SFO University think tank-backed panel urges US to lift ban on transgenders in troops

An independent commission issued a report on Thursday which read that the current administration of US President Barack Obama should lift the ban on transgenders from joining the military, SF Gate said. The panel, which was convened thanks to a think tank at San Francisco State University, said the regulations by the Department of Defense are no longer applicable in today's times regarding transgenders who wishes to serve in the armed forces. Current regulations require transgenders to undergo medical procedures to revert back to their old physical selves or leave the military.

The commission led by Dr Joycelyn Elders and Rear Adm Alan Steinman had said in the report, "We determined not only that there is no compelling medical reason for the ban, but also that the ban itself is an expensive, damaging and unfair barrier to health care access for the approximately 15,450 transgender personnel who serve currently in the active, Guard and reserve components."

In an interview with the The Associated Press, Elders expressed her hope that the US government's takeaway on the report should be that an evaluation of a person who wishes to serve in the military should be on the basis of the person's ability to serve, and that a transgender should be regarded just like everybody else.

Elders, SF Gate noted, served as surgeon general during the firm term of Bill Clinton as US president. Steinman, on the other hand, previously served as a chief health and safety director for the Coast Guard.

When asked by SF Gate regarding the commission report, the White House reportedly deferred questions about transgender issues to the Department of Defense.

Defense department spokesman Navy Lt Cmdr Nate Christensen said, "At this time there are no plans to change the department's policy and regulations which do not allow transgender individuals to serve in the U.S. military."

Tags

Department of Defense military regulations, San Francisco State University independent commission

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