>> THANK YOU, CHRISTI AND 
VICTOR.
I'M DELIGHTED TO BE HERE.
>> YOU AND TWO OTHERS RELEASED 
THIS STATEMENT.
I'LL READ A PORTION OF IT.
ALLOWING TRANSGENDER PERSONNEL 
TO SERVE OPENLY IS NOT 
BURDENSOME OR COMPLICATED.
THAT IS THE MAJOR CONCERN.
HOW WILL IT AFFECT THE FORCE AND
ABILITY TO RESPOND TO THREATS?
HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME 
INTERESTED AND INVOLVED IN THIS 
ISSUE?
>> WELL, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND 
DISCRIMINATION.
AS A WOMAN AND AS A NURSE, I 
SPENT 36 YEARS SERVING IN THE 
MILITARY AND RECOGNIZED WHILE I 
WAS SERVING THE DISCRIMINATION 
THAT WAS FACED BY FIRST WOMEN 
AND THEN THE GAY AND LESBIAN 
COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I FIRST STARTED TO 
LEARN ABOUT THIS TRANSGENDER 
GROUP, YOU NEEDED TO STEP BACK 
AND LEARN ABOUT IT BECAUSE I'D 
ONLY MET TO MY KNOWLEDGE ONE 
PERSON WHO WAS TRANSGENDER.
I STARTED MY OWN INDEPENDENT 
STUDY COURSE AND READ RESEARCH 
AND BOOKS THAT HAVE BEEN OUT.
THEN I STARTED TO INTERVIEW 
ACTIVE DUTY SERVING MEMBERS.
THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED THAT YES, 
I WAS WILLING TO BE ENGAGED WITH
THE STUDY. 
>> I KNOW BACK IN MAY, DEFENSE 
SECRETARY CHUCK HAGEL SAID HE 
WAS OPEN TO REVIEW THE POLICY ON
TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS.
HOW LIKELY DO YOU THINK IT WILL 
HAPPEN AND WILL IT PUSH THE 
PROCESS FORWARD IN YOUR OPINION?
>> WELL, I DON'T THINK WE CAN 
PREDICT EXACTLY WHEN IT WILL 
HAPPEN.
WHAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO US 
WAS THAT WE DEVELOP A RESOURCE, 
A TOOL, IN THE REPORT THAT THE 
DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ABLE
