Judge Rules Transgenders Can Enlist In Military, Refuting Trump bid to delay deadline

WASHINGTON, D.C — In a major victory of Transgender Americans, the Pentagon on Monday announced that it will begin processing transgender applicants for military service starting on January 1, 2018.

The good news follows the ruling by a federal judge who declined on Monday, the US government’s request to ban transgender individuals from joining the military in January. The decision made by Federal Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, means transgender people will be free to enlist in the new year.

“In sum, having carefully considered all of the evidence before it, the Court is not persuaded that Defendants will be irreparably injured by allowing the accession of transgender individuals into the military beginning on January 1, 2018,” said Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in her ruling.

Army Maj. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman said in a statement following Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling; “As required by recent federal district court orders, the Department of Defense recently announced it will begin processing transgender applicants for military service on January 1, 2018. This policy will be implemented while the Department of Justice appeals those court orders. In fact the Pentagon said that it was already following a court ruling from last week and is “planning to prepare to access transgender persons,” as of January 1.