Report: Military's Transgender Ban Could End By May 2016

"For far too long, transgender service members and their families have been forced to serve in silence," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "If indeed the Pentagon targets May of next year as the date to officially lift the ban, it will not get here soon enough. All service members and their families, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve to be able to serve our nation proudly and authentically."

Last month, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter made history with his announcement that the Department of Defense would finally update the outdated regulations that ban open service by transgender service members and would take six months to assess the impact of the change and work out the details.

In March of this year, AMPA launched an unprecedented joint report with the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA) highlighting the tremendous harm the outdated regulations inflict on military families. The report notes, "No one should be forced to choose between defending the country they love and being true to their authentic self.  The outdated regulations serve no purpose and only dehumanize and prevent qualified and capable individuals from enlisting and serving.  The ban perpetuates trauma to all those involved, both the service member and their family."

There are an estimated 12,500 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."