“We appreciate the leadership of Secretary Carter in advancing this unfinished business of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal which is an important step to ensure LGB service members are treated equally,” said HRC Government Affairs Director David Stacy. “To reach our goal of full LGBT equality in the military, it’s also crucially important that the ban on transgender service members be lifted by updating outdated regulations that prevent them from serving openly and honestly. Secretary Carter should implement these vital changes and also extend these same non-discrimination protections to the estimated 15,500 transgender troops currently serving in silence.”

Included in HRC’s 2015 Blueprint for Positive Change– a series of actions the Obama administration should take to change the lives of LGBT Americans for the better – HRC has repeatedly called for this important change to the MEO program to be made and for outdated regulations to be updated to allow open and honest service by transgender service members.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. HRC envisions a world where LGBT people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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