The US military has lifted restrictions on allowing transgender people to serve in the US armed forces. The decree was signed by President Joe Biden and reversed a blanket ban on transgender troops put in place by former President Donald Trump.
Included in the bill was the right for transgender people to claim sex-reorientation surgery on their medical expenses.
This means that transgender people can now serve openly in the gender they define themselves as. The bill also seeks to overcome any expulsions or discrimination that took place against transgender people while the Trump bill discriminating against them was in place.
The new laws will come into place within 30 days. Transgender people will, of course, also have to reach the fitness and mental requirements demanded of any other serving military personnel.
Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told reporters that the military strongly believed that they worked better when there was no discrimination and that the military should be a welcoming place for all recruits. He said:
"The secretary of defense strongly believes that the all-volunteer force thrives when it is composed of diverse Americans who can meet the high standards for military service."
Air Force Lt. Col. Bree Fram, a transgender advocate, said of the decision:
"We applaud this step to ensure the Department of Defense provides inclusive policy to attract and retain the best and brightest our nation has to offer. Military personnel reach maximum effectiveness when they have access to all medically necessary care and we are excited that this policy extends that access to transgender service members."
Studies by the US military found that the combat readiness or effectiveness of a military group was in no way impacted by having transgender troops in the group and that no effect was seen on morale or discipline.
It is believed that as many as 14,700 US troops identify as transgender and that 2,000 have been diagnosed with 'gender-dysphoria'.
Gay people have been allowed to serve in the US military since 2010. Between 1993 and 2010, there was a ban on military personnel being openly gay, but they could not be forced out if they didn't openly state their sexual-orientation. Prior to 1993, a blanket-ban on homosexuals was in place.
[h/t: NBC news]
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