Transgender US service members to be removed from military: Pentagon

The US Department of Defence (Pentagon) has announced a new policy, under which transgender military personnel will be expelled from the military unless they get special immunity.

The decision came after President Donald Trump’s executive order banned transgender people from joining the military.

According to the Pentagon’s February 26 memo, the military will have to develop a mechanism to identify transgender personnel within 30 days, followed by a further 30 days.

To remain in the US military, only those personnel will be exempted, whose retention in the military will be vital to combat capabilities.

Furthermore, personnel must maintain stability in their sexual identity for 36 months and should not suffer from any stress or medical problems.

Supporters of the transgender community have called the decision unfair. “This is a plan to completely clean up transgender people from the military, which has never happened before,” said Shannon Mentor, a spokesman for the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR). ”

The decision has now become part of a legal battle, as NCLR and GLAD Law have filed a lawsuit in court, arguing that the move violates the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution.