[Vicky.]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/...the-front-line

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/179920...ng-born-a-boy/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016...gender-soldie/

Sorry for the sun link but it seems the only rag willing to put the full story.

Basically 'Chloe' joined the army 4 years ago. Completed training and such as a man. Changed her name last month. Recently started taking hormones. Came 'out' as transgender when caught crossdressing. And is now celebrated as the first female on the front line.

Now, I know this is a touchy subject on here, but is this really right? What I mean by this is that the actual first woman on the frontline will have overcome huge obstacles to do so and is not expected until 2018 due to training and physicals required to do so. Chloe completed all of the training and such whilst male, whilst benefiting from testosterone levels and the strength of a man, and without having to deal with the discrimination women in the army face based on their sex.

This reporting, to me, is absurd. It is taking away REAL achievements by women before they have even happened? What will the news say now? 'More' women join Chloe on the frontline? Or will it just blow over quietly as we have already had a 'woman' in the role?

In the rush to fall over ourselves to be seen as 'progressive' we seem to be going backwards in another area...women rights and womens achievements.

Honestly, does anyone actually see someone who trained for 4 years as a man, passed physicals as a man, and now decides to be a woman..stays in the same frontline position as before and still benefits from everything being a male offers (ie. physical strength required for such a role) as an achievement for women?

I could get behind this being lauded as the 'first transwoman' on the front line. But its not even that as transwomen have fought on the front line for years now? So where exactly is the news here? I find the entire thing so ****ing wrong. Good on Chloe and good on the army for allowing her to identify as the gender she decides without discrimination. But this is NOT a step forward for women in the military as it is being hailed as. The law changed to allow women to be able to do this, but...Women are not expected to complete training and examinations required to be on the frontline until 2018. A transwoman who was a man until recently remaining in the same post he trained for and passed examinations for..is in no way 'the first female on the front line'.

The news and such is taking the piss here.

Fantastic way to take away womens achievements, eh...

Chloe makes history as the first female infantry soldier since the Army began in 1660

History...made.