Smithsonian Magazine reports that “the U.S. Defense Department may have reversed the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for gay service personnel, but transgender individuals serving in the military still need to keep their identity a secret or face dismissal. However, changing that policy would not be difficult or burdensome, a new study finds.”  

“The report, issued by the Palm Center, a San Francisco think tank that researches issues of gender and sexuality in the military, looked at 18 other countries that currently allow transgender individuals to serve and at the U.S. military’s experience integrating gay, lesbian and bi people. Based on its findings, the center came up with what it thinks could be a roadmap to eliminating the ban on transgender service.”  

“Already, an estimated 15,500 transgender individuals are actively serving, and another 134,000 are veterans, according to earlier research from the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California, Los Angeles Law School.”