You Will Anyway: A little good news from the Pentagon

Monday, December 11, 2017

A little good news from the Pentagon

The Pentagon announced today that transgender troops will be allowed to enlist in the United States military beginning on January 1, though with a strict set of medical and mental health guidelines, per the AP. That comes despite President Trump's attempt to ban all transgender individuals from serving in the armed forces, which has been struck down twice by federal courts.

Axios

So what are the hoops they have to jump through?

Maj. David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said the enlistment of transgender recruits will begin next month and proceed amid legal battles. The Defense Department also is doing a review, which is expected to carry into 2018.

Eastburn told The Associated Press on Monday that the new guidelines mean the Pentagon can disqualify potential recruits with gender dysphoria, a history of medical treatments associated with gender transition and those who underwent reconstruction. But such recruits are allowed in if a medical provider certifies they’ve been clinically stable in the preferred sex for 18 months and are free of significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas.

Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy must be stable on their medication for 18 months.

AP

Although I don't know what "other important areas" might be, should they maybe extend those conditions to all enlistees?

I just watched two Netflix films about transgendered/transexual people. Both are rather sad, but the one about Britain's first two (known) cases - BBC's The Sex Changes that Made History - is also very interesting in a technical sense (albeit a little tough if you're at all medically squeamish). The death and life of Marsha P. Johnson is heartbreaking. When gays and lesbians are finally getting some semblance of respect and justice, the transgender/transexual communities are still battling for acceptance. So, this Pentagon decision, while not ideal, is a huge step forward.

UPDATE 12/12:

The Trump administration on Monday night requested an emergency stay to a court decision that would require the Defense Department to begin accepting transgender recruits on Jan. 1.

Politico

Of course they did.

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GUILDENSTERN: What a fine persecution---to be kept intrigued without ever quite being enlightened.

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ROSENCRANTZ : The only thing that makes it bearable is the irrational belief that somebody interesting will come on in a minute.

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