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Local woman reacts to Pentagon’s decision allowing transgender people to serve in military

How most people view Independence Day is no different from the view of Tara Allison.

How most people view Independence Day is no different from the view of Tara Allison.

“For me, Independence Day is a day we all came together as a nation, to stand up against another nation that was, for the most part, bullying us,” she said.

Only her view of independence takes on a whole new meaning from the person she used to be.

“I have freed myself from the fears that I once had,” she said.

Strong and independent; that’s how Allison defines herself as a woman who, in the 1980s, served in the Navy for more than nine years.

She was a qualified nuclear plant operator. She was a Naval Officer. She was a man.

“Being trans was my deep, dark secret,” she said.

Todd Allison was honorably discharged in 1990. Tara came out as transgender in 2007. Now, she embraces a recent decision she never thought would be possible.

“I never thought that that would happen in my lifetime,” she said.

The Pentagon announced, Thursday, the U. S. Military will now allow transgender people to openly serve.

Allison calls that a relief to so many.

“There was nothing that I did as Todd that I couldn’t do as Tara today,” she said. “We can be authentic now. We don’t have to lie, we don’t have to obfuscate. We don’t have to hide who we are.”

Hiding from the shame, the guilt and the negativity and breaking away for acceptance, for understanding and for independence.

“This Independence Day is going to hold a special significance for them,” Allison said.

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