The Defense Department announced Friday
that it would lift its ban on transgender troops as early as July 1.
USA
Today reported that the repeal will take place on July 1,
though other outlets said that the Pentagon would act within weeks.
Under current regulations, the military
can discharge transgender people. However, officials have made the
process of forcing out transgender troops more difficult in the last
year.
Last July, Defense Secretary Ash Carter
created a working group to study the issue, saying that the
military's current policy on transgender service is “outdated.”
An estimated 15,000 transgender people
serve in the active-duty military and the reserves.
LGBT rights advocates praised the move.
“This final remnant of Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell will now be put to rest,” said Victoria
Rodriguez-Roldan with the National LGBTQ Task Force. “This
decision is a great victory for the many trans people who have served
and sacrificed in the military over the years. They also served in
fear of being discharged from the service for simply being who they
are. Thankfully this now will change. We look forward to hearing more
implementation details.”