The New York Times reports that “Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that the military should ‘continually’ review its prohibition on transgender people in the armed forces, calling into question whether the Pentagon’s ban may eventually be lifted, as was the ban on gay men and lesbians in the military.”  

“While any such a reversal appears to be far in the future — the Pentagon’s stock talking points on the issue have been that it is under continuous review — Mr. Hagel, on ABC’s ‘This Week,’ pronounced himself ‘open’ to a review of the policy and added, ‘Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it.’”  

“But he allowed that the transgender issue was ‘a bit more complicated because it has a medical component to it.’”