Navy's Top Enlisted Sailor Supports Open Service by Transgender Troops

Pressure continues to build for Secretary of Defense to order comprehensive review of outdated regulations

WASHINGTON, DC March 12, 2015 - Today, the American Military Partner Association (AMPA), the nation's largest organization of LGBT military families, responded to the report by the Navy Times that the senior enlisted sailor of the U.S. Navy - Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (AW/NAC) Mike Stevens - would support open and honest service by transgender troops if the ban caused by outdated regulations were lifted.

Voicing his support, Stevens told the Navy Times, "So, I was a recruiter at one time. The Navy sets the guidelines for [who] we can allow to join the Navy. So if they're physically, mentally and morally qualified, anybody who meets those criteria has an opportunity to serve their country."

AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack issued the following statement: "Once again, another senior leader in our nation's Armed Forces has voiced their support for open and honest service by transgender service members - and it's encouraging. But we need more than words. We need action. We need the Secretary of Defense to order a comprehensive review of all of the outdated regulations that force the estimated 15,500 transgender service members in the Armed Forces to serve in silence. Until we get comprehensive action, our transgender service members and their families needlessly remain at risk."

Stevens went on to tell the Navy Times, "My philosophy has always been this, that as a leader, I have a duty and responsibility to provide an opportunity where every sailor can be successful — and that we're going to do that while treating one another with dignity and respect. So, that's it, I don't pass judgment on any sailor and I don't hold anything against sailors but what I do as a leader is set conditions and provide opportunity for them to be successful, plain and simple. As the master chief petty officer of the Navy, I see sailors."

Today's news only adds support to the recent movement on the issue. The U.S. Army just implemented an official policy change regarding dismissal of transgender service members. While they are still prohibited from serving openly, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs must now approve removal of a transgender service member from the Army, rather than by local unit commanders. This higher level review ensures consistency and makes it more difficult for separation.

The new Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter also recently commented on transgender service members at a town hall event in Kandahar, Afghanistan. When asked by AMPA member and Navy LCDR Jesse Ehrenfeld, "What are your thoughts on transgender service members serving in an austere environment like this here in Kandahar?", Secretary Carted replied, "I don't think anything but their suitability for service should preclude them." 

The Secretary of the Air Force has also made comments in support of open service by transgender troops.

For more information about the American Military Partner Association and LGBT military families, please visit our home on the web at www.MilitaryPartners.org.

The American Military Partner Association, a non-profit and non-partisan organization, is the nation's largest organization for the partners, spouses, families, and allies of America's LGBT service members and veterans. Based in Washington DC, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for our modern military families."