Res. No. 142
Title
Resolution calling on President Donald Trump to overturn the directive prohibiting transgender individuals from serving in the military and for U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis to continue to allow transgender individuals to serve openly
Body
By Council Member Dromm
Whereas, In 2014, according to the Williams Institute, there were over 15,500 transgender personnel serving in the United States ("U.S.") Armed Forces, and another 134,000 transgender veterans or retired guard or reserve servicepersons; and
Whereas, According to veteran advocate group Palm Center's Transgender Military Service Commission Report, transgender individuals are twice as likely to serve in the military as non-transgender individuals; and
Whereas, Pentagon policy prior to 2016 prohibited transgender individuals from serving openly and required separation if transgender individuals were discovered; and
Whereas, A RAND Corporation study examining the impact of removing the federal ban on transgender military service, commissioned by former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, found impacts on force readiness and health care costs associated with gender transition to be minimal; and
Whereas, On June 30, 2016, the Department of Defense ("DOD") announced new rules allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military and, on October 1, 2016, the publication of a Commander's Training Handbook, Medical Guidance, and Policy and Procedures for changing a service member's gender marker; and
Whereas, While lifting the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military, the DOD concurrently paused new enlistments of transgender individuals until all policies were fully implemented by July 1, 2017; and
Whereas, On June 30, 2017, current Secretary of Defense James Mattis delayed the new enlistment of transgender individuals by an additional 6 months, in order to review the effect their enlistment could have on the arm...
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