Intersex people and military service

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Intersex military service by country and territory
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Allows all intersex personnel to serve openly
Allows most intersex personnel to serve with some exceptions and requirements
Has blanket ban on most intersex personnel from serving, or bans those with genital differences from serving
Allows intersex personnel to serve, but only after undergoing sterilization and intervention surgery
Has no military Intersex service in the Armed Forces by Country or Territory.png
Intersex military service by country and territory
  Allows all intersex personnel to serve openly
  Allows most intersex personnel to serve with some exceptions and requirements

  Has blanket ban on most intersex personnel from serving, or bans those with genital differences from serving
  Allows intersex personnel to serve, but only after undergoing sterilization and intervention surgery

  Has no military

Military service of intersex people varies greatly by country. Some armed forces such as the Australian Defence Force fully embrace intersex people in the modern era, while others such as the United States Armed Forces have vague rules or policies or treat the subject on a case by case basis.

Contents

History

In the late 1800s, military medical examinations became a driving force in increased detection and diagnosis of intersex individuals. [1]

Views

The 2014 book Operative Pediatric Surgery states that "societies that have accepted intersex individuals culturally may still have issues with whether or not to accept them in the military", this being due to the difficulties in determining where to place them as well as the complex medical issues they may pose. [2] In 2007 the US-based Palm Center released a report that found that most of the militaries beliefs about transgender and intersex medical requirements were myths and posed no barrier to effective service. [3]

By country

United States

Acceptance of intersex people in the United States Armed Forces appears to vary depending on the nature of the individual's condition. [4] Publications by the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information recommend that intersex individuals be allowed to serve in the armed forces, but not combat units. [5] The Veterans Health Administration distinguishes between surgeries for transgender individuals and intersex persons. In 2015 this allowed intersex persons to receive medically necessary treatment that was prohibited for transgender people. [6] [7]

Israel

Officially, Israel Defense Forces policy does not prohibit intersex patients' draft [5] but does exclude some people based on intersex status. [8] [9] [10] The Military Medicine journal estimated in 2008 that there should be about "a few dozen" intersex persons serving in the Israel Defense Forces at that time, but that no records of intersex members could be found between 2005-2007. The report concludes that intersex service members are likely closeted and choose not to report their intersex status due to shame and secrecy. The 2008 report outlines the case of an intersex woman whose status was not discovered until a military medical investigation. She was initially drafted to a combat unit and served successfully, but was later transferred to a non-combat unit where she also completed her service successfully. It was discovered that her older sister, who served in a fully non-combat unit, was also intersex, as was their younger sister who was yet to be drafted. [5]

Australia

A report from 2017 by ABC Online stated that intersex personnel of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), much like other queer people, have had their history and contributions largely scrubbed out, and that this history was still in the process of being rediscovered. [11] During the "25 years of diversity" celebration for the armed forces intersex people were honored and included with other queer people. [12] In their 2018 book Serving in Silence? Noah Riseman, Shirleene Robinson and Graham Willett acknowledged the lack of perspective and representation from intersex people in their work. They account for this gap by explaining that the Australian Defence Force never had official policies regarding intersex people and that it was purely considered a medical condition, and the nature of the specific condition would determine if someone was allowed to serve as either a man or a woman, and the fact that the one intersex person they were able to interview provided them with content which they felt was too sensitive to share. [13] In 2016 the first ADF policy regarding intersex and non-binary people was put in use, stating that they are allowed to self-identify as "intersex", "indeterminate" or "unspecified" on their papers. [14] Australia allows both non-binary trans people and intersex servicemen to use "X" on their papers as well. [15] [16] [17]

DEFGLIS is the most well known organisation of the Regular, Reserve and Civilian members of the Australian Defence Organisation for those who are LGBTIQ+, as well as their allies. [18] [19]

South Korea

Intersex service people of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are subject to supplemental urological examinations. This was first introduced due to transgender people but is also meant to clear up the status of intersex individuals to the military leaders. Non-intersex people can also be subject to them in some cases. [20] [21]

Taiwan

Taiwan's military is overwhelmingly male and only males are obligated to serve under conscription; this can cause complicated situations for intersex people. One noted case was in 1954 with the soldier Xie Jianshun who was assigned as a male at birth but was later discovered in the military to have many female characteristics. Xie had a penis, a very slim vaginal opening, and internal gonads which contained both testicular and ovarian tissue. Doctors determined that the ovarian tissue could still produce eggs and that Xie's testicular tissue was deteriorating. Military doctors performed four surgeries despite Xie's desire to remain a man. Afterwards Xie left the armed forces. [22]

Thailand

In the past the exclusion or inclusion of intersex people presented a difficult task for the Royal Thai Armed Forces which have at times expected both cross-dressers and transgender people assigned male at birth to be eligible for drafting [23] regardless of feminine traits. They were unsure how to handle intersex people since not all those with male traits were assigned male at birth. [2] At present, they are mostly allowed. [24]

Spain

In the 19th century, Spain excluded many androgynous people and those with ambiguous genitalia from military service, people who they described as being of "doubtful sex". If a male person was found to be developing breasts they could be excluded even if they had no visible genital abnormalities. The military composed several regulations to determine who was deemed unfit for service based on their genitals. [25]

The modern-day Spanish Armed Forces accepts intersex personnel. [5]

Vietnam

One of the most well known intersex military people is Lê Văn Duyệt. Born in 1763, he was considered a genius general and helped unify the area that is today known as Vietnam. [26]

Czech Republic

The Armed Forces of the Czech Republic allows intersex recruits. [5]

Canada

Intersex individuals are accepted in the Canadian Armed Forces. [5] [27]

New Zealand

The New Zealand Defence Force offers support to its intersex troops the same as to their other queer personnel. [28] Intersex service members and veterans are supported by DEFGLIS, the Defence Force Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Information Service. [29]

Japan

During the Taishō period (30 July 1912 to 25 December 1926) an intersex man who was initially assigned female at birth underwent sex reassignment surgery to masculinize his genitals and was allowed to be assessed for military service. He was rejected for not being tall enough but his intersex status was not commented on. [30]

Iran

Since the first half of the 20th century, intersex people who were assigned male at birth and had surgery to correct any issues were allowed to serve, and intersex persons assigned female at birth could also serve if they choose to transition to male and have surgery. [31]

Russia

According to the laws of the Russian Federation, only people with a male passport gender marker are eligible for drafting. Those with a female passport gender marker can serve in the army at will. However, there are a number of medical restrictions for which military service can be prohibited or restricted. These restrictions include those that may be manifestations of intersex traits, such as vaginal atresia, absence of the penis, cryptorchidism, and amenorrhea. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

The legal status of transgender people varies greatly around the world. Some countries have enacted laws protecting the rights of transgender individuals, but others have criminalized their gender identity or expression. In many cases, transgender individuals face discrimination in employment, housing, healthcare, and other areas of life.

The word cisgender describes a person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth, i.e., someone who is not transgender. The prefix cis- is Latin and means on this side of. The term cisgender was coined in 1994 as an antonym to transgender, and entered into dictionaries starting in 2015 as a result of changes in social discourse about gender. The term has been and continues to be controversial and subject to critique.

Heteronormativity is the concept that heterosexuality is the preferred or normal sexual orientation. It assumes the gender binary and that sexual and marital relations are most fitting between people of opposite sex.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to transgender topics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trans man</span> Man assigned female at birth

A trans man is a man who was assigned female at birth. Trans men have a male gender identity, and many trans men undergo medical and social transition to alter their appearance in a way that aligns with their gender identity or alleviates gender dysphoria.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) personnel are able to serve in the armed forces of some countries around the world: the vast majority of industrialized, Western countries including some South American countries, such as Argentina, Brazil and Chile in addition to other countries, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Mexico, France, Finland, Denmark and Israel. The rights concerning intersex people are more vague.

Maryam Khatoonpour Molkara was an Iranian transgender rights activist, and she was widely recognized as a matriarch of the transgender community in Iran. Designated male at birth, she was later instrumental in obtaining a letter which acted as a fatwa enabling sex reassignment surgery to exist as part of a legal framework. Molkara became the first transgender person in Iran to legally undergo sex reassignment surgery with the permission of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender</span> Gender identity other than sex assigned at birth

A transgender person is someone whose gender identity differs from that typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. Some transgender people who desire medical assistance to transition from one sex to another identify as transsexual. Transgender is also an umbrella term; in addition to including people whose gender identity differs from the gender typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, it may also include people who are non-binary or genderqueer. Other definitions of transgender also include people who belong to a third gender, or else conceptualize transgender people as a third gender. The term may also include cross-dressers or drag kings and drag queens in some contexts. The term transgender does not have a universally accepted definition, including among researchers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transsexual</span> People experiencing a gender identity inconsistent with their assigned sex

A transsexual person is someone who experiences a gender identity that is inconsistent with their assigned sex, and desires to permanently transition to the sex or gender with which they identify, usually seeking medical assistance to help them align their body with their identified sex or gender.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Australian military</span>

Sexual orientation and gender identity in the Australian military are not considered disqualifying matters in the 21st century, with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) allowing LGBT people to serve openly and access the same entitlements as other personnel. The ban on gay and lesbian personnel was lifted by the Keating government in 1992, with a 2000 study finding no discernible negative impacts on troop morale. In 2009, the First Rudd government introduced equal entitlements to military retirement pensions and superannuation for the domestic partners of LGBTI personnel. Since 2010, transgender personnel may serve openly and may undergo gender transition with ADF support while continuing their military service. LGBTI personnel are also supported by the charity DEFGLIS, the Defence Force Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex Information Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of LGBTQ topics</span>

The following outline offers an overview and guide to LGBTQ topics:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender people and military service</span>

Not all armed forces have policies explicitly permitting LGBT personnel. Generally speaking, Western European militaries show a greater tendency toward inclusion of LGBT individuals. As of 2022, more than 30 countries allow transgender military personnel to serve openly, such as Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States. Cuba and Thailand reportedly allowed transgender service in a limited capacity.

Transgender rights in Australia have legal protection under federal and state/territory laws, but the requirements for gender recognition vary depending on the jurisdiction. For example, birth certificates, recognised details certificates, and driver licences are regulated by the states and territories, while Medicare and passports are matters for the Commonwealth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender personnel in the United States military</span>

Transgender people have served or sought to serve in the United States military. The subject began to engender some political controversy starting with transgender service members being banned in 1960 and possibly earlier. This controversy came to a head in the 2010s and was subjected to relatively rapid changes for the next few years. As of 2021, transgender individuals are expressly permitted to serve openly as their identified gender. A brief timeline is as follows:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sexual orientation and gender identity in the United States military</span> LGBT in the US military

In the past most lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) personnel had major restrictions placed on them in terms of service in the United States military. As of 2010 sexual orientation and gender identity in the United States military varies greatly as the United States Armed Forces have become increasingly openly diverse in the regards of LGBTQ people and acceptance towards them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intersex people in the United States military</span>

The regulations regarding the service of intersex people in the United States Armed Forces are vague and inconsistent due to the wide range of human intersex conditions. The United States Armed Forces as a whole does not officially ban intersex people from service but does exclude many based on the form of their status. Policies regarding all intersex people are not addressed formally although depending on the type of sex variation some intersex people are allowed to serve. The United States military and their requirements for service makes it so they are frequently in a unique predicament when it comes to intersex bodies. With their position of needing to discern between male and female bodies, they are exposed to a broad variety of people, such as those who are intersex whose bodies may not match either classification and are more difficult to make decisions on. This ambiguity leads to confusion regarding military medical, behavioral, and legal laws.

Xie Jianshun was a Taiwanese intersex man who gained considerable fame in 1953 when his variation was discovered by doctors of the Republic of China Armed Forces. He was considered by many to be the first Chinese "transsexual" when he underwent sex reassignment surgery and was frequently dubbed as the "Chinese Christine" due to both of them having been soldiers. This caused major cultural impact on the Taiwanese people as many felt it put the nation on the same level of development as the United States. Despite this, Xie did not want to transition from intersex to female but was encouraged to do so by medical professionals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States partial military ban on intersex people</span> United States military ban on some intersex people

The (DoDI) 6130.03, 2018, section 5, 13f and 14m is the writing which bars persons with "true hermaphroditism", "pseudohermaphroditism" and "pure gonadal dysgenesis" from serving in the United States Armed Forces. The three are all intersex conditions and are as of now considered to be medically incompatible with military service in the United States. "DoDI" stands for "Department of Defense Instruction," the 6130.03 instruction concerns "Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction in the Military Services" in the Armed Forces of the United States. Section 5 focuses on disqualifying conditions of the male and female reproductive system, on the female page the subheader 13 and paragraph f name true hermaphroditism, pseudohermaphroditism and pure gonadal dysgenesis specifically, and on the male page the subheader 14 and paragraph m also name exactly true hermaphroditism, pseudohermaphroditism and pure gonadal dysgenesis, respectively. There is no differentiation made between males and females with these conditions. Many doctors, medical professionals and intersex advocates find the terms hermaphroditism to be outdated and stigmatized, therefore it and its derivative words are seldom used in the 2000s, with the word hermaphrodite itself being considered a slur when used against a human.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender history in the United Kingdom</span>

This article addresses the history of transgender people across the British Isles in the United Kingdom, the British colonies and the Kingdom of England until the present day. Transgender people were historically recognised in the UK by varying titles and cultural gender indicators, such as dress. People dressing and living differently from their sex assignment at birth and contributing to various aspects of British history and culture have been documented from the 14th century to the present day. In the 20th century, advances in medicine, social and biological sciences and transgender activism have influenced transgender life in the UK.

References

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  2. 1 2 Operative Pediatric Surgery - Page 901
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  13. Serving in Silence?: Australian LGBT servicemen and women Foreword
  14. Beyond Combat: Australian military life off the battlefield; - page 43
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  20. The Journal of Korean Studies, Volume 19, Number 2 (Fall 2014), 366
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  22. Sexuality in China: Histories of Power and Pleasure; 138
  23. "Thailand Archives".
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  30. Mark J. McLelland; Queer Japan from the Pacific War to the Internet Age - Page 208
  31. Afsaneh Najmabadi; Professing Selves: Transsexuality and Same-Sex Desire in Contemporary Iran - Page 46
  32. "Постановление Правительства РФ от 04.07.2013 N 565 (ред. от 14.12.2018) "Об утверждении Положения о военно-врачебной экспертизе"".

Further reading