Gays and lesbians can now serve openly in the military. But
changing gender is still seen as a sign of mental illness -- and
a reason for dismissal.   A 2009 rally calls for the end of
Don't Ask, Don't Tell. The policy was repealed in 2011, but
transgender servicemen and women continue to be discharged from
the military. (Reuters)  On an afternoon in January 1998, Monica
Helms walked into a building in Phoenix, Arizona, where she lay
her reapplication papers on the counter in front of her and
waited for the reaction she knew was coming.  She had been a
member of her hometown's chapter of the United States Submarine
Veterans since around 1980, but not under the name "Monica."
Back when she joined, she'd been a man, as all submariners had
been at the time, and was unconditionally accepted into a select
group within the military. But now, dressing full-time as a
woman and six months into the process of becoming physically
female, this routine reapplication quickly became more
complicated.  The chapter president