Hagel: Military Transgender Ban 'Should Be Reviewed'...

[ProSense]

Hagel: Military Transgender Ban 'Should Be Reviewed' (VIDEO)

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Sunday said he was open to looking at the military's ban on transgender service members and potentially reworking the rule.

"I do think it — it continually should be reviewed. I'm open to that, by the way. I'm open to those assessments, because, again, 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," he said on ABC's "This Week." "This is an area that we — we've — we've not defined enough."

Hagel noted that it could be difficult to accommodate transgender soldiers' medical needs.

"The issue of transgender is a bit more complicated, because it has a medical component to it. These issues require medical attention. Austere locations where we put our men and women in — in many cases, don't always provide that kind of opportunity," he said.

Watch the video via ABC:

- more -

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hagel-transgender-ban-review

[ProSense]

1. Think Progress (plus video)

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Despite the prohibition, transgender people serve at double the rate of the general population, though they must keep their gender identity a secret or risk being discharged. A March report by the Palm Center found no reason to continue the ban, determining, “Medical regulations requiring the discharge of transgender personnel are inconsistent with how the military regulates all other medical and psychological conditions, and transgender-related conditions appear to be the only gender-related conditions that require discharge irrespective of fitness for duty.” The commission that produced the report was co-chaired by former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders and retired Rear Admiral Alan M. Steinman.

Unlike Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, there is no congressional statute dictating the ban on transgender servicemembers, meaning Hagel and the administration could change the policy without needing legislative approval. At least 12 other countries already allow trans people to serve, including: Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Israel, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

- more -

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/05/11/3436566/hagel-transgender-ban/