Locals react to repeal of transgender military ban

President Joseph Biden last Monday signed an executive order to reverse a policy that banned transgender people from serving in the military. With the order signed, local LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies said they are optimistic about a move toward national equality among people of all gender and sexual orientations.

The order immediately prohibits any service member from being discharged from the military on the basis of gender identity, a policy that was implemented during the Trump administration in 2017. The order also requires the U.S. Department of Defense and Homeland Security secretary to correct any records of those that were affected by the previous policy, according to the White House website.

The ban’s repeal follows other executive orders that reversed a gender diversity training ban and prohibited workplace discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation within the federal government.

“I don’t think anyone should be forced to stop doing anything because of their gender identity,” said Ellen Diamond, of Merrick. “Any kind of discrimination based on that, or anything else, is abhorrent. I am very grateful as an advocate [of the LGBTQ+ community] that Biden overturned the ban.”

Diamond is the co-founder of Camp Ga’avah, a program for LGBTQ+ youth and allies at the Friedberg Jewish Community Center in Oceanside. Last week, she led a virtual workshop comprised of transgender, nonbinary and gender nonconforming youth to talk about Biden’s repeal of the transgender military ban.

Although attendants said they feel safer knowing Biden will protect their rights, they are still concerned about the influx of people who discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community, especially on Long Island, Diamond noted.

“Some of these kids don’t even feel safe in their schools,” said Diamond, whose son is transgender, “yet they are incredibly brave and so articulate about all of this. It was so inspiring listening to them and how they were thinking about it.”

While the ban’s repeal is a step in the right direction, licensed attorney Charlie Arrowood, who uses they/them pronouns, said both enlisted and former troops that are transgender or gender nonconforming will continue to face difficulties in the service.

Arrowood provides transition-related legal services to transgender clients, including legal name and gender-marker changes. They said that transgender and gender nonconforming folks have faced delays when updating their information within the military’s data system.

“There are still things that come up for transgender troops that definitely need to be worked on,” Arrowood said.

Arrowood added that troops would be able to provide a higher quality of service if they could be open about their gender and sexual identity. “I think the less you have to hide, the more prepared you are to do your job properly and the easier it is for you to work with others,” they said.

The exact number of transgender individuals in the U.S. military is unclear. In June 2016, RAND Corp reported that 2,450 active-duty troops and 1,510 reserve personnel were transgender. However, 2018 data collected by the Palm Center, a California-based research institute, showed that an estimated 14,700 transgender troops currently serve, with 8,980 in active duty and 5,727 in reserves.

Camp Ga’avah counselor Jessie Page, who also uses they/them pronouns, said they believe one’s decision to enlist should not be affected by the federal government.

“Some people, regardless of their identity, want to serve their country,” Page said. “Gender and gender identity shouldn’t matter, because it’s not impacting anyone else. If they’re willing to put in the determination and grit that it takes to serve the country, that’s all that matters.”