Pentagon transgender ban goes into effect

WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - The Pentagon's policy that bans transgender recruits from joining the military went into effect Friday. The ban prevents individuals diagnosed with a condition known as gender dysphoria from enlisting.

The policy does not ban transgender individuals from joining the military, rather, it bans recruits from transitioning. It also allows the military to discharge those who are not the gender they were assigned at birth.

FOX 5 spoke to an active Navy lieutenant commander who is transgender Friday.

Lieutenant Commander Blake Dremann says banning transitioning for recruits diagnosed with gender dysphoria is something that will almost certainly result in that recruit being discharged.

"There comes a point where someone must transition and what the DOD is kind of asking these service members to do is to take it up to that line to where they don't," said Dremann.

Dremann is also the president of Sparta, a national LGBTQ military advocacy organization that advocates for transgender military members.

He says this policy is unnecessary, in fact, the American Medical Association states that "there is no medically valid reason… including a diagnosis of gender dysphoria… to exclude transgender individuals from military service."

Dremann says the policy is a step in the wrong direction, but a step that won't stop his organization from fighting for progress.

"We are not a detriment. We are not a special accommodation and that we love our country no different than anyone else. It's a place that we all serve," said Dremann.

Dremann and his organization says they will continue to advocate for policies that protect all Americans moving forward.