U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says he
is "open" to reviewing the military's policy
on transgender individuals.
(Via Department of Defense)
HAGEL: ​"It continually should be reviewed.
I'm open to that, by the way...
I go back to the bottom line- every qualified
American who wants to serve our country should
have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications
and can do it."
(Via ABC)
Right now, the Department of Defense says
individuals with "Current or history of psychosexual
conditions (302), including but not limited
to transsexualism, exhibitionism, transvestism,
voyeurism, and other paraphilias," are not
up to military standards for enlistment.
(Via Department of Defense)
This comes more than three years after "Don't
Ask Don't Tell" was repealed in December 2010,
but Hagel contests this is more difficult
because transgender individuals require different
medical attention.
(Via Department SaveFrom.net of Defense)
The Palm Center, a research institute focused
on sexual minorities in the military, released
a report in March that refutes that claim
saying, "We find that there is no compelling
medical rationale for banning transgender
military service, and that eliminating the
ban would advance a number of military interests,
including enabling commanders to better care
for their service members."
It adds researchers estimate there are more
than 15,000 transgender service members currently
serving.
(Via Palm Center)
If the U.S. were to allow transgender individuals
to serve in some way, it would join at least
ten other countries including Australia, Canada,
Spain, Thailand and the U.K. (Via OutServe-SLDN)
