Scholars will examine the impact of transgender troops on US military

The Palm Center is about to spend $1.35 million (?1.18 million) to study how transgender troops impact the readiness of the US military.

The Center is an independent research group that studies gender, sexuality and the military.

According to a press release, 16 scholars will conduct 11 studies, over three years, 'on whether and how the US armed forces could include transgender troops without undermining readiness.'

'This academic research will inform an important public conversation by providing facts and evidence about transgender military service and gender expression in armed forces,'? project director Indra Lusero said in a statement.

'Militaries around the world are updating their policies, and we are already conducting research in Canada, Britain and Australia to learn whether their trans-inclusive regulations have impacted readiness,' Lusero continued.

While gay, lesbian and bisexual service members can now be open, transgender troops serve with no clear guidelines and can be kicked out if their gender identity is discovered.

Nathaniel Frank, author of Unfriendly Fire: How the Gay Ban Undermines the Military and Weakens America and a former scholar with the Palm Center, told BuzzFeed that open transgender service will become a reality if advocates think long term.

'The education dimension for getting people to understand the importance of openly gay service in the military, getting the country and the military and the Congress in the right position was a long game,' Frank said to BuzzFeed.

'The same kind of long game in regard to transgender service has not yet been played,' he continued.

The study will be funded by grants provided by Wells Fargo Bank and the Tawani Foundation. According to its website, the foundation's mission is 'to enhance the awareness and understanding of the importance of the citizen soldier...'

BuzzFeed reported Tawani was founded by Col. James Pritzker, who is the cousin of US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

Source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/scholars-will-examine-impact-transgender-troops-us-military310713

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