SAN ANTONIO — Guy Pena, a Texan, identifies as transgender male. He joined the United States Armed Forces right after graduating from high school in 2005, following in the footsteps of many family members.
However, he is now living in fear and uncertainty after the United States Army announced on Friday that it is prohibiting transgender people from enlisting and has halted gender-affirming care for service members.
The Army stated that people with “gender dysphoria have volunteered to serve in our country and will be treated with dignity and respect.”
“I’m very worried and I’m very scared as to what’s going to happen,” Pena told the reporter. “The only thing I’ve seen is that we’re supposed to be treated with dignity and respect, which I haven’t felt so far. I feel like we have a big target on our backs.”
“Many of the males in my family served in the Marines. “I was the only one who joined the Army,” Pena said. “I’ve always wanted my own set of dog tags. My father never wanted to share his, so I had nothing better to do. September will mark 20 years.
Pena is currently serving with the National Guard along the US-Mexico border as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s ongoing Operation Lonestar, which aims to crack down on illegal migrants and stop the flow of fentanyl.
Pena remains in limbo, unsure what will happen next. He stated that there are currently no guidelines in place for transgender people serving in the military.
The Army’s new rule is consistent with President Donald Trump’s executive order, which called for the creation of a policy regarding transgender service members.
In response, 20 state attorneys general have announced plans to file a lawsuit to block the ban on transgender people joining the Army.
Pena recalled living through the former US policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prohibited openly LGBTQ people from serving in the military. The policy, which began in 1994, was repealed in 2011.
“Trying to hide that was extremely difficult for me. It took a significant toll on my mental state. “That’s who I’ve been my entire life, and that’s all I know,” Pena stated.
As the founder and president of the non-profit Veterans for Equality, Pena stated that he is determined to fight for what he believes is right for the benefit of the LGBTQ community nationwide.
“There’s so many transgender soldiers out there fighting the good fight, willing to go to the frontlines and fighting for their country,” he told me. “There should be no reason why we can’t do that.”
