{"id":28113,"date":"2021-06-25T20:18:43","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T20:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/06\/25\/army-releases-new-transgender-policy-but-can-it-prevent-discrimination\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T02:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T02:17:45","slug":"army-releases-new-transgender-policy-but-can-it-prevent-discrimination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2021\/06\/25\/army-releases-new-transgender-policy-but-can-it-prevent-discrimination\/","title":{"rendered":"Army releases new transgender policy, but can it prevent discrimination?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Army announced new service-level policy Thursday that allows transgender soldiers to serve openly \u2014 in accordance with Defense Department guidance<\/a> announced in March \u2014 while receiving medical care and setting entry standards for prospective recruits diagnosed with gender dysphoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some advocates, however, remain concerned that the force may not be willing to protect transgender soldiers from discrimination after a field-grade chaplain officer <\/a>received only a local reprimand this week for calling transgender troops a \u201ca MedBoard for Mental Wellness waiting to happen\u201d and \u201ca waste of military resources and funding\u201d in public Facebook comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new directive, a modified version of a similar policy first announced<\/a> in 2016, and then rescinded<\/a> via a Tweet from former president Donald Trump, says a soldier\u2019s \u201cgender identity will no longer be a basis for involuntary separation or military discharge, denied reenlistment or continuation of service, or subjected to adverse action or mistreatment,\u201d according to an Army release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a soldier already in uniform, the transition begins with a gender dysphoria diagnosis from their primary care provider and follow-up appointments with a specialist, explained Col. Deidra Briggs-Anthony, assistant deputy of health affairs for manpower and reserve affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army is asking commanders to treat gender dysphoria as any other illness or injury by coordinating with their soldiers and their medical providers to establish and support a treatment plan, said Briggs-Anthony during a media roundtable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical treatment for gender dysphoria can consist of four components, from therapy to \u201ccross-sex hormones, real-life experience, and\u2026surgical intervention,\u201d said Briggs-Anthony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter the treatment plan is completed, should the servicemember then want to change their gender marker to reflect that self-identified gender after it has been confirmed that stability has been reached,\u201d she said, they can request a gender change that \u201cgoes through the personnel administrative channels.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the release, people living with gender dysphoria who want to join the Army in their self-identified gender can do so following 18 months of stability, providing they meet medical and moral accession standards and possess government identification or a court order confirming their self-identified gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anti-discrimination policies<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis policy continues prohibiting discrimination on the basis of gender identity or an individual\u2019s identification as transgender,\u201d said Maj. Gen. Douglas Stitt, director of the Army G-1 Military Personnel Management Office, alluding to anti-discrimination language in the Army\u2019s command policy<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But enforcement of the policy has been questioned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his Facebook comments about trans troops, an Army investigator found that the 3rd Security Force Assistance Brigade chaplain, Maj. Andrew Calvert, violated the anti-discrimination policy and prohibitions against online misconduct.<\/p>\n\n\n\t