Palm Center Sees Steady Progress in Integrating Transgender Service Members

Defense Department Publishes Guidance for Commanders and Troops

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - October 2, 2016 – Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, released the following statement in response to the Defense Department's publication of an implementation handbook to support transgender military members, who have been permitted to serve openly and honestly since the June 30 end to the ban.

"The military's continued progress in integrating transgender service members is a tribute to core principles and values. It's simple: encourage the most capable Americans to defend the nation; apply the same standards and expectations to all; and support every service member with medically necessary care. The new guidance that the Pentagon issued last week is another step in enhancing readiness."​

About The Palm Center

The Palm Center is an independent research institute committed to sponsoring state-of-the-art scholarship to enhance the quality of public dialogue about critical and controversial public policy issues. Our research on sexual minorities in the military has been published in leading social scientific journals. The Palm Center seeks to be a resource for university-affiliated as well as independent scholars, students, journalists, opinion leaders, and members of the public. For more information, see www.palmcenter.org