In a tremendous step forward, the newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense says that transgender people should be allowed to serve, and the President agrees.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter told participants at a town hall Sunday in Afghanistan that transgender Americans should be allowed to serve. Today, the President’s Press Secretary told reporters the Commander in Chief agrees.
Asked what his thoughts were on transgender service members, Secretary Carter responded, “I come at that from a fundamental starting point. It’s not something I’ve studied a lot since I became secretary of defense. But I come at this kind of question from a fundamental starting point, which is that we want to make our conditions and experience of service as attractive as possible to our best people in our country.”
He added that he is “very open-minded” about the issue, and said that the only “important criteria” is, “Are they going to be excellent service members?”
“I don’t think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them,” from serving, he added.
At a briefing today, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded to a question about Secretary Carter’s remarks.
“The President agrees with the sentiment that all Americans who are qualified to serve should be able to serve,” Earnest said.
The American Military Partner Association reacted quickly, issuing a statement saying it is “now abundantly clear that both the Commander-in-Chief as well as the Secretary of Defense believe that all qualified Americans should be able to serve.”
“So now is the time for action – action to end the outdated ban harming our brave transgender service members and their families,” AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack said in a statement. “All qualified Americans – regardless of their gender identity – deserve to be able to serve our nation openly and honestly.”
Update – Video via Washington Blade’s Chris Johnson:
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Image via Wikimedia
Hat tip: Washington Blade
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