An estimated 2,450 people in the United States armed forces are transgender. Up until today, they were technically banned from serving. These brave men and women who chose to serve our country knew that if they told anyone the truth, they risked losing their career. Until today, these soldiers, airmen, and sailors have struggled to conceal their true identity while serving alongside those who became their brothers and sisters.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter made the announcement. “Effective immediately, transgender Americans may serve openly. They can no longer be discharged or otherwise separated from the military just for being transgender."
“American who want to serve and can meet our standards should be afforded the opportunity to compete to do so. After all, our all-volunteer force is built upon having the most qualified Americans. And the profession of arms is based on honor and trust,” Secretary Carter also commented.
This move continues to open up the United States military to those who previously were denied positions or the chance to join. No longer are any combat roles denied to those who want them, men and women alike. The outdated policies banning women and transgender soldiers alike from serving the way they want to have finally ended.
Top brass in the military have said they support the end of the transgender ban, but some parties are not as excited to see it go forward.
Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas released a statement saying he would be examining “legislative options to address the readiness issues associated with this new policy.” Those who oppose the lifting of the ban along with Representative Thornberry have voiced their concerns that ending the ban will be detrimental to the overall readiness of the United States military.
Representative Thornberry elaborated, saying “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.”
As he made the announcement, Secretary Carter said that the Pentagon had studied the experiences of countries who have already allowed transgender people to serve in their armed forces. After making his statement of disapproval of the transgender ban, Secretary Cater has been hard at work to make sure the lift of the ban was backed by evidence that it would not negatively impact the military’s readiness at any time.
“Our mission is to defend this country,” Secretary Carter said in his announcement. “And we don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine who can best accomplish the mission.”
