General Article Transgender women could fight in combat as they have the ‘physical strength’ of men, says Army chief

Topic Selected: Armed Forces
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Female transgender people ‘might well be able’ to serve on the front line, despite women being barred from combat, an Army chief has said.

By Louise Ridley

 

Women who have transitioned from male to female would make a ‘very interesting test case’ for the British Army, Lieutenant General Andrew Gregory said, although the force has never yet addressed the issue as it hasn’t yet ‘come up’.

Women are currently barred from serving in the infantry and in armoured units, but Gregory implied that female transgender soldiers could be an exception to the rule.

He told PinkNews: ‘It would be a very interesting test case if it did come up. If somebody – birth gender male – who physically has all the physical strength and durability but had transitioned, they might well be able.’

He said there could be practical issues for female transgender soldiers in the infantry, explaining that accommodation may not be suitable, but added that the forces should not ‘directly exclude’ transgender people.

He...

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