Defense Department Lifts Ban On Openly Transgender Servicemembers

Pentagon Ends Transgender Ban. On June 30, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced that the Department of Defense would no longer forbid openly transgender individuals from serving in the military. From The Washington Post:

Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter repealed the Pentagon’s long-held ban on transgender people serving in the military Thursday, ending a year-long process that was bogged down by internal conflict and concerns among senior service officials about how the change could be made.

Carter said at a news conference that the policy change will take place over the next 12 months, beginning with guidance issued to current transgender service members and their commanders, followed by training for the entire military. Beginning Thursday, however, service members can no longer be involuntarily separated from the services solely on the basis of being transgender, he said. [The Washington Post, 6/30/16]

Right-Wing Media Lament “Promoting Transgenderism” “While The World Is Blowing Up”

Iowa Radio Host Steve Deace: “Men With Mascara -- Sure To Frighten Your Friendly Neighborhood Jihadist Right Out Of Their Sandals.”

Men with mascara -- sure to frighten your friendly neighborhood Jihadist right out of their sandals.

— Steve Deace (@SteveDeaceShow) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Conservative Commentator Steve McCann: Lifting Transgender Ban “Mak[es] Certain The Battle Cry” Will Become "'Remember The Whigs'"

@SteveDeaceShow The Republican Party hierarchy is making certain that the battle cry after the convention & Nov will be “Remember the Whigs”

— Steve McCann (@SteveMcCannAT) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Anti-LGBT Hate Group Leader Tony Perkins: “Another Example Of Obama Using America's Military To Fight Culture Wars Instead Of Real Wars Against Our Enemies."

Another example of Obama using America's military to fight culture wars instead of real wars against our enemies. https://t.co/hoFaHTyvg0

— Tony Perkins (@tperkins) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Fox’s Jeanine Pirro: “While The World Is Blowing Up, Sec Carter Is Spending Time On The Rights Of Transgender Troops Who Make Up Less Than 1% Of Our Military.”

While the world is blowing up, Sec Carter is spending time on the rights of transgender troops who make up less than 1% of our military.

— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Conservative Review’s Daniel Horowitz: “There Is No Worse Outcome Of Insane PC Than Promoting Transgenderism In Our Military In A Time Of War. Where Is @realDonaldTrump?”

There is no worse outcome of insane PC than promoting transgenderism in our military in a time of war. Where is @realDonaldTrump ?

— Daniel Horowitz (@RMConservative) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

The Blaze’s Matt Walsh: “‘Transgenders’ Need To Be In Psychological Counseling, Not Marine Corps Boot Camp.”

“Transgenders” need to be in psychological counseling, not Marine Corps boot camp.

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Fox Business' Charlie Gasparino: “#Priorities.”

The country is under constant threat of a terrorist attack but the Obama administration needs to lift the transgender troop ban #priorities

— Charles Gasparino (@CGasparino) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

The Blaze’s Dana Loesch: “Gov’t Has Done More To Satiate Identity Politics Than Assist Our Troops By Easing Up [Rules Of Engagement].”

Gov’t has done more to satiate identity politics than assist our troops by easing up ROE. https://t.co/lmt0ff1jv0

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

Loesch: “While Ash Carter Was Announcing Military's #Transgender Policy, Turkey Was Busy Raiding #ISIS Safe Houses.” 

While Ash Carter was announcing military's #transgender policy, Turkey was busy raiding #ISIS safe houses. @BuckSexton & @DLoesch 6pm ET

— Dana (@DanaTheBlaze) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16] 

Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro: “Guys, We Just Won The War.”

Guys, we just won the war. https://t.co/rgvOb9Am4a

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]

National Review’s David French: “The Pentagon’s New Policy On Transgender Soldiers Is Pure Social Engineering.”

The Pentagon’s New Policy on Transgender Soldiers Is Pure Social Engineering https://t.co/Nn53wNWQOX

— David French (@DavidAFrench) June 30, 2016

[Twitter.com, 6/30/16]