<\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump says transgender people cannot serve in \u201cany capacity\u201d in the military.<\/p>\n
He tweeted that he had consulted with military experts and cited \u201ctremendous medical costs and disruption\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Obama administration decided last year to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military.<\/p>\n
But in June, Defence Secretary James Mattis agreed to a six-month delay in the recruitment of transgender people.<\/p>\n
Some Republicans have voiced opposition to allowing transgender people to serve at all.<\/p>\n
The independent Rand Corporation estimated in 2016 that 2,450 of the 1.2 million active-duty service members are transgender.<\/p>\n
In a series of tweets, Mr Trump said: \u201cAfter consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US military\u2019s ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemen and women \u2013 known as \u201cDon\u2019t ask don\u2019t tell\u201d \u2013 was lifted in 2011.<\/p>\n
Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Centre, a leading think-tank which studies gender and sexuality in the military, told the BBC that Mr Trump\u2019s decision would force transgender troops to in effect live as gays and lesbians did under \u201cDon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell was a disastrous policy that harmed the military for almost two decades,\u201d Mr Belkin said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not clear why the president would want to bring it back now for transgender troops when all the evidence suggests that inclusive policy benefits the military and discrimination hurts the military.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n