Top Pentagon officials say it is ‘likely’ that trans soldiers will soon be allowed to serve openly

Aug 27 2014
Written by Joseph McCormick

Transgender soldiers may soon be allowed to serve openly in the US military, according to a report by top Pentagon officials.

The report, was issued earlier this week by retired Major General Gale S Pollock, former acting surgeon general of the Army General Clara Adams-Ender, former US Army chief General Thomas A Kolditz.

The support was hailed as opening the door for openly transgender citizens to serve in the armed forces, and was likened to the downfall of the now defunct ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy which for years stopped openly gay and lesbian people from serving in the military.

“Our conclusion is that allowing transgender personnel to serve openly is administratively feasible and will not be burdensome or complicated. Three months have passed since Defense Secretary Hagel announced a willingness to review the military’s ban on transgender service, an effort the White House indicated it supports,” the 29-page report said.

It is estimated that 15,500 transgender people currently serve in the US armed forces.

The White House earlier this year tentatively backed a review of the policy banning transgender people from openly serving in the military.

Chuck Hagel, the Defence Secretary, had previously said the ban should “continue to be reviewed”, and that hew was “open” to the idea of allowing trans people to serve.