President Biden overturns the ban on transgender military personnel

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On his first full day on the job, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin threw out one of former President Trump’s worst policies: the ban on transgender military personnel. In overturning the old policy, Austin followed through with his promise from his confirmation hearing the week before.

“President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity,” the White House said in an emailed statement. “This question of how to enable all qualified Americans to serve in the military is easily answered by recognizing our core values. America is stronger, at home and around the world, when it is inclusive. The military is no exception. Allowing all qualified Americans to serve their country in uniform is better for the military and better for the country because an inclusive force is a more effective force. Simply put, it’s the right thing to do and is in our national interest.”

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In lifting the ban, Austin is following through on one of President Biden’s campaign promises. Biden had promised to end the ban on his first day in office, but the delay in having Austin approved as Defense Secretary resulted in a five-day lag.

Along with Biden’s executive order fighting anti-LGBTQ discrimination, the end of the ban sends a loud and early signal about the administration’s commitment to LGBTQ rights.

Trump announced the ban via tweet in 2017. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail,” Trump declared.

The complaint about costs was a canard, of course. The real reason Trump made the move was…

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