The Military May Soon Lift Its Ban on Transgender People

The Pentagon may announce a plan this week to lift the ban on transgender individuals in the military.

130925-D-BW835-074Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter briefs the press at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 25, 2013. Carter announced three reviews of security at Department of Defense installations in the wake of the Navy Yard shootings. The Office of the Secretary of Defense will lead one review and an independent panel will head another. These two reviews will focus on assessing the physical security and access at DoD installations to identify vulnerabilities. They will also examine the security clearance and reinvestigation process to identify any shortcomings and what steps to take to tighten the standards for granting and renewing a security clearance. The Department of the Navy is leading the third review, which will examine physical security at all Navy and Marine Corps installations worldwide. DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo. (Released) — 130925-D-BW835-074 Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter briefs the press at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Sept. 25, 2013. Carter announced three reviews of security at Department of Defense installations in the wake of the Navy Yard shootings. The Office of the Secretary of Defense will lead one review and an independent panel will head another. These two reviews will focus on assessing the physical security and access at DoD installations to identify vulnerabilities. They will also examine the security clearance and reinvestigation process to identify any shortcomings and what steps to take to tighten the standards for granting and renewing a security clearance. The Department of the Navy is leading the third review, which will examine physical security at all Navy and Marine Corps installations worldwide. DoD photo by Erin A. Kirk-Cuomo. (Released)

The goal is to formally end one of the last gender- or sexuality-based barriers to military service. If the announcement happens, “the services would have six months to assess the impact of the change and work out the details, the officials said Monday,” in an Associated Press story.

The six-month time frame would ostensibly give military leaders enough time to figure out any legal, administrative or medical issues related to the ban, and develop training to facilitate the transition.

The AP story said Defense Secretary Ash Carter has asked his personnel undersecretary, Brad Carson, to establish a group of senior military and civilian leaders to consider the associated costs, housing, bathrooms, small team unit dynamics, any effect on military readiness and establish some of the details, such as uniform guidelines.

Transgender individuals would still not be able to join the military during that six-month period, and the Pentagon’s acting undersecretary for personnel would address any attempts to force out those already serving.

“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 of our people with the dignity and respect they deserve,” Carter said in an AP statement. “Going forward, the Department of Defense must and will continue to improve how we do both.”

The estimated 15,000 transgender people who currently serve in active military duty and in the reserves in secret have something to look forward to.

Photo caption: Defense Secretary Ash Carter