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National News See other National News Articles Title: CHINA AND RUSSIA REJOICE - Momentum grows to scrap Pentagon's ban on transgender troops There is renewed energy on Capitol Hill to lift the Defense Department's ban on transgender troops. Lawmakers view recent steps by the Pentagon and some of the armed services to expand protections for gay and lesbian troops as an opportunity to do away with the decades-old prohibition on allowing transgender troops to serve openly. They are also taking note of other societal changes in calling for the ban on service by transgender trips to be lifted. In politics, I think its always appropriate to take advantage of timing. Whether its taking down the Confederate flag or creating equality in the military for transgender persons, said Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.). She plans to introduce legislation next month that calls on the Pentagon to immediately grant anti-discrimination protection for all service members, and their dependents, who identify as transgender. The bill, which is still being drafted, would also direct the Defense secretary to hammer out new policies for transgender troops, from regulations about their uniforms to what treatments would be covered under Tricare, the military's healthcare system. Separately, Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) on Thursday lead a group of nearly 20 House members in a letter to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter that urged him to do away with the policy. People should be evaluated on performance, not gender," Honda, who has a transgender granddaughter, said in a statement Any effort to do away with the prohibition is likely to face stiff resistance in a GOP-controlled Congress. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) has said the decision on the ban should be left to the Pentagon. The department needs to look at a variety of policies. As long as they look at it objectively, based on whats best for the security interests of the country, then well oversee or review what they do, he told The Hill. When theres a sense that theres some extraneous social or political agenda
people get concerned, Thornberry added. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) struck a similar chord. The administration policy should always be a basis for our discussion, he said. Transgender activists say that, while they are heartened by the increased focus on the issue, they arent about to pin their hopes on Capitol Hill. They note that, while lawmakers led the charge in the 2011 repeal of "Dont ask, dont tell, the Clinton-era law that prohibited gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the military, the transgender ban is department-level policy. Everyone in advocacy believes this needs to be a Pentagon thing, said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. She added that the legislative push could wind up being an education and advocacy tool. She pointed to recent moves by the DOD, as well as the Air Force and Army to expand protections for LGBT service members, as evidence that many Pentagon leaders can feel the dominoes falling. Hopes for lifting the ban grew days after Carter took office and signaled that a person's gender identity shouldnt factor into if he or she can serve in the armed forces. I don't think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them, he said. The White House quickly endorsed Carters remarks. The president agrees with the sentiment that all Americans who are qualified to serve should be able to serve, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. Earlier this month Carter announced sexual orientation would be added to the military's anti-discrimination policy. And just last week, the White House hosted a handful of transgender service members and veterans at its gay pride event. Keisling said the comments, along with last weeks event, show that there's an understanding in the administration that its all right with the civilian powers that be to end the ban. The Pentagons a trickier place than that, however, she added. A DOD spokesman said there is no ongoing review to specifically address the Department's transgender policy. However, in February, the Pentagon started a routine, periodic review of its medical guidelines that specifically prohibit service by transgender people, he added. The assessment, last conducted in 2011, is slated to wrap up some time next year. My sense is that all eyes are on the secretary of Defense. Hes the center of gravity on this, said Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center. He predicted that Carter ultimately would decide to trash the prohibition, noting that the influential American Medical Association recently concluded there is no medically valid reason to keep transgender persons out of the military. Both he and Keisling said it was inevitable that the ban would be lifted, though neither would hazard to guess when it might happen. For her part, Speier isnt willing to sit back and wait for the DOD to act. I dont necessarily think one branch of government has the lock on good policy, said Speier, who has a transgender nephew. She said her staff has been in contact with two Senate offices about introducing a companion bill in that chamber, though she declined to identify them. The time is right, so lets do what the right thing is," Speier said. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top Page Up Full Thread Page Down Bottom/Latest Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 1.
#1. To: HAPPY2BME-4UM (#0)
(Edited)
No doubt there's rejoicing in Iraq and Pakistan too -- and I'm exulting with them. Oops, I forgot that everything Washington does just makes things worse, never better.
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