The Air Force is relaxing its transgender policy.
The Air Force has relaxed rules a bit for transgenders, putting out a new policy that makes it a bit more difficult to automatically discharge them for medical reasons.
Troops who are diagnosed with gender dysphoria, or who self-identify as transgender, are usually given medical discharges at the unit command and physician levels. But the new rules will now mandate those decisions undergo Air Force headquarters' review. And some are saying that extra layer of bureaucracy means the Air Force is slowly but surely moving closer toward allowing transgenders to openly serve in the branch.
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"Though the Air Force policy regarding involuntary separation of gender dysphoric airmen has not changed, the elevation of decision authority to the director, Air Force Review Boards Agency, ensures the ability to consistently apply the existing policy," said Daniel Sitterly, an Air Force personnel office spokesman, in a statement, USA Today reported.
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The action comes on the heels of Pentagon pressure to reform military transgender policies. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said a few weeks ago while addressing a question about transgender policy that job performance should be the key factor in determining the status of someone's military career.
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And Air Force Secretary Deborah James said transgenders shouldn't be automatically disqualified from serving.
"From my point of view, anyone who is capable of accomplishing the job should be able to serve," James said to USA Today. "And so I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't come under review."
