APA Opposes Banning Transgender Service Members from Serving in Military

Jul 27, 2017

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Psychiatric Association (APA) today announced its opposition to banning transgender Americans from serving in the military.

“The APA stands firmly against discrimination against anyone,” said President-Elect Altha Stewart, M.D. “Banning transgender service members from serving our country harms not just those transgender Americans who have dedicated themselves to service of others, but it unfairly casts a pall over all transgender Americans. Discrimination has a negative impact on the mental health of those targeted.”

The APA in 2012 passed a policy statement that opposed discrimination against transgender people and called for their civil rights to be protected. Transgender people do not have a mental disorder; thus, they suffer no impairment whatsoever in their judgment or ability to work.

“Our stand in support of transgender military members is rooted in our policies against discrimination in all forms,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “We firmly believe the world should be more inclusive. We are encouraged by Joints Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford’s statement that there are no modifications to the current policy and we call upon Defense Secretary Mattis to allow transgender service members to continue to serve in the military.”

The American Psychiatric Association is the oldest medical association in the country founded in 1844. The APA is also the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,000 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. APA’s vision is to ensure access to quality psychiatric diagnosis and treatment.

Let's block ads! (Why?)