Washington, DC — SPARTA, the national organization of LGBT members of the U.S. armed forces and their families, commended Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for his service on behalf of lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members and their families, while calling upon him to initiate immediately a promised review of the outdated policy prohibiting transgender Americans from serving. The White House announced earlier today that Secretary Hagel will be leaving his post, but will remain in place while his successor is nominated and confirmed.
"Secretary Hagel's leadership has been critical to the steady progress LGBT service members and their families have experienced during his tenure, and we commend him for living up to his belief that 'Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have the opportunity to serve,'" said Allyson Robinson, Army veteran and SPARTA Director of Policy. "In his remaining days in office, we call upon him to uphold those values by initiating a review of the Department of Defense's obsolete policies that bar fully qualified transgender Americans from serving. Mr. Secretary, six months ago you promised 15,000 transgender service members and their families a review would happen. We expect you to keep your promise to them."
Robinson also highlighted the lack of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity protections for lesbian, gay, and bisexual service members, over three years after the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "It's past time for the Pentagon to bring itself in line with nearly every other federal agency and protect its lesbian, gay, and bisexual troops from discrimination," said Robinson.
In May, when questioned by ABC News' Martha Raddatz whether current DOD policies, which date to the 1970's, should be reviewed, Hagel responded "I do think it — it continually should be reviewed. I'm open to that, by the way. I'm open to those assessments, because, again, I go back to the bottom line. Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it." He clarified his comments, two days later, saying, "I would want to hear more from individuals who are close to this issue, know this issue, who I would value their judgment and their direction on."
Since that time, SPARTA has developed specific resources and provided expertise and analysis to Pentagon officials in support of the promised policy review.
About SPARTA: SPARTA is an association of LGBT people who currently serve or have served in the military, along with our families and our veteran and uniformed allies. We are a membership organization, built by, for and with members from all parts of the LGBT military community. SPARTA's mission is to advocate for and support our actively serving LGBT military members and veterans, and their families.
Statement from Staff at the Military Freedom Coalition
"In May of this year Secretary Hagel said the ban on transgender service people would be reviewed. On August 5th of this year a new DOD Regulation was passed that removed the medical regulation that prohibited transgender service. In the following month I sat down with DOD officials and further reviewed the regulations and procedures to include open transgender service in the US military - the same open and equal service by transgender people seen in eighteen other nations including the UK, Canada, Australia and Norway.
Secretary Hagel has moved the rudder of the ship, but nothing has really changed for the individual transgender person. Over 15,500 Americans still serve in fear for their livelihood and sometimes their lives. We just want to serve our country with honor and integrity - "OPEN" and honest.
The services need to comply with the new regulation (DODI 1332.18) and update the policy. Or the new SECDEF needs to delineate and write very plainly what needs to happen to bring equality of service into the military. Steps have been taken and reviews are underway.
SECDEF Hagel, thank you for this and your service to our country. I look forward to my next meeting in the Pentagon with new staff to continue on this journey to freedom."
- National Transgender Military Liaison, Navy SEAL (Retired) Kristin Beck, - a leading organization lobbying for the removal of the Transgender Military ban. Advocating both nationwide and in Washington D.C. - represented by Transgender Navy SEAL (Retired) Kristin Beck:
In a second statement:
During today's press conference Hagel committed to remain in his position as Secretary of Defense until a successor has been named. During his remaining time, it is our hope that Hagel will keep his word about reviewing the ban on Transgender Servicemembers (11 May 2014).
"I do think it continually should be reviewed," he told ABC's Martha Raddatz. "I'm open to those assessments, because, again, I go back to the bottom line, every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it."
As the White House struggles with it's own foreign policy, the battle for transgender rights in the military wages on. There can be no mistaking the controversy that surrounds this day. The war in Afghanistan, ISIS (ISIL) and Transgender Servicemembers - all issues that Hagel has left open ended. While we cannot expect anyone to be selected during the current Lame Duck Session (between now and end of the year) - it is our sincere hope that the Senate Republicans will work with Democrats and name the successor in a timely and equitable manner."
- National Transgender Coalition Liaison, Ashleigh Barraza
