Spain: Army rejects transsexual for lack of genitals

Aitor assured reporters that he intended to appeal against the decision and that he still hoped to be admitted even though he received a call this afternoon from the Lieutenant Colonel of the Recruitment Centre advising him that he was now too old to reapply.

The candidate was not even allowed to take the tests that form the selection procedure as the medical examiner told him that his lack of genitals made him unfit to serve in the Army and that the rules had not been changed since his last attempt, despite the Defence Minister, Carme Chacón's public commitment to look into the matter.

The story goes back to February 2007 when Aitor, who was born a woman and who is on the waiting list for a sex change operation, applied to go into the Army. He underwent a medical examination in which it was confirmed that he had had a 'mastectomy in order to go through full gender reassignment' but that he was still waiting for the definitive operation. He was declared unfit to enter the army for not having either a penis or testicles.

Aitor appealed against the initial decision and plans to do so again, saying that he 'feels cheated' and doesn't want to hear 'promises from anyone, only deeds'. He claims he is not the only one in this position, mentioning that the 'same thing happened to another bloke last week'.

Source: thinkSPAIN