WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Defense has reversed the transgender ban on the military put in place by President Donald J. Trump. Servicemembers may join the U.S. military and serve as whichever sex they identify with going forward.
There’s no place for gender discrimination in the military
“There is no place for violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or sex characteristics,” Press Secretary John Kirby said.
The Department of Defense will now make way for transgender, gay, bisexual, intersex and ‘questioning’ individuals to serve within its ranks without discrimination, fear or intimidation.
“Today, the department is announcing the publication of revised editions of these two instructions,” Kirby said. The revised policies in these instructions restore the DOD’s original 2016 policies regarding transgender service. Specifically, they prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or an individual’s identification as transgender. They also provide a means to access into the military in one’s self-identify gender, provided all appropriate standards are met.
Servicemembers now eligible for gender transition medical services
The editions provide a path for those in service for medical treatment, gender transition and recognition in one’s self-identify gender, and they seek to protect the privacy of all service members and to treat them with dignity and respect at all times, he said.
“But a subset of the transgender population are those who have been medically diagnosed with gender dysphoria, and may be seeking or have completed medical care,” she said. Based on that subset, she added, those who have been diagnosed and are seeking medical care total about 2,200 transgender people in the military ranks.
Miller said the DOD will provide medically necessary care to each individual member as prescribed in their medical treatment plan, which will be looked at on a case-by-case basis. “It’s certainly determined with their medical provider, and it runs the gamut in terms of individuals who may only seek cross-sex hormone therapy, versus those who may pursue a surgical intervention,’ she explained.
Diversity and inclusion the way of the U.S. military going forward
“[Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III] strongly believes the all-volunteer force thrives when it is composed of diverse Americans who can meet the high standards for military service in an inclusive force that … strengthens our national security posture,” Kirby said.