The Pentagon is going to decide whether to give transsexuals the right to serve in the army

The Pentagon will set up a working group that will consider the issue of granting the right of transsexual people to serve in the armed forces in the next six months, without hiding their orientation. This was announced on Monday by US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.

“A working group will be established within the Department of Defense to evaluate decisions and preparedness for the consequences of allowing transgender people to serve openly,” Carter said in a statement released by the Pentagon press service.

The panel will have to determine whether nontraditional gender identities pose a threat to troop readiness and effectiveness, he said. In addition, Carson will review cases of denial of employment due to a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.

The group being created will include the military, representatives of all branches of the military and the Chiefs of Staff Committee, as well as civilian specialists, headed by Deputy Minister Brad Carson. The results of the work will be reported to the first deputy head of the Pentagon, Robert Wark.

“As I have said before, we must make sure that everyone who is able and willing to serve has an absolute and equal opportunity to do so, and we must value all of our people with the dignity and respect they deserve.” - says the Minister of Defense.

In his opinion, the current rules for accepting volunteers are outdated. “We have transgender soldiers, sailors, Air Force members, Marines - true patriotic Americans - who, as I know, have suffered because of old, confusing and inconsistent approaches,” the Pentagon chief said.