LGBT groups blast Pentagon decision to delay transgender troop enlistment

BY BRANDON CARTER - 06/30/17 10:54 PM EDT
The Hill

http://thehill.com/policy/defense/340339-lgbt-groups-blast-pentagon-decision-to-delay-transgender-troop-enlistment

"LGBT advocacy groups are blasting the Pentagon's decision to delay for six months a plan to allow transgender people to enlist in the military.

"The decision, reportedly announced in a memo from Defense Secretary James Mattis on Friday, gives military branches six months to prepare for the enlistment of transgender soldiers.

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"After news of the delay broke, several LGBT organizations slammed the decision. The Palm Center, an LGBT think tank, issued a statement hitting Mattis's decision, saying it will 'compromise military readiness.'

" 'Members of Congress are denigrating the value of military service by transgender troops, and Service Chiefs are pressuring Secretary Mattis to continue the transgender enlistment ban despite having no new arguments or data to back up their long-discredited assertions,' Palm Center director Aaron Belkin said. 'Stonewalling on full inclusion will, just like "don't ask, don't tell," compromise military readiness.' "

For those of us with experience in the military, a delay on a personnel policy or procedural change should come as no surprise.  Heck, changing an underwear supplier could be fraught with delays and re-reviews.  While I was in, the rollout of a new uniform design was delayed multiple times.  And then there was the time they tried to change a Preventive Maintenance Requisition form...

Quote from: Michelle_P on July 01, 2017, 05:30:55 PM
For those of us with experience in the military, a delay on a personnel policy or procedural change should come as no surprise.  Heck, changing an underwear supplier could be fraught with delays and re-reviews.  While I was in, the rollout of a new uniform design was delayed multiple times.  And then there was the time they tried to change a Preventive Maintenance Requisition form...

Delay in the military is a routine thing.  However, in this case Republican Congress members are using the time to create turmoil and mischief. There is uncertainty here and I think it may go either way.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote