With Honor and Integrity

October 15, 2021
A collection of essays written by transgender military personnel that shed light on the unvoiced experiences of trans people in the American armed services. Embser-Herbert is a sociology professor and Army veteran, and Fram is a lieutenant colonel in the Space Force and president of the transgender military advocacy group SPART*A. In 2016, the Obama administration officially allowed trans men and women to serve as members of the military. This landmark legislation--overturned by the Trump administration a year later--was intended to address issues of trans inclusion that had been left out of the "don't ask, don't tell" repeal act. Embser-Herbert takes their earlier research on how the lives of transgender military personnel "illuminate...understanding of gender" and transforms it into a study that showcases a series of firsthand accounts by trans soldiers. While the DADT repeal allowed gays, lesbians, and bisexuals the freedom "to serve openly and authentically," it did not help trans people, whom the Department of Defense still continued to discharge. Embser-Herbert follows this analysis with testimonials from trans veterans who left the military before the Obama administration's 2016 announcement. Some, like Sheri A. Swokowski, faced discrimination and job loss once they came out of the closet and even after they left the military. Others, like Evan Young, felt compelled to leave the armed services to lead more authentic lives. The voices in other chapters belong to current trans armed forces personnel. Many, like co-editor Fram, discuss their race to transition before the 2019 Trump ban officially disallowed physical transition for service members identifying as trans. All speak of finding support among their colleagues; one, Sterling Crutcher, even praises the military for offering the succor his own family did not. This candid, illuminating collection will appeal to military historians with an interest in gender or to gender scholars seeking to address issues pertaining to trans marginalization. Enlightening reading.

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Starred review from November 1, 2021

An exquisite book about serving in the U.S. military as a transgender person, edited by Embser-Herbert (sociology, Hamline Univ.; Camouflage Isn't Only for Combat) and Fram (Lt. Col., U.S. Space Force), with just enough historical and sociological context to make the volume's personal stories that much more meaningful. The topic at hand seems narrow, but the book's presentation makes it broadly applicable to the entire discipline of transgender studies. It begins with a discussion of terms and history, followed by 26 essays by transgender service members and veterans. These essays are the core of the book; each evinces that there is no universal trans experience. The contributors are of diverse gender identities, sexual orientations, races, and military backgrounds. The first section, devoted to essays by older veterans (including a colonel in her early 70s), is appropriately titled "Serving in Silence"; the essays in the other sections are from active-duty troops. The editors conclude by considering the future and bringing some of the stories up to date. VERDICT A simple description can't do justice to the beauty, elegance, and courage displayed here. Readers will want to meet and spend time with these contributors. A worthwhile collection, highly recommended for all readers.--David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia

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