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A28 u.s. news
Diamars 26 Januari 2021

Biden reverses Trump ban on transgender people in military

(AP) — President Joe
Biden signed an or-
der Monday reversing
a Trump-era Pentagon
policy that largely barred
transgender individuals
from serving in the mili-
tary.

The new order, which Biden
signed in the Oval Office
during a meeting with De-
fense Secretary Lloyd Austin,
overturns a ban ordered by
President Donald Trump in
a tweet during his first year
in office. It immediately pro-
hibits any service member
from being forced out of the
military on the basis of gen-
der identity.
The decision comes as Biden
plans to turn his attention to
equity issues that he believes
continue to shadow nearly
all aspects of American life.
Ahead of his inauguration,
Biden’s transition team cir-
culated a memo saying Biden
planned to use his first full
week as president “to advance
equity and support commu-
nities of color and other un-
derserved communities.”
As he signed the order on propriate standards shall be The move to overturn the viduals to serve “in any ca- Troops that were already
Monday, Biden said, “What able to do so openly and free transgender ban is the latest pacity” in the military. “Our serving and were diagnosed
I’m doing is enabling all from discrimination,” Austin example of Biden using ex- military must be focused on with gender dysphoria were
qualified Americans to serve said. “This is the right thing ecutive authority in his first decisive and overwhelming required to serve in the gen-
their country in uniform.” to do. It is also the smart days as president to disman- victory and cannot be bur- der assigned at birth and were
“America is stronger, at home thing to do.” tle Trump’s legacy. His early dened with the tremendous barred from taking hormones
and around the world, when Congress members and ad- actions include orders to medical costs and disruption or getting transition surgery.
it is inclusive. The military vocates hailed the signing. overturn a Trump adminis- that transgender in the mili- As of 2019, an estimated
is no exception,” the order “This is the triumph of ev- tration ban on travelers from tary would entail,” he wrote. 14,700 troops on active duty
says. “Allowing all quali- idence-based policy over several predominantly Mus- After a lengthy and compli- and in the Reserves identify
fied Americans to serve their discrimination,” said Aaron lim countries, stop construc- cated legal battle and addi- as transgender, but not all
country in uniform is better Belkin, the executive director tion of the wall at the U.S.- tional reviews, the Defense seek treatment. Since July
for the military and better for of the Palm Center, which Mexico border, and launch Department in April 2019 2016, more than 1,500 ser-
the country because an in- researches and advocates an initiative to advance racial approved the new policy vice members were diag-
clusive force is a more effec- against LGBTQ discrimina- equity. that fell short of an all-out nosed with gender dysphoria;
tive force. Simply put, it’s the tion. “The inclusive policy ban but barred transgender as of Feb. 1, 2019, there were
right thing to do and is in our will make it easier for trans Until a few years ago ser- troops and military recruits 1,071 currently serving. Ac-
national interest.” troops to do their jobs and to vice members could be dis- from transitioning to another cording to the Pentagon, the
The order directs the de- fulfill their missions.” charged from the military for sex and required most indi- department spent about $8
partments of Defense and The Trump policy triggered being transgender, but that viduals to serve in what the million on transgender care
Homeland Security to take a number of lawsuits, includ- changed during the Obama administration called their between 2016 and 2019. The
steps to implement the order ing from transgender indi- administration. In 2016, De- “birth gender.” military’s annual health care
for the military and the Coast viduals who wanted to join fense Secretary Ash Carter Under that policy, currently budget tops $50 billion.
Guard. And it says they must the military and found them- announced that transgender serving transgender troops All four service chiefs told
reexamine the records of selves blocked. people already serving in the and anyone who had signed Congress in 2018 that they
service members who were “It is my highest goal to serve military would be allowed to an enlistment contract before had seen no discipline, mo-
discharged or denied reen- my country in the U.S. mili- serve openly. And the mili- the effective date could con- rale or unit readiness prob-
listment due to gender iden- tary and I’ve fought this ban tary set July 1, 2017, as the tinue with plans for hormone lems with transgender troops
tity issues under the previous because I know that I am date when transgender indi- treatments and gender tran- serving openly in the military.
policy. qualified to serve,” said Nico- viduals would be allowed to sition if they had been diag- But they also acknowledged
It requires the departments las Talbott, an aspiring ser- enlist. nosed with gender dysphoria. that some commanders were
to submit a report to the vice member involved in one After Trump took office, But after that date, no one spending a lot of time with
president on their progress of the lawsuits. “I’m thrilled however, his administra- with gender dysphoria who transgender individuals who
within 60 days. and relieved that I and other tion delayed the enlistment was taking hormones or has were working through medi-
Austin, in a statement, voiced transgender Americans can date and called for additional transitioned to another gen- cal requirements and other
support for the change and now be evaluated solely on study to determine if allow- der was allowed to enlist. transition issues.
said the Pentagon will work our ability to meet military ing transgender individuals
over the next two months to standards. I look forward to to serve would affect military
implement the new policy. becoming the best service readiness or effectiveness.
“I fully support the Presi- member I can be.” A few weeks later, Trump
dent’s direction that all trans- Under Biden’s new policy, caught military leaders by
gender individuals who wish transgender servicemembers surprise, tweeting that the
to serve in the United States won’t be discharged based on government wouldn’t accept
military and can meet the ap- gender identity. or allow transgender indi-