President Biden has allowed Transgender Americans to Serve in US Military

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On Monday, US President Joe Biden has reversed Donald Trump’s ban against transgender Americans serving in the US military. The White House issued a statement that the new executive order sets the policy that all Americans who are qualified to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States should be able to serve. US President Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair General Mark Milley, and incoming Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “The All-Volunteer Force thrives when it is composed of diverse Americans who can meet the rigorous standards for military service, and an inclusive military strengthens our national security. What I’m doing is enabling all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform”. Point to be noted that Trump reversed a policy of Barack Obama’s administration (to allow transgender people to serve) in 2017.

It is noteworthy that the military service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria were prohibited from undergoing medical surgeries for gender transition unless they were in the process of receiving treatment. However, transgender people who received hormone treatment or had undergone transition-related surgery were barred from enlisting. The White House also said, “The US President Biden’s measure prohibits discharging or denying reenlistment on the basis of gender identity. It directs an immediate start to the identification and examination of the records of service members who have been involuntarily separated, discharged, or denied reenlistment or continuation of service on the basis of gender identity or under circumstances relating to gender identity, as well as the correction of the military records. Simply put, transgender service members will no longer be subject to the possibility of discharge or separation on the basis of gender identity”.

The statement also said, “Transgender service members can serve in their gender when the transition is complete and the gender marker in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System is changed and transgender service members should know that they are accepted throughout the US military”. President Biden has now ordered the secretaries of the departments of Defense and Homeland Security to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with the order. The US military officials must also submit a report within 60 days of implementing the new order. The American Civil Liberties Union also called Biden’s order an incredible victory for our clients and sends a message that transgender people not only belong in our armed services but in our country. The US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, “If you’re fit and you’re qualified to serve and you can maintain the standards, you should be allowed to serve, and you can expect that I will support that throughout”.