Pentagon Unveils Stricter Policy Removing Transgender Service Members from Military.
The Pentagon has announced a more restrictive policy regarding transgender service members, marking a significant departure from previous guidelines set under President Donald Trump’s first term.
According to a memo filed in court on Wednesday, transgender individuals currently serving will be removed from the military unless granted a waiver. This policy expansion aims to identify and disqualify transgender service members who have a history of, or show symptoms of, gender dysphoria, a condition where a person experiences emotional distress due to the mismatch between their gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
The memo requires the Pentagon to identify affected personnel within 30 days. Those diagnosed or exhibiting symptoms of gender dysphoria will be separated from service, receiving an honorable discharge unless their record indicates otherwise.
A waiver can be considered on a case-by-case basis, provided certain conditions are met, including the demonstration of stability for 36 consecutive months in their birth-assigned sex and the absence of any medical transition.
The new policy also mandates that service members must adhere to sex-segregated spaces based on their birth sex, including bathrooms, sleeping arrangements, and other areas, while using pronouns and salutations that align with their birth sex. Additionally, transition-related medical care, including hormone therapy and surgeries, will be prohibited, with any scheduled surgeries being canceled. However, service members receiving hormone replacement therapy can continue treatment until their separation from the military, if medically necessary.
This move has drawn strong criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups. In a lawsuit filed last month, organizations such as the National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law argue that the ban violates the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause by discriminating based on sex. Kate Cole, a trans Army sergeant and plaintiff in the lawsuit, expressed concern that the policy would destabilize the military, leading to the loss of experienced personnel in critical positions.
Shannon Minter, legal director at NCLR, described the policy as an unprecedented purge of transgender service members, accusing the administration of betraying those who have faithfully served their country. The memo represents the latest step in an ongoing legal battle and comes amid debates over the treatment of transgender individuals in the military.
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