The U.S. military is so far behind the rest of our society.

The implementation of don't ask, don't tell's repeal has gone very, very well.

If we know one thing from the transgender people who are currently serving - I'm in contact with one group that counts almost 200 people in uniform today who identify as transgender - it is a process that they have - that many of them have begun, that many of them would very much like to complete, if they could do so without putting their years at risk.

The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution protects citizens against cruel and unusual punishment. And there is a growing body of legal precedent that shows that transgender people who are incarcerated should be provided with these medically necessary procedures. In cases where they're not, it is considered a violation of those rights.

In some states, a very small number of states, it is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of their gender identity, transgender identification. In the vast majority, it is perfectly legal.

Transgender people have served, are serving, and will continue to serve.

We have strong statistical evidence that shows that transgender people are twice as likely as their fellow citizens to join the military, to have served in the military.