8 replies to this topic

[Annie]

This was historically not an isolated incident. FtMs served in every conflict this country has been involved in, right back to the French and Indian Wars. There were many in the Civil War.  In the 18th century a Scandanavian member of royalty lived openly as male, although genetically female. "She" was considered merely eccentric.

In my own neighborhood, there was a man my dad's age who we would see hanging on the corner occasionally. My father would always point out that the guy in the suit was female, and had been dressing like that since the 1920s.

Prior to the last half of the 20th Century, there was no recourse for TSs, as far as correcting the body, and even less for guys. Many of us now live in a state of in-between and that helps a great deal psychologically. But decades ago, there were no surgeries available, like mastectomies or breast augmentation. I can imagine how our predecessors suffered.

Anyone who was able to make a good life for themselves in spite of such conditions is to be admired and yes, honored.


Annie

[Jo jo]

This was a very interesting article. I knew that such happenings occured but never gave it much thought. Thanks Lisbeth for posting this.  

[UsernameOptional]

"Is it possible for a post-op to join the military? Assuming all documentation has been gender corrected. Or would they classify (rubber stamp) you as "gay" and thus reject you?" -ElenaHere

they don't have to reject a guy with the excuse that he is gay.  they will reject him for being TS.

despite the fact that no branch of the U.S. military will allow transpeople to serve, if a guy is between the ages of 18 and 26, living as male and listed with social security as male , he MUST register for the draft.  however, if he never goes into college, or applies for federal grants or loan assistance, or never applies for a federal job...it may never be discovered that he didn't register.

if a guy finds himself in a situation where he must prove whether he registered or not, or was exempt from doing so, he either must have been born before 12/31/1959 and indicate (on forms and applications that ask) that he was not required to register, or if born after that date, and had not registered before age 26, he will have to get a "status information" letter from selective services indicating why he wasn't required to register.

just FYI for those who don't know... the israeli army has FTMs on active duty.  apparently...they don't have a problem with it.

-michael

[Lori]

Very interesting... Here is a link to a site with more information about the life of Albert D.J. Cashier. A photograph appearing on the site is included with this post.

http://history.allia...m2/ivtxt002.cfm

Attached Files

•  cashier.gif   52.07K   105 downloads

Edited by UsernameOptional, 24 May 2012 - 02:14 PM.
-- Unfortunately, this link is no longer any good

[UsernameOptional]

i clikked on the link lori provided in post #10 about Albert D.J. Cashier.  once there...i clikked on link at that site that led me to an article entitled "Union Maid."

the title of the article chaffed a bit.  but i was pleased that the story referred to albert with male pronouns and the name he chose to live under for over 50 years.

the article took a sad note describing his last years during which he'd "become mentally enfeebled," and had been admitted into the Soldier's & Sailor's Home in Quincy, IL.  later, after his birth sex had been revealed, he was moved and committed to the women's ward of the Watertown State Hospital for the Insane,  where he remained until his death, and staff dressed him in female attire.  thankfully, he never knew that his birth sex had been discovered.  despite being outted, Albert D.J. Cashier was buried in his uniform, given a military funeral, and buried with full military honours.

during the attempt at tracking down heirs so that his small estate could be distributed, there were stories that albert had been dressed as a boy by his father, and later by his stepfather for reasons of convenience and safety.  this may possibly have been true, however, i find it difficult to believe that albert confided in a nurse that he'd followed a lover into the military and that before his death had asked "jennie" to promise she'd "never let another man see her in a woman's dress."

i'm more inclinded to believe that whatever stories albert told to nurses and other staff, they were skewed over time to fit the delicate sensabilities of the women of the time - many of the women were no doubt quite disgusted in "jennie's" display, as was related about his knack for pulling the rear hem of the dresses he was forced to wear, between his legs and tucking it into the front waist to fashion make-shift pants while confined in the Watertown hospital.

the article seemed to take no sides - it was written based on the few facts known about albert and jennie.  it just seems unfortunate to me that the article leaves the reader to believe that the reasons given by female interviewees is logical, accepted and good enough excuse as to why "jennie" lived the way she did.

another story, which does not document the claims of female nurses and staff, varies slightly in a few details, but at least at the end of The Little Soldier of the 95th, the writer asks why jennie became albert...and indicates, that and many other questions remain unanswered and probably will so forever

personally, and perhaps biasedly, i still believe that albert was a transman.  

-michael

Edited by UsernameOptional, 24 May 2012 - 02:17 PM.
--- Unfortunately, the links in this post are no longer any good