A long road for transgender vet Former soldier says she's faced ridicule, but area VA is accepting By Paul Grondahl Published 11:56 p.m., Friday, July 6, 2012
Rebecca (Ricky) Anderson, at right, of Schuyler Falls, a transgender Army vet who is pressing to be recognized as a woman and wife Susan Anderson outside the Stratton V.A. Medical Center in Albany Tuesday July 3, 2012. (John Carl D'Annibale / Times Union)
ALBANY —The Department of Veterans Affairs I.D. card was issued to Ricky Anderson and shows a picture of a strong-jawed, heavyset person appearing as a woman with eye shadow, mascara, dangly earrings and feathered shoulder-length hair.
Long after leaving Army service in 1980, Ricky Anderson identified as being a transgender woman, began hormone replacement therapy, took the name of Rebecca and began transitioning to life as a woman.
When Anderson visited the Stratton VA Hospital this week for a follow-up visit after recent minor surgery, she wore a long floral print sundress over a large, mannish body and prominent stomach.
"I had people ask me if I'm pregnant," Anderson, 52, said with a giggle. She struggled to speak in a soft, high-pitched feminine tone as her voice occasionally broke and dropped into a lower masculine register.
Although she faced ridicule in the past for her transgender status amid the macho culture of the Army, Anderson said the VA staff has become accommodating.
"They call me Rebecca now and treat me nicely," she said. That wasn't always the case. The situation started getting better about a year ago, she said, around the time that the military repealed its long-standing "don't ask, don't tell" policy that barred openly gay, lesbian or bisexual people from military service.
Military officials appear to be making an effort to embrace diversity. Last month, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta posted a video message that praised the work of gay and lesbian service members and he thanked lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, or LGBT, civilians. Panetta's remarks coincided with June's designation as LGBT Pride Month.
"Transgender vets seeking our services is not a new thing," said Peter Potter, spokesman for the Stratton VA. "We have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, whether it's race, religion or a sexual nature.".......................>>>>.......................>>>>................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/A-long-road-for-transgender-vet-3689649.php#ixzz1zvecJPE6
Rebecca (Ricky) Anderson, at right, of Schuyler Falls, a transgender Army vet who is pressing to be recognized as a woman and wife Susan Anderson outside the Stratton V.A. Medical Center in Albany Tuesday July 3, 2012.
So let me get this right....
This wackjob turns himself into a woman so he can be a lesbian?
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
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