Transgender, at War and in Love

Director: Fiona Dawson
Release Year: 2015

Transgender, at War and in Love (2015), directed by Fiona Dawson, is a poignant documentary that explores the lives of a transgender military couple, Logan Ireland and Laila Villanueva, who are deeply affected by the U.S. military’s discriminatory policies toward transgender service members. Despite their love for one another and their dedication to their military careers, the couple faces a constant battle against both military restrictions and societal prejudice, which forces them to hide their true identities while serving their country.

 

Logan Ireland is a senior airman in the United States Air Force, stationed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Logan’s journey is remarkable as he navigates his military service while transitioning from a woman to the man he identifies as. During his deployment, Logan is able to serve as his authentic self, though his transgender identity remains a closely guarded secret. Despite the military’s policy prohibiting openly transgender service members, Logan comes out to his commanding officers and some of his peers. To his surprise, they offer him support, which is in stark contrast to the official stance of the military, which at that time classified transgender individuals as mentally unfit for service. Logan’s fiancée, Laila Villanueva, who was assigned male at birth, faces a different kind of discrimination. Laila, a Healthcare Management Administration Specialist in the U.S. Army, has to navigate her military career without the support of her superiors. While Logan’s experience has been one of cautious optimism, Laila struggles with the constant discomfort and isolation of being forced to use male facilities and be addressed with male pronouns, even though she has transitioned to living as a woman. 

 

The couple shares a vision of a future together - one that includes serving in the military until retirement, buying a home, and starting a family. Yet, the discriminatory nature of both military regulations and societal attitudes toward transgender people threatens to derail these dreams. Logan and Laila both know the risks of coming out publicly about their gender identity. By appearing in the documentary, they know they could lose everything: their military careers, benefits, and the lives they’ve worked so hard to build. The documentary highlights the fact that the military's ban on transgender individuals is not a law but a policy rooted in outdated medical standards. These outdated regulations treat transgender identities as a psychological disorder, a perspective that is increasingly being discredited by current research. In fact, the military’s policies stand in stark contrast to those of several allied nations, including the UK, Israel, and Australia, which allow transgender people to serve openly without fear of discrimination. 

 

The issue of transgender service members is not a new one for director Fiona Dawson, who had previously advocated for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, which barred openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals from serving in the military. When Dawson learned that the repeal did not extend to transgender people, she was outraged. As the documentary shows, the fight for full inclusion of transgender service members is far from over, and Logan and Laila’s story underscores the importance of extending the same rights to all soldiers, regardless of their gender identity. Through interviews with Logan and Laila, the film gives a personal look at the emotional and psychological toll the military’s policies take on transgender individuals. Logan, while on deployment in Afghanistan, talks about the bittersweet experience of being able to serve authentically in a war zone, where he is recognized and accepted as a man. In contrast, back home, he is still viewed as a woman, forced to follow female standards and regulations, even though his identity is male. His fiancée, Laila, similarly discusses the challenges she faces in her daily life, including being forced to adhere to male military protocols and the confusion it causes among her colleagues. 

 

The documentary also highlights the deep emotional bond between Logan and Laila. Despite the challenges they face, including Laila’s lack of support from her unit, they find solace and love in their relationship. The couple often communicates via FaceTime while Logan is in Afghanistan, and their conversations are filled with warmth, humor, and a sense of shared purpose. They talk about their wedding plans and the excitement of reuniting after Logan’s deployment. Yet, there is an underlying tension in their conversations, as they both know that the revelation of Logan’s transgender identity could jeopardize their careers and their future together. The documentary also introduces the perspectives of other transgender military personnel and advocates, such as Allyson Robinson, a former military officer, who explains how the current policies are rooted in outdated ideas about transgender identity. As she points out, the idea that transgender people are unfit to serve is a remnant of a time when being gay, lesbian, or bisexual was also considered a mental illness. Robinson, along with other experts, calls for a change in military policy to reflect modern understanding of gender identity and mental health.

 

One of the most moving aspects of the documentary is the way it showcases the personal growth and acceptance that takes place within families. Logan’s mother, Debbie, initially jokes about her “lesbian daughter” becoming her “straight son,” but she also openly admits that she had to educate herself about what it means to be transgender. This process of understanding and acceptance is a testament to the power of love and the importance of family support. Logan’s father, Todd, similarly expresses his pride in his son’s service, despite his initial struggles to accept Logan’s transition. The film also documents a pivotal moment in Logan’s life when he is called into a meeting with his commanding officer after returning from Afghanistan. His commander, upon learning about Logan’s transgender identity, offers unwavering support and assures him that he has the backing of his unit. However, this support comes with a significant caveat: Logan is no longer allowed to wear his female dress blues and must instead purchase male dress blues. This small victory is a symbol of Logan’s progress, but it also underscores the rigid gender norms that still exist within the military. 

 

As the documentary unfolds, the viewer is left with a sense of both hope and frustration. Logan and Laila’s love story is a beautiful example of resilience and determination, but it also highlights the systemic barriers that transgender individuals continue to face, particularly in the military. Despite the personal challenges they encounter, both Logan and Laila continue to serve their country with pride, hoping for a future where transgender people can serve openly and without fear of discrimination. Transgender, at War and in Love is a powerful and intimate documentary that shines a light on the struggles faced by transgender service members, particularly those in relationships with other transgender individuals. Through Logan and Laila’s story, the film captures the intersection of love, identity, and the fight for equality, leaving viewers with a deeper understanding of the courage it takes to serve one’s country while being true to oneself.

 

via: Vimeo

sidexsidestudios.com and nytimes.com

Image credits: Vimeo