American Medical Association Says There is No Medical Rationale in Transgender Military Ban

"With the American Medical Association weighing in, the pressure continues to build for Secretary Carter to take action and implement a fair and uniform standard across the branches - one that lifts the ban on open and honest service by transgender troops," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "We urge Secretary Carter to order a comprehensive review and implementation of the important and necessary changes to the outdated regulations that continue to harm our brave transgender service members and their families. The time for this unjust ban to end is now."

In March, AMPA released a joint report with the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) highlighting the tremendous harm that the transgender ban causes the entire military family unit. The joint report notes, "As long as the military continues to enforce antiquated medical regulations, the entire family is subject to the ban's harmful impact. They are exposed to the same levels of risk, discrimination, and humiliation that transgender service members face, left with no choice but to serve in silence along with their service member.  The entire family unit shares in the burden of having to live a double life, forced to keep their loved one's true gender identity concealed. Often times, they remain helpless, witnessing the pain and torment their loved one experiences as a result of overwhelming pressure from the ban."

There are an estimated 15,500 transgender service members currently serving in silence.

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.