ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a review of military policies that are among the most inclusive in the world. An increasing number of nations allow transgender people to participate in military service. In 2014, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies published findings from an extensive review and analysis of military policies and practices concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Developing policies to guide the inclusion of transgender people in the military does not occur overnight. The Israel Defense Forces first allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve in the military in 1993. The mental health rates among transgender people in the United States military are relatively similar to those of cisgender service members. The United States military also administers, monitors, and covers the cost of hormone therapy for cisgender people. The change was prompted after a complaint was made to the Humans Rights Commission by a transgender service member who sought to remain in the military after transitioning.
