The Pentagon Press Briefing Room seal as seen March 27, 2020, Washington, D.C. (DoDo photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

By   Gary  Raynaldo      DIPLOMATIC TIMES

In a sharp rebuke to the Trump-era mindset that condemned transgender people and banned them from joining the military,  the Pentagon Wednesday issued new policies allowing them to to serve openly  as transgender in U.S. forces. The policy updates restore the Department’s original 2016 policies regarding transgender service.  The revised policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or an individual’s identification as transgender, provide a means by which to access into the military in one’s self-identified gender provided all appropriate standards are met, provide a path for those in service for medical treatment, gender transition, and recognition in one’s self-identified gender, and seeks to protect the privacy of all Service members and to treat all Service members with dignity and respect.  Just five days into his new presidency, Joe Biden issued an  executive order that overturned the Trump policy and immediately prohibited any service member from being forced out of the military on the basis of gender identity. 

Transitioning While in Uniform Now Allowed

Biden’s order also reversed Trump’s policy that  prevented service members from transitioning while in uniform. The revised policy will also ensure all medically-necessary transition related care authorized by law is available to all Service members. The policies will be effective on April 30, 2021, affording the Military Services the necessary time to update service-level policies and provide guidance to Commanders, Service members, medical professionals, and other communities of practice as appropriate.  During this period, the Department’s interim guidance of January 29, 2021 remains in effect.

“I’m pleased to announce we’ve updated DoD policy on the open service of transgender individuals. The update reinforces our prior decision to allow recruitment, retention, and care of qualified trans individuals.”

-U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin 

Trans rights are human rights, and on this #TransDayOfVisibility , I’m pleased to announce we’ve updated DoD policy on the open service of transgender individuals. The update reinforces our prior decision to allow recruitment, retention, and care of qualified trans individuals. pic.twitter.com/JJZhtr7uYI

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) March 31, 2021

The DoD Instruction 6130.03: Medical Standards for Appointment, Enlistment, or Induction into the Military Services can be found here.

The DoD Instruction 1300.28: In-Service Transition for Transgender Service Members can be found here.