Transgenders no longer qualify for U.S. military service

Jacob Argintaru | The Avro Post

U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order on Friday that disqualifies most transgender people from enlisting in the army.

The policy was written by Secretary of Defense James Mattis after assessing the mental and physical fitness of transgender people in relation to military service.

The memo states:

[T]he policies set forth by the Secretary of Defense state that transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — individuals who the policies state may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery — are disqualified from military service except under certain limited circumstances.

Those limited circumstances are listed in a Pentagon Memo written back in February:

(1) if they have been stable for 36 consecutive months in their biological sex prior to accession; (2) Service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria after entering into service may be retained if they do not require a change of gender and remain deployable within applicable retention standards; and (3) currently serving Service members who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria since the previous administration’s policy took effect and prior to the effective date of this new policy. may continue to serve in their preferred gender and receive medically necessary treatment t for gender dysphoria.

President Trump unofficially announced the ban on Twitter back in July:

After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017

More details to follow | Image of American soldiers in combat training from United States Marine Corps.