Transgender soldier at Fort Carson waits for change in military policy

The only open transgender soldier at Fort Carson tells KRDO that she isn’t seeing any changes when it comes to the military’s stance on an outdated transgender ban.

In July, the Pentagon announced a six-month plan to address key issues facing transgender men and women.

Staff Sgt. Patricia King is one of the U.S. Army’s first openly transgender soldiers, but after 16 years of service, King has to wait until she’s home to look and feel like herself.

“It can be painful on a daily basis,” King said.

King lives as a woman full-time, but while on post she has to follow the rules as a man.

“I don’t use the men’s room, it’s not the right place for me. It’s uncomfortable. Right now I’m not permitted to use the ladies’ room. It leaves me with the options of not drinking water, or waiting for lunch,” said King.

King said that’s just one reason why she’s feeling anxious, as she waits for the Pentagon to end one of its last gender-based barriers to military service.

“We’re very much in limbo right now. We’re in this state of cautious excitement as we wait and wonder what will be announced and when,” said King.

“There really hasn’t been any word. The working group has been operating, very much in silence,” King said.

Commanders at Fort Carson said they haven’t received any directions from the Pentagon just yet. KRDO called the Department of Defense, an official with the Pentagon said the transgender work group is finishing the first phase of discussions. The official said the group has been speaking with medical experts and interviewing transgender service men and women.

“They have been given six months to study the issue, what it looks like after that is anybody’s guess. I pray for wisdom and guidance for myself, for my leaders and for those who are making these big decisions,” King said.

Those decisions could affect an estimated 15,000 transgender soldiers.

“The entire notion of letting transgender people serve in the military, I mean, we’re already here. I’ve been in the military for 16 years, the only difference is you know about it now,” King said.

A draft for the transgender ban is scheduled to be announced in May.