Lawmakers Push to End Military Transgender Ban

Unlike the ban on openly gay troops repealed in 2011, the policies that prohibit transgender people from joining the armed forces have historically attracted minimal, if any, interest on Capitol Hill.

Until now.

As several transgender service members have come out publicly in recent months, some lawmakers have begun to champion their cause and urge the Department of Defense to adopt new rules that allow transgender people to serve openly.

Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, is garnering support from colleagues to introduce a bill in coming weeks that would do away with the Pentagon’s anachronistic rules.

“The current ban has hurt our troops and damaged our national defense for too long,” Ms. Speier wrote in a letter her office is sharing with potential co-sponsors. “Many in uniform endure tremendous challenges and setbacks — emotional, financial and professional — because they are forced to serve in silence."

Separately, Rep. Mike Honda, another Democrat from California, has been gathering signatures this week for a letter he intends to send to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter urging him to take swift action to establish policies that allow transgender troops to serve openly.

“I think we should start looking at this in a very mature way, set aside our old notions,” Mr. Honda said in an interview. “

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/19/lawmakers-push-to-end-military-transgender-ban/?_r=0