with the research you have done, however I don't know if what you have read is why the high percentage. Those numbers include transgender people of all ages. The reason why so many have depression or anxiety is as a child and living with parents that don't understand and try to "fix" them will cause problems like so, that will lead to substance abuse. With fear of coming out to coworkers and family or friends this cause the internal anguish of the person to worsen over pretending to be something they are not. The societal standards that are placed upon the transgender community forces many to continue to keep their identity a secret, their is good reason for this, there is the threat of violence, fear of effect to a career, the loss of family and friends there are numerous reasons, for the underlying causes.

Gender Dysphoria is not the mental illness, it can cause other problems. When transgender people don't have to be as fearful those numbers will start to drop. This a an example: a person that has cheated on their spouse after 25 years of marriage. They love the person, but made the mistake. Let's say so many years later that secret just keeps eating at them, out of fear of what might happen. This person could develop depression or anxiety and turn to substance abuse and ultimately suicide, from the internal anguish.

I know and fully understand that many people cannot ever know what it is truly like to feel that who you present is not who you actually are. I have lost family and friends, I have made new friends. It is very difficult to tell people especially ones in places such as Mississippi, Georgia and Texas.

To sum it all up, to me the issue is not Gender Dysphoria, but the fear mongering going on and the treatment that transgender people are put through. Just because it is in the DSM doesn't mean it alone is the issue but the problem that can be caused by it. Things like hatred towards a certain group of people is considered a mental illness, but has not been included in the DSM so that mental illness can't be used as an excuse for crimes. I'm sure if a transgender person commits a crime they will not be able to use it as a defense saying, but they have a mental illness of Gender Dysphoria.

Cpl Joshua Caldwell - my thought for your comment is you still can't fix over weight, a person can undergo weight loss surgery, but if they still don't change their eating habits the weight will come back. The hormones for transgender does help surgeries can help. The fix is for that person to be treated as who they identify as. When the person is treated and accepted as the person they identify as is when other issues start to go away and then become happier. There are many studies that have been conducted such as MRI on transgender, both male to female, and female to male as with cis gender male and female to compare. It also shows that there is distinct differences between them. Hormones in the mother is only one possibility, there are DNA differences that does cause Gender Dysphoria for some. It is too expensive to be conducted on everyone, just to determine something that would not make a difference. It is like if a person is dying from an illness of this or that, but not sure which one, if the person is to die and the outcome will still be the exact same regardless of the exact reason because treatment for either doesn't exist, them why spend money on a test that still has the same result.

SSG Jacey R. - Again, I accept Gender Dysphoria is not a mental illness.. And I accept that in a world that accepts Trans folks as "normal" "common" and "the same" as non Trans folks... those secondary issues of mental illness may not manifest themselves. But in the here and now,plus foreseeable near term future that is not that case.. and thus, Gender dysphoria is still a significant issue that results in mental disorder issues . as such, it is difficult to accept it as an acceptable condition consistent with military service.
Im an old infantry SGM.....I have no issue having a beer with a Trans person... Having them over to dinner....having them in one of my classes and teaching them to ride...sharing a floor with while "couch surfing" or damn near anything else..... but at the same time I accept, the world at large, the US in specific, and as a part of the US, the military for all the reasons you listed....may not be ready to accept Trans folks....

SGM Erik Marquez you are correct that a large amount of the population doesn't like or even thinks that Gender Dysphoria it's self is the mental illness. For most trans people after they start taking hormones, any of the depression or anxiety goes away or decreases. Substance abuse, depression and anxiety, they are already an extremely common problem in the military. I'm not saying it is good or okay, but it is still there. Schizophrenia, I would have to look up, I haven't heard of Gender Dysphoria causing it, now I can see where schizophrenia might make the person think that they are transgender. I have a nephew that was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia and mild autism, I have seen all kinds of behavior from him, he is in no way fit for military service, I think even McDonalds would be to much. Now I don't think every trans person is fit for serving either. I know some people that feel they are trans; I think have other mental issues and that might be their problem alone. Things like that should be picked up by the mental health provider that has to be seen first. The reason for a person to see mental health for the Gender Dysphoria diagnosis is to make sure that there is not mental illness that have to be addressed before given the okay to start hormones. They also must see a mental health provider for any letter needed for any surgeries. This is provided that the WPATH Standards of Care 7 is followed.

I do agree with everyone, that a person with real mental health issues should not be allowed to serve. A person with depression or anxiety, if it is managed by meds, and is something that manifested from service should be at least be afforded the opportunity to stay and show that it is under control.

I don't mean to come across as rude to you, or an ass. I will tell you the reasons I defend Gender Dysphoria as being called the mental illness. I have a the nephew that is schizophrenic, a bipolar stepdaughter, a niece that has some problem but has not been diagnosed with a condition yet, a brother in law that is dyslexic he is 40 and acts like he is 4 most of the he time. Mental health issues run deep in that family, I have see all kinds of behaviors. I am good friends with about 10 other trans people and they don't have a mental illness. Where did met them plus more that I'm not good friends with, all at the VA, in a support group. This why I defend Gender Dysphoria called a mental illness so strongly. I feel as if, I, along with my friends are being labeled the same category as the people I know with mental illness. I'm sure you understand. I don't expect to be able to change everyone's mind on their opinions, just hopeful for more understanding and acceptance, that we, transgender people as a whole, aren't ridiculed and treated as if we have some contagious, life threatening disease. Thank you for your time, and the understanding you do have.

CH (MAJ) William Beaver - That will be interesting to see. I'm trying to find a source for the 'walked it back' thing, but I can't find one, so I must be wrong -- not sure where I got that idea if I can't find a source. Anyway, best scenario in my mind is that they do -- taxpayers shouldn't be paying for such an elective surgery. I have no problem with them serving, indeed, more power to them (and anyone) if they do. I just don't think that's a good use of tax dollars.

SN Greg Wright - The VA walked it back. Not the military.

I heard that too SN Wright. Not sure if it's just temporarily suspended or what.

The DOD is paying for reassignment surgeries. In November it joined a list of medically necessary surgeries when meeting the criteria of the national endocrine society 2009 guidelines and WPATH 2011 standards of care. My packet for SRS is in and waiting to be approved.