Will India become a part of the 19-country club that allows transgenders in the military?

India has made great strides in providing equal rights to people from the LGBTQ+ community (although, the Supreme Court recently refused to legalise same-sex marriages). And it seems that the country is taking it one step ahead. According to an Indian Express report, the Indian Armed Forces is looking at the possible recruitment of transgenders in the services and has also formed a study group to deliberate the implications of such a move and the way forward for its implementation in the defence forces. If India does permit the recruitment of transgenders in the Services, it will be a huge step towards equality. However, India won’t be the first to do so. Let’s take a closer look at the representation of transgenders in militaries around the world. India, transgenders and its military As of date, the Indian Armed Forces does not permit transgenders into service. However, after permitting women into the military, the three branches seek to induct transgenders. And for this reason, they have formed a study group to mull this move over. As per the Indian Express report, while a range of suggestions have been received on the same, most insist that if transgenders had to be inducted, they would not be given any special concessions in terms of training, selection standards or posting in difficult locations. Some others have also listed out the possible problems such as housing, and administrative issues in inducting transgenders into the service. An officer, speaking to the daily, said, “The military cannot be looked at as just an employment opportunity. There are administrative challenges such as lack of housing and toilets, particularly in field locations where there is paucity of resources and space.” “Restricting their postings to only peace stations would cut opportunities for others after a field tenure,” the officer said. [caption id=“attachment_13386442” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] The Indian Armed Forces is looking at recruiting transgenders into the services and has formed a group to study the implications of such a move. File image/PTI[/caption] Notably, the Indian Navy in 2017 had dismissed Sabi Giri, earlier known as Manish Kumar Giri. At the time of her dismissal, the Navy had said in a statement, “The serving sailor who underwent sex reassignment surgery at a private facility whilst on leave was administratively discharged from the service. The individual chose to undergo irreversible gender re-assignment on his own accord, whilst on leave wilfully altering his gender status from the one he was recruited for at the time of his induction.” However, she had challenged the Navy’s decision before the Delhi High Court. It was then that the Navy allowed her to take the exam for the ‘tradesman mate’ position, but later went back on their promise. Earlier, in 2020, the officials of the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) told the Union government that they would recruit transgender persons to the officer cadre post of assistant commandants. Notably, Tamil Nadu appointed India’s first transgender police officer in 2015, while Chhattisgarh was the first to actively recruit members of the transgender community in its police force. Militaries around the world and transgenders If India okays the induction of transgenders in the military, it would join a small club of countries permitting the same. In fact, in 1974, The Netherlands became the first country to grant transgender people the right to serve in the armed forces, setting the trend for other nations to follow. The Royal Netherlands Army embraces a “Do Tell” policy, routinely organises floats in pride events and remains among the most inclusive militaries for transgender soldiers, according to The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. Sweden (1976), Denmark (1978) and Norway (1979) followed suit and embraced transgender soldiers. [caption id=“attachment_13386412” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] In 1992, Canada permitted transgenders into the armed forces. And a 2015 study showed that their entry hadn’t affected Canada’s battle readiness. File image/AFP[/caption] It was later in the early 1990s that Canada permitted transgenders into the armed forces. In 2015, research revealed that “despite ongoing prejudice and incomplete policy formulation and implementation, allowing transgender personnel to serve openly has not harmed the Canadian Forces’ effectiveness.” Israel too has been permitting transgenders into the Israel Defence Forces since 1993. In fact, the IDF has become known one as of the most LGBT-friendly armies around. It ranked ninth for LGBT-friendliness in the 2014 LGBT Military Index, a report created by the independent Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, earning extra points for its sensitivity and efforts toward education of its military personnel. Later in the 2000s, other countries also joined in making their military trans-friendly. These included the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Belgium, Austria and Spain. [caption id=“attachment_13386272” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Participants from the UK military take part in the annual Pride London parade which highlights issues of the gay, lesbian and transgender community, in London. File image/Reuters[/caption] The UK is today recognised as one of the most trans-friendly forces; Stonewall, a UK gay rights advocacy group, named it one of the top 100 employers in 2014. In 2005, Thailand became the first Asian nation to accept transgender soldiers, but only in administrative roles. In 2010, Bolivia became the first South American country to welcome transgender soldiers. In New Zealand, discrimination based on sexual orientation has been outlawed in the country’s Bill of Rights since 1993, enabling transgender soldiers to serve. In 2014, the New Zealand Defence Force was lauded as the most inclusive in the world. **Also read: India's ban on gay, transgender people from donating blood: What are the rules across the world?** US military and transgenders The United States has a long, winding history when it comes to transgender soldiers. The US repealed its ban on openly gay and lesbian service personnel in 2011. However, transgender service members risked discharge if they did not pass as their assigned sex. Then in June 2016, the US Department of Defense repealed rules that barred transgenders from openly serving in the military. [caption id=“attachment_13386262” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Demonstrators gather to protest US president Donald Trump’s announcement that he plans to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals from serving in any capacity in the U.S. military, at the White House. File image/Reuters[/caption] However, a year later, then US president Donald Trump stated that transgenders would no longer be allowed to serve in the American military. At the time, an estimated 10,700 transgenders were enlisted in the services. At that time, Trump’s decision had prompted reactions from around the world, especially its allies. The official Canadian Forces had tweeted, “We welcome Cdns of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Join us!”

We welcome Cdns of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Join us! #DiversityIsOurStrength #ForcesJobs https://t.co/572KahN2Zh pic.twitter.com/9In7HR4Utj

— Canadian Armed Forces (@CanadianForces) July 26, 2017

Alex Burton, commander of the UK Maritime Forces, had tweeted, “As an @RoyalNavy_LGBT champion and senior warfighter I am so glad we are not going this way.” In 2019, the US Supreme Court allowed President Trump’s transgender military ban to go into effect. But when Joe Biden won the 2020 US presidential election, one of the first things he did in office was announced the reversal of the transgender military ban, which came into effect a year later. With inputs from agencies