Transgender refuses to serve in military

The National Conscription Agency (NCA), operating under the Ministry of the Interior, said there had been “some mistakes” throughout the course of action.

The female medical school student, surnamed Su, received her new identity card, stating her gender as “female,” last month, local media said.

Immediately upon her receiving it, Su asked to be exempted from induction, yet she was again asked to get a physical examination, she told local reporters.

She added that she was told even after the examination, they cannot guarantee an exemption, even though she is identified to be a woman.

According to local reporters, the 27-year-old Su, petite with soft facial features, undoubtedly appeared to be a woman, but before earlier this year, she struggled as she lived in a male body.

Su told the reporters that she always felt otherwise, adding that she felt “trapped” all her life, until the sex change, they continued.

NCA officials said similar cases rarely occur in the country, which is perhaps why entry-level assistants were not sure how to handle Su's situation.

Those who fall under the same category may be exempted from induction immediately in the future, officials added.

Su said she received a notice in September, 2009, regarding the need to get a physical examination as part of the preparation to complete military services, which is required for Taiwanese men between the age of 19 and 37.

Nurses asked her to undress herself and stand alongside other to-be military servicemen, Su said.

Frightened, she refused to do so, and asked to be examined in a private room, she continued.

The examination results suggested that her sex was “ambiguous,” and a second-round check-up was needed, local reporters said.

Su said it was then when she decided to undergo a sex-change procedure as she wished to be treated as a woman.

The second notification sent out to Su two months ago, after her sex change took place.

Statistics showed that approximately between 4,000 and 5,000 people have undergone sex change operations in Taiwan, even though about ten times that amount actually desire sex changes.

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