Photo: The American Military Partner Association
WASHINGTON – On Nov. 26th, the American Military Partner Association, the nation’s largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members and veterans, issued the following statement in response to a report released by the Palm Center outlining the failure of the military services to comply with new Defense Department regulations on transgender service.
According to the report, “On August 5, 2014, the Department of Defense (DOD) issued a new regulation that weakens the prohibition against transgender personnel in military service and requires reassessment of the policy, even though the ban remains in effect. 1 DOD Instruction (DODI) 1332.18, Disability Evaluation System (DES), eliminates a component of the regulatory architecture of the transgender ban, as DOD no longer requires the services (Army, Air Force, Navy/Marines) to separate or discharge transgender personnel. As a result of DOD’s regulatory revision, service-level regulations are now out of compliance with DOD rules and must be revised.” [pullquote]”The current outdated and obsolete regulations not only impact the estimated 15,500 transgender service members who currently serve in silence, but their families as well. No military family should have to endure the hardships and damage this policy causes.”—AMPA President Ashley Broadway[/pullquote]
“It’s very important to our military families that the services take immediate action in complying with this new Defense Department policy,” said AMPA President Ashley Broadway. “The current outdated and obsolete regulations not only impact the estimated 15,500 transgender service members who currently serve in silence, but their families as well. No military family should have to endure the hardships and damage this policy causes.”
The journey towards full LGBT equality in the Defense Department is far from complete. The Defense Department has not yet updated significantly outdated policies impacting LGBT service members and their families. In addition the outdated and obsolete regulations prohibiting open and honest service by transgender people, over three years after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the Defense Department has still not added sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy and equal opportunity program for service members.
For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military spouses and their families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org.
The American Military Partner Association is the nation’s largest organization for the partners, spouses, and families of America’s LGBT service members and veterans. With over 33,000 members and supporters, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our “modern military families.”
[From a News Release]
Will this apply to Transgender Service personnel who were discharged under honorable status, but later Transitioned years later? Or is this applicable to the ones who serve their full 20 years?