US army to 'fully recognise' legal names of two transgender veterans
Source: The Guardian
US army to 'fully recognise' legal names of two transgender veterans
Alan Yuhas in New York
theguardian.com, Tuesday 2 December 2014 23.18 GMT
The US army will fully recognize the new names of two transgender veterans, the ACLU announced Tuesday, clearing the pairs path to receive veterans benefits and giving new hope to transgender members of the military.
The veterans, named by the ACLU only as Jennifer and Nicolas, live in New Jersey and received notice last week that the army had changed the genders statuses on their certificate of release or discharge documents. The veterans can now easily receive veterans benefits in work and their homes.
The army board for correction of military records had elected to reject Jennifer and Nicolas request, but the boards deputy assistant secretary overrode that recommendation.
This is about much more than a change on a piece of paper, Jennifer said in a statement released by the ACLU. This is about the relief of knowing that when I apply for a job, or a home loan, or anything where my veteran status is relevant, I can do it as myself.
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http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/02/us-army-recognise-legal-names-transgender-veterans