Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Sunday that the policy prohibiting transgender people from serving in the military “continually should be reviewed,” though he didn’t say whether he supported its reversal.
Repealed in 2010, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” prohibited gay service members from being open about their sexuality. Now activists are calling on the military to allow transgender individuals to serve openly.
“I do think it continually should be reviewed,” Mr. Hagel said when asked by ABC News’ Martha Raddatz whether the transgender ban should be revisited.
“I’m open to that,” he said. “I’m open to those assessments, because — again, I go back to the bottom line — every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it,” Mr. Hagel said, adding that transgender issues are “an area that we’ve not defined enough.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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