Share
Transgender Military Ban: Tweets Don't Equal Policy Changes
In three tweets last week, Trump sought to restrict transgender troops from serving in the military claiming it was due to costs rather than bigotry. These tweets do not equal policy change.
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a memo to military commanders that the Pentagon would not make any policy changes until it was instructed to do so. “There will be no modifications to the current policy until the president’s direction has been received by the secretary of defense and the secretary has issued implementation guidance,” General Dunford said. "U.S. policy on transgender individuals serving in uniform hasn't and won't change until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives the president's policy direction and Mattis determines how to implement it."
The Coast Guard has responded as well:
The commandant of the Coast Guard said Tuesday that he would continue to support transgender troops under his command....Adm. Paul F. Zukunft said his office had reached out to the 13 Coast Guard members who self-identify as transgender after seeing the president’s tweets. “That is the commitment to our people right now,” Admiral Zukunft said. “Very small numbers, but all of them are doing meaningful Coast Guard work today.”
As those clinging to the "good ole days" of racism, bigotry, and xenophobia continue to degrade our society, we must pay attention so we know what to fight for now and get reversed either now or when they are voted out of office. Resistance and Smart Dissent works.
A ban on transgender troops would reverse the gradual transformation of the military under President Barack Obama, whose administration announced last year that transgender people could serve openly in the military. Mr. Obama’s defense secretary, Ashton B. Carter, also opened all combat roles to women and appointed the first openly gay Army secretary.
Public sentiment was sought via a Reuters/Ipsos poll immediately following the tweets.
A majority of Americans believe that transgender individuals should be allowed to serve in the military... 58 percent of adults agreed with the statement, "Transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military." Twenty-seven percent said they should not while the rest answered "don't know."
In addition, Attorney Generals from many states are immediately fighting back.
The top legal officers in 18 states and the District of Columbia have asked Congress to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination against transgender service members. Attorneys general from the following joined Hawaii in signing the letter: California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-transgender-poll-idUSKBN1AD2BL