US Military Begins Accepting Transgenders

You are not signed in as a Premium user; you are viewing the free version of this program. Premium users have access to full-length programs with limited commercials and receive a 10% discount in the store! Sign up for only one day for the low cost of $1.99. Click the button below.

See All Plans

WASHINGTON (ChurchMilitant.com) - Despite Trump administration protests, the U.S. military is officially accepting transgender applicants as of January 1.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is accepting so-called transgender personnel at the Obama administration deadline of January 1 despite efforts by the Trump administration to scuttle the order.

Free clip from CHURCH MILITANT Premium
WATCH MORE LIKE THIS

James Mattis, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, comments, "We'll obey whatever the law says," and when asked if he lauds an earlier court decision overturning Trump's order, he said, "I'm not going to get into this right now. I don't get into singling out and welcoming this group or that group or that gender or anything else. That's not my role."

All military branches were given 12 months to implement new guidelines. In May, Mattis sent a memo to military leaders giving them an opportunity to comment on the upcoming policy change.

He reportedly commented that transgender implementation would go ahead "unless they cause readiness problems that could lessen our ability to fight, survive and win on the battlefield." The Pentagon's own research allegedly reported the elimination of the prohibition would not affect unit readiness.

Military sources, however, commented in June there were insurmountable obstacles in implementing the guidelines and requested a six-month extension for further evaluation.

President Trump announced on Twitter on July 26 that "the U.S. government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military," adding, "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgenders in the military would entail."

He confirmed his announcement by issuing a memo to Mattis and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, ordering a "return to the longstanding policy and practice on military service by transgender individuals that was in place prior to June 2016."

Activists for LGBT people, however, were enraged by Trump's actions and filed complaints against the Trump administration with most of them failing. In November, a federal court blocked Trump's order and allowed the Obama administration's mandate to supersede it. An appeals court upheld the ruling in December and rejected the Trump administration's request for an appeal.

Sources believe the case may go to the Supreme Court.

Have a news tip? Submit news to our tip line.

We rely on you to support our news reporting. Please donate today.