Palm Center Statement on Defense Department Refusal to Explain Transgender Ban

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - March 31, 2018 – Palm Center Director Aaron Belkin released the following statement after Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana White declined to explain the transgender ban at today's Pentagon press briefing:

"Dana White fielded nine questions about the transgender ban today, and declined to elaborate on the policy. What's more important than whether or not the Pentagon opts to defend the ban is that the ban is based on scientific distortions that the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association and former U.S. Surgeons General immediately condemned. The Pentagon is distorting the science, and nothing that spokespersons say or don't say in the briefing room changes that."

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 issues of the day. Our research has been published in leading social science journals and extensively consulted and cited by US military leaders. The Palm Center seeks to be a resource for scholars, policymakers, journalists, opinion leaders, students and the public at large. For more information, visit us at www.palmcenter.org.