Pentagon Lifts Ban on TransgendersServing Openly

The times they are a-changin'.

6.30.2016

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced on Thursday that men and women who identify as transgender will now be allowed to serve openly in the military, reports NBC News. And by next year, each branch will allow transgender people to join. This means all new handbooks, training, and medical protocols are forthcoming to deal with the various gender identities.

From the report:

Current members of the armed forces with a diagnosis from a military physician that gender transition is medically needed will receive that care.

However, DoD "policy will require an individual to have completed any medical treatment that their doctor has determined is necessary in connection with their gender transition, and to have been stable in their preferred gender for 18 months, as certified by their doctor, before they can enter the military," according to the Pentagon.

These are all big changes for the small amount of active duty troops who are transgender. Out of 1.3 million, only 2,500 are transgender. As the report notes, the U.S. now joins Israel and the U.K. who have already lifted its bans.

This move follows the confirmation of the U.S.'s first openly gay military leader in Army Secretary Eric Fanning. It also follows other gender-friendly changes, including allowing women to go through Ranger training and Marine training. As TruthRevolt reported on Wednesday, the Marine Corps announced the removal of "man" from 19 job titles and are replacing it with "Marine." No longer is it Reconnaissance Man, but Reconnaissance Marine.

The Obama administration has been pushing to be more inclusive of the LGBT community, but many fear this is a move that puts "politics over policy," like House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry said:

"Our military readiness—and hence, our national security—is dependent on our troops being medically ready and deployable. The Administration seems unwilling or unable to assure the Congress and the American people that transgender individuals will meet these individual readiness requirements at a time when our Armed Forces are deployed around the world."