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http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/14/us/pentagon-plan-would-let-transgender-people-serve-openly.html?_r=0
The Pentagon is moving to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military by early next year and end an “outdated” regulation that harms the armed forces, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said on Monday.
Pentagon officials are to spend the coming months working out the administrative and legal changes needed to remove one of the final barriers to all Americans serving in the military.
If realized, the plan would end what is seen as one of the last discriminatory rules about who can enlist or be commissioned in the American military. It would also be a tacit recognition that thousands of transgender people are already in uniform.
Mr. Carter acknowledged as much in a statement announcing the plan. “We have transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines — real, patriotic Americans — who I know are being hurt by an outdated, confusing, inconsistent approach that’s contrary to our value of service and individual merit,” he said. “The Defense Department’s current regulations regarding transgender service members are outdated and are causing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions.”
Some estimates put the number of transgender people in the military at more than 15,000. Much like the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which applied to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals until it was lifted in 2011, the current rules have done little to keep transgender people out of the military.
Instead it has forced them into a precarious existence in the ranks: The lucky ones have superiors who are content to look the other way, but the less fortunate must keep their transgender status a secret, leaving themselves open to expulsion if their colleagues were to learn the truth.
Since taking over the Pentagon this year, Mr. Carter has signaled his unhappiness with the current policy, as have other senior civilian defense officials.
Mr. Carter said in his statement on Monday that he was creating a working group that would have six months to assess what impact ending the ban would have on the military. The group will also help come up with ways to train troops to ensure a smooth transition, a senior defense official said.
Despite the formation of the working group, Mr. Carter left little doubt that the decision had been all but formally made to lift the ban.
“At my direction, the working group will start with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified,” Mr. Carter said.
The chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy and the commandant of the Marine Corps have been briefed on the plan and are not opposed to lifting the ban, a senior defense official said.
Although transgender people are still technically barred from the ranks, the goal is to keep any from being forced out of the military, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the plan with a reporter.
The Pentagon is moving to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military by early next year and end an “outdated” regulation that harms the armed forces, Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said on Monday.
Pentagon officials are to spend the coming months working out the administrative and legal changes needed to remove one of the final barriers to all Americans serving in the military.
If realized, the plan would end what is seen as one of the last discriminatory rules about who can enlist or be commissioned in the American military. It would also be a tacit recognition that thousands of transgender people are already in uniform.
Mr. Carter acknowledged as much in a statement announcing the plan. “We have transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines — real, patriotic Americans — who I know are being hurt by an outdated, confusing, inconsistent approach that’s contrary to our value of service and individual merit,” he said. “The Defense Department’s current regulations regarding transgender service members are outdated and are causing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions.”
Some estimates put the number of transgender people in the military at more than 15,000. Much like the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which applied to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals until it was lifted in 2011, the current rules have done little to keep transgender people out of the military.
Instead it has forced them into a precarious existence in the ranks: The lucky ones have superiors who are content to look the other way, but the less fortunate must keep their transgender status a secret, leaving themselves open to expulsion if their colleagues were to learn the truth.
Since taking over the Pentagon this year, Mr. Carter has signaled his unhappiness with the current policy, as have other senior civilian defense officials.
Mr. Carter said in his statement on Monday that he was creating a working group that would have six months to assess what impact ending the ban would have on the military. The group will also help come up with ways to train troops to ensure a smooth transition, a senior defense official said.
Despite the formation of the working group, Mr. Carter left little doubt that the decision had been all but formally made to lift the ban.
“At my direction, the working group will start with the presumption that transgender persons can serve openly without adverse impact on military effectiveness and readiness, unless and except where objective, practical impediments are identified,” Mr. Carter said.
The chiefs of the Army, Air Force and Navy and the commandant of the Marine Corps have been briefed on the plan and are not opposed to lifting the ban, a senior defense official said.
Although transgender people are still technically barred from the ranks, the goal is to keep any from being forced out of the military, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the plan with a reporter.
