From the Palm Center:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Following today's Associated Press report that the Department of Defense is finalizing plans to lift the ban on transgender service members, Palm Center director Aaron Belkin offered the following statement:
"The AP report is certainly welcome news, but we need to know full details, based on an official announcement by the Department of Defense, before reaching conclusions. I hope that any review process is informed by the social science research that addresses how to implement inclusive policy, as well as lessons of 18 foreign militaries that have lifted their bans on transgender personnel."
Last year, the Palm Center released a study, "Report of the Planning Commission on Transgender Military Service," that found that allowing transgender personnel to serve in the military "is administratively feasible and neither excessively complex nor burdensome." The authors of that study, who included three retired General Officers as well as leading scholars and experts, provided a detailed roadmap for the policy change and concluded that implementation could proceed immediately and will be successful in its execution.
The Palm Center's research on this topic can be viewed www.palmcenter.org/publications/all .
From SPARTA:
Washington, DC — SPARTA, one of the leading advocates for transgender military service, hailed today's Associated Press report that the Secretary of Defense will commission a Working Group to revise policies so that transgender service members may serve openly rather than in silence. The Working Group is scheduled to complete its task in six months.
"This is a tribute to the honorable military service of thousands of transgender Americans. There is much more to do, but the Secretary's clear intent to treat transgender soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines with the same dignity and on equal footing with other service members aligns with the core values of our Armed Forces," said Allyson Robinson, Army veteran and SPARTA Director of Policy. "We stand ready to provide resources to the Working Group for the regulations changes required to take care of all the troops."
"Six months is more than enough time to hammer out the details. This isn't new ground," continued Robinson. "A number of our military allies deploy transgender troops alongside American forces down-range, as do DOD contractors. Police and fire departments have managed transgender inclusion. I'm confident that our military leaders can handle this as smoothly as the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"
Transgender service members who belong to SPARTA had these reactions.
"I've always put the Air Force and my job first, and my commanders have treated me with dignity and respect," said Sr. Airman Logan Ireland. "I am grateful that there will be one clear policy so that others like me will be able to continue to serve with pride."
Airman Ireland recently attended the White House Pride Reception with his fiancee, Army Corporal Laila Villanueva, also transgender. He was allowed to attend in male uniform, a departure from current Air Force policy.
"My leaders have operated on the basis that how I do my job is what matters," echoed Army Staff Sergeant Patricia King, an infantry soldier stationed in Colorado Springs. "But until now, the policies haven't been in place to provide me or my unit the support we need, so we've improvised. This action would put the right process in motion, to give us clear guidance so I can keep doing my job, and taking care of my soldiers."
"While some people don't understand, many of my fellow soldiers have been supportive," said Army Captain Jennifer Peace, a transgender woman serving in a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. "This change allows me to continue to do my job without the additional burden of pretending I'm someone I'm not. And that makes me a better officer and leader."
More on SPARTA at the link: www.spartapride.org .
From the American Military Partner Association:
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the Pentagon will lift the ban on open and honest service by transgender service members.
Secretary Carter said, "First, DoD will create a working group to study over the next six months the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly. Led by (Acting) Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad Carson, and composed of military and civilian personnel representing all the military services and the Joint Staff, this working group will report to Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work. 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. Second, I am directing that decision authority in all administrative discharges for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify themselves as transgender be elevated to Under Secretary Carson, who will make determinations on all potential separations."
"We are thrilled with Secretary Carter's announcement that the Department of Defense is finally taking steps to lift the ban on transgender military service," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "All qualified Americans should be able to serve our great nation, regardless of their gender identity. Lifting the ban will dramatically improve the lives of our transgender service members and their families by allowing them to serve authentically."
In March of this year, AMPA launched an unprecedented joint report with the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) highlighting the tremendous harm the outdated regulations inflict on military families. The report notes, "No one should be forced to choose between defending the country they love and being true to their authentic self. The outdated regulations serve no purpose and only dehumanize and prevent qualified and capable individuals from enlisting and serving. The ban perpetuates trauma to all those involved, both the service member and their family."
Full Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on DOD Transgender Policy:
"Over the last fourteen years of conflict, the Department of Defense has proven itself to be a learning organization. This is true in war, where we have adapted to counterinsurgency, unmanned systems, and new battlefield requirements such as MRAPs. It is also true with respect to institutional activities, where we have learned from how we repealed 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' from our efforts to eliminate sexual assault in the military, and from our work to open up ground combat positions to women. Throughout this time, transgender men and women in uniform have been there with us, even as they often had to serve in silence alongside their fellow comrades in arms.
The Defense Department's current regulations regarding transgender service members are outdated and are causing uncertainty that distracts commanders from our core missions. At a time when our troops have learned from experience that the most important qualification for service members should be whether they're able and willing to do their job, our officers and enlisted personnel are faced with certain rules that tell them the opposite. Moreover, 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.
Today, I am issuing two directives to deal with this matter. First, DoD will create a working group to study over the next six months the policy and readiness implications of welcoming transgender persons to serve openly. Led by (Acting) Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad Carson, and composed of military and civilian personnel representing all the military services and the Joint Staff, this working group will report to Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work. 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. Second, I am directing that decision authority in all administrative discharges for those diagnosed with gender dysphoria or who identify themselves as transgender be elevated to Under Secretary Carson, who will make determinations on all potential separations.
As I've said before, we must ensure that everyone who's able and willing to serve has the full and equal opportunity to do so, and we must treat all our people with the dignity and respect they deserve. Going forward, the Department of Defense must and will continue to improve how we do both. Our military's future strength depends on it."
For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org .
.
From ACLU
WASHINGTON — The Department of Defense today issued two directives that are expected to ease regulations that prohibit transgender people from serving openly in the U.S. military. Under current regulations, transgender people are automatically deemed medically unfit for duty and face separation from their unit if their gender identity is disclosed.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the formation of a six-month working group to study the impact of lifting the ban on unit readiness. Additionally, the announcement elevates the decision authority regarding administrative discharge for trans service members and those diagnosed with gender dysphoria to Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Brad R. Carson.
From Joshua Block, senior staff attorney in the ACLU's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and HIV Project:
"Trans people are willing and able to serve their country, and should be able to do so while remaining true to who they are. The Pentagon announcement confirms what we have known for a long time: outdated military regulations, which automatically label trans service members as medically unfit for duty, have no basis in reality. Over the past year, service branches have allowed some individuals to serve openly without risking immediate separation, but the regulations on the books keep those service members and their commanders in a constant state of administrative limbo. Everyone has been waiting for senior officials to provide clear leadership on this issue. It sounds like that leadership is coming — and not a moment too soon."
From U.S. Representative Mike Quigley:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Vice-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, released the following statement in response to Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary Ash Carter issuing two directives to update their policy on transgender individuals in the military:
"I applaud today's announcement by the Department of Defense to take the first steps in updating the military's discriminatory and inconsistent policy in regards to how transgender individuals are treated in our nation's armed forces. These individuals have risked their lives to keep us safe and deserve to serve openly and publically next to their fellow soldiers. I couldn't agree more with Secretary Carter in that the most important qualification for our service members should be whether they're able and willing to do their job, regardless of their gender identity."
