Transgender Military Ban

Really Donnie

On July 26, 2017, President Donald J. Trump banned, via a tweet, transgender individuals from joining or serving in the US armed forces. 

Donald J. Trump‏ @realDonaldTrump on 7/26/2017

"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow..........Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.........victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you"

Ironically, President Harry S. Truman desegregated the US military on July 26, 1948. Of course, he did it with an actual official Executive Order.

On January 20, 2017, in his inaugural address Trump said "When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.""

Former Secretary of Defense Ash Carter released the following statement the morning of 6/26/17 on #transgender service in the military:
It is unclear at this point whether an official Executive Order will be forthcoming on Trump's new transgender policy or if just a tweet is binding.

News reports are saying that the Pentagon was caught off guard by this new "policy", so there's no way to know which of "my" generals were consulted. There are no details on how this will be implemented or what will happen to those transgender individuals already in the military. As usual, Trump has done something half-assed. No this is not even that well thought out, more like a quarter-assed or an eight-assed, maybe less. As usual, Trump uses a bogus reason for his actions. This time it is grossly exaggerated medical costs. Trump never met data that he couldn't misrepresent.  

History has proved that Truman did the right thing when he desegregated the military. What will history think of Trump's actions?

This is a sad step backward in the march to grant equal rights to all Americans. It seems his "make America great again" slogan actually is "make America like it was in the 1950's again". A time when bigotry and oppression were the norms. Trump wants white Anglo-Saxon straight Christian males to rule the nation. Screw anyone who is different in any way. 

Another disappointing but not surprising action by this administration. 

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