Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jan 25, 2021 / 11:00 am
President Joe Biden on Monday revoked a ban on gender transitioning in the military, allowing troops to serve on the basis of their gender identity.
The White House on Monday announced that President Biden signed an executive order reversing certain Trump-era orders on transgender service in the military.
The previous orders had prohibited gender-transitioning by servicemembers while in the military, and barred acceptance of recruits with a current diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
"President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America's strength is found in its diversity," a fact-sheet released by the White House stated on Monday.
Biden's order prohibits certain military actions taken against servicemembers because of gender-transitioning, such as "involuntary separations, discharges, and denials of reenlistment or continuation of service." The new order allows troops to "serve in their gender when transition is complete."