U.S. military plans to drop the ban on transgenders

CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee (WDEF) – The Pentagon is ending a policy that currently bans transgenders from joining the military.

The announcement was made on Monday.

The announcement means the next time we see U.S. military troops deploying to a foreign country or returning home from a mission, we might see a trangendered person in uniform.

News 12 randomly spoke to several people around Chattanooga to get their reaction to the Pentagon’s announcement.

“I don’t like it. I don’t think it should be allowed,” said Christy Tibbs.

“I’m not sure how I feel about it,” said Chuck Arbuckle.

“I think it’s fantastic. I think it’s showing that we’re getting past a lot of the binary ideas about sexuality and that there is in biology a lot of gender fluidity,” said Brian Merritt.

The Department of Defense has ordered a six month transition period that would allow the armed forces to work through legal, medical and administrative issues that are expected to com e as a result of lifting the transgender ban. But could lifting the ban still result in some type of backlash against a person who chooses to openly serve his or her country?

“Those guys and gals who have decided to put their life on the line for the country need to have someone right beside them that they can work with and trust and depend on. I think that causes more strife within the unit and I don’t think they need that,” Tibbs said.

“Anytime you have change, you’re going to have people who dislike or like but you you’re going to have the backlash. People are just going to have to learn to deal with how stuff is now and we just have to live with that,” said Tim Moss.

In an age when the U.S. military is stretched so thin across the world, some are asking if we should really cherry pick when it comes to defending our freedoms.

“Anybody who wants to fight to defend our country should be allowed to do so,” said Traci Snell

“Honestly you need to have anyone who wants to join the military to protect our country,” said Mike Stoeckle

According to a recent study by the Williams Institute, an estimated 15,000 people who identify as a transgender currently serve in the U.S. armed forces. But they stay in the closet to prevent being kicked out of the military.