Debbie Grabowski spent more than 20 years in the Air Force and Reserves before retiring and coming out as transgender.
"I got tired of living a double life," Grabowski said about coming out in 2006, an event she planned after her retirement. "Oh gosh, they would have drummed me out in a heartbeat!"
Grabowski is a Dallas police officer and volunteer firefighter with the city of Argyle. She says had the policy been different when she was in the military, she would not have retired.
"You lose good people," Grabowski said about the military's old transgender ban. "And to lose them just for that purpose, to me makes no sense whatsoever."
Thursday she applauded the Pentagon's announcement to allow transgender people to serve. "Great! I mean, seriously, a great deal of elation," she said. "We're not mentally ill. We can function in society and now we can be in the military. If they had had this policy back in 2006, I would have stayed in."
Grabowski said she knew when Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed, it was only a matter of time. "It's amazing it's come so fast," Grabowski remarked. She also knows there will be push back from some. "But once people come to know what transgender is all about, I think things will settle down," she said. "It's like anything; people are afraid of change."
