Via YouTube
In a particularly cowardly move, done under cover of darkness late on Friday night, the White House announced it has revoked POTUS’ ban on transgender service members serving in the military, and will replace it with a new policy, one that is just as terrible.
The White House claims that the new policy states:
”…transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria, individuals who the policies state may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery, are disqualified from military service except under certain limited circumstances.”
Pretty press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said:
”This policy was developed through extensive study by senior uniformed and civilian leaders, including combat veterans. This new policy will enable the military to apply well-established mental and physical health standards, including those regarding the use of medical drugs, equally to all individuals who want to join and fight for the best military force the world has ever seen.”
According to a Pentagon memo about the policy, exceptions would include: ”People who have been stable for 36 consecutive months in their biological sex prior to accession, who do not require a change of gender.”
Huh?
Early in 2017, POTUS tweeted: ” I have consulted with my Generals and military experts…”. As it turns out, the president did not consult Defense Secretary James Mattis, who was on vacation at the time, nor any other senior officials. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford called the move ”unexpected” and he stated his intention to tell Congress that ”he was not consulted”.
This administration’s attempts to ban transgender people from serving in the U.S. military have been blocked by four different federal judges, and at the start of 2018, it was forced to allow openly trans soldiers to enlist.
The administration’s policy has always been driven by an extreme anti-LGBTQ agenda. Transgender people have always served and are enlisting and serving with distinction right now.
U.S. Army Major Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesperson said on CNN: ‘‘The military will still comply with federal court rulings and continue to assess and retain transgender service members.”
Last night, DNC Chairperson Tom Perez said:
”This decision is an insult to our brave transgender service members and all who wear our nation’s uniform. Instead of fulfilling his oath to protect the American people, Donald Trump and Mike Pence are putting our nation’s security at risk and shoving real American patriots back in the closet.”
Representative Joe Kennedy tweeted:
”Banning transgender men and women from serving in our military is based on nothing more than bigotry. To all of the brave trans troops in uniform today, please know that this President does not speak for a country eternally grateful for your service. #ProtectTransTroops”
The ACLU’s Joshua Block said:
“What the White House has released tonight is transphobia masquerading as policy. This policy is not based on an evaluation of new evidence. It is reverse-engineered for the sole purpose of carrying out President Trump’s reckless and unconstitutional ban, undermining the ability of transgender service members to serve openly and military readiness as a whole.”
