Just in time for Pride (well for some places) the US Military has given the LGBT community another reason for celebration. The ban on Transgendered persons in the serving in the US Military (all Branches) has now officially ben lifted. Ash Carter delivered equality for all. The Defense Secretary says “This is the right thing to do for our people and for the force,”.
Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma delivered a rebuttal and criticized the government for “forcing their social agenda” and said it should be put on hold.
At a press conference earlier at the Pentagon, Mr Carter said: “Our mission is to defend this country, 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.”
There is an estimate of about 2,500 transgender people already serving in a total force of about 1.3 million people, he said. Transgender individuals will be able to enlist in one year, as long as they have been “stable” in their transition and identified gender for at least 18 months.
Mr. Carter called the policy “a matter of principle” and said he had consulted transgender service members over the years to discuss how best to meet their needs. He also looked at policies in countries like the UK, Canada, Israel and Australia, which already allow transgender members to serve openly.
“I’m confident that we have reason to be proud today on what this will mean for our military,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do. Our military, and the nation it defends, will be stronger.”
We are not equal and free unless ALL of US are Equal and Free.
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