To create yet more distractions in hopes of diverting attention from what’s going on behind the scenes, Donald Trump announced via tweet-storm Wednesday that he’ll go ahead and reinstate the ban on transgender people serving in the armed forced “in any capacity.”
As CNN reports, Trump’s decision effectively reverses a policy approved by the Defense Department during Obama’ presidency, which was under final review.
Related: Can someone identify the white substance that fell out of the president’s nose?
Last month, Defense Secretary James Mattis said he was delaying enactment of the plan, writing in a memo:
How about we take this to the next level?
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“Since becoming the Secretary of Defense, I have emphasized that the Department of Defense must measure each policy decision against one critical standard: will the decision affect the readiness and lethality of the force? Put another way, how will the decision affect the ability of America’s military to defend the nation? It is against this standard that I provide the following guidance on the way forward in accessing transgender individuals into the military Services.”
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
Here’s Trump’s full announcement, via Twitter, regarding the ban:
“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 [sic] in the military would entail.”
Last year, a Rand Corp study concluded allowing transgender people to serve openly would only have “minimal impact” on health are costs or readiness, largely because there are so few in the 1.3 million force.
Brody
When the WHO states it’s a mental illness — body dysmorphia, to be specific — then it shouldn’t be entertained just for the sake of political correctness at the expense of the U.S. military (not to mention that every gay friend I have agrees that the T needs to be removed from LGBT). So no, this is not a bad call.
KiwiJello
I kind of agree. Although not a popular opinion, I feel like Transgender is a different fight than being gay. The general public is lumping them together and I honestly feel it’s holding back progress for some of us.
Maybe I am just salty because my local LGBT center has become the T center at the expense of LGB. The orientation for volunteers was two hours of videos about pronouns and respecting trans people. Not a word about respect for me and my ilk. I feel pushed to the side, and I am not done fighting for rights. Not appreciating being pushed to the rear and lumped all together. It’s confusing for people and I feel like I don’t have a community anymore.
SactoMan
At the expense of the military? That is EXACTLY what they say/said about gays in the military. That is why we have heard so much about gays and trans people causing huge disruptions every day in the news. What? We haven’t? Maybe you need to take your pretend gay friends and go to a Trump rally….
Brody
KiwiJello —
Because of the recent cultural explosion of all things trans, people are beginning to believe that all gay men practice cross-dressing, and this is most definitely not cool with me.
Charlie in Charge
Agree with Sacto, people claimed that letting gay soldiers serve was dangerous political correctness. That was nonsense and this anti trans military business is nonsense as well.
DarkZephyr
“First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
dwes09
I realize regressives like you feel nothing ever changes and what was true 100 years ago is true now, but that is a fiction (and as a regressive you will probably have to look up the definition of fiction as you likely needed to figure out what transgender meant, and regressives usually need to be reminded of the difference between fiction and reality); but the last time the WHO issued a guide to mental illness was in 1990. The new one i due out in 2018. Things change, even though that may be repellent to a breeder idiot like you.
dwes09
“Because of the recent cultural explosion of all things trans, people are beginning to believe that all gay men practice cross-dressing, and this is most definitely not cool with me.”
That is bull and a lie. And lying is definitely not cool with me. Why don’t you just go away hetero scum! Nobody wants you or your ignorance here. Yes, the struggles of trans people are different than the struggles of gay folks. But against scum like you we need to band together. You would happily see us all dead.
You are going to protest that you are gay like me, but you lie. If by some chance you are actually gay, than you are very very stupid and certainly no ally of other gay men. I’d spit in your face were you here now. Look up the meaning of Kapo in WWII. That’s you if you are gay. I wish you all bad things in your life as you desire for others!
SactoMan
KiwiJello, Same here. Our LGBT center is all about the youth and Trans. But hey, can’t even get gay people to show up for group meetings, even with food. So maybe they are serving the people with the most need with minimal funds. Maybe your issue is really that the gay community has changed, and you don’t like it. But please don’t agree with the Cheeto to express your frustration eith today’s world. Because your ass will be next. I guatantee it.
SactoMan
Damn phone…
Alexis
Silver lining for not serving in the army when WW3 happens under Trump’s watch for some…
ErikO
I thought they were already banned or could not openly serve?
Kangol
No. The law changed last year under President Barack Obama. There are roughly 12,000-15,000 trans people now serving in the US military.
Charlie in Charge
Proving once again that when he claimed to protect LGBT citizens he lied and the Pro-Trump filth who post on here about how he isn’t a danger to us are lying or simply deluded.
KaiserVonScheiss
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Gender dysphoria is a mental disorder. And, no, that isn’t “transphobic.” It’s just the way it is.
People freak out when you dare call it what it is. They act as if I’m calling people with mental disorders subhuman or something, when I’m saying nothing of the sort. I’m sorry, but feeling as if you’re in the wrong body because of you biological sex is a mental disorder and should be labelled as such.
Plenty of people have mental disorders. I have a mental disorder, and it has caused me many problems throughout my life. Certain disorders generally disqualify people from military service. I don’t know the particulars of this situation, but let’s keep in mind that soldiers need a healthy mind and body.
Charlie in Charge
Yeah these are all things that have been said about homosexuality – that it’s a mental disorder, unnatural, unhealthy, not to be celebrated and that all you can offer people suffering from it is heartfelt pity and a chance to be cured.
Do you need to be cured of your sexuality?
DarkZephyr
You really just aren’t that smart are you? Gender dysphoria and being Trans are not synonymous. Gender dysphoria is the depression that some trans people experience from being in the wrong body. Not all trans people even have Gender dysphoria. Especially after they have transitioned.
KaiserVonScheiss
@Charlie
Homosexuals don’t feel as if they are in the wrong body. It’s merely a sexual orientation. Having the desire to be the opposite sex is not the same as want to have relations with someone of the same sex.
@DarkZephyr
That makes no sense. How do you define “trans”? Isn’t trans someone who has the desire to change to the opposite sex? If your definition includes non-binaries (i.e. people who aren’t trans) then you’re just flatly wrong.
Charlie in Charge
Yeah I’m not on the market for any rubbish about how people don’t regard homosexuality as unnatural. They. Do. We have had to spend years justifying how the love of men for men and women for women, despite a lack of a clear biological imperative, is a good thing.
Homosexuality was classified as a disorder. There is no confusion about this. Get right with yourself and try to find a way to be honest if you are going to continue to talk about this.
KaiserVonScheiss
I understand the history. I NEVER said anything to the contrary.
But that doesn’t change the fact that trans and gay are two different things. One is about one’s body, the other is about whom one is attracted to. Apples and oranges. Not the same thing. Period.
Charlie in Charge
Two different things that have both been characterized as mental disorders. You are spewing out this screed about Transgender identity being a mental disorder knowing full well that your sexuality was considered a disease and a disorder in living memory. You are using the exact same language people used to justify treating you with damaging reparative “therapies” to attack Transgender people and we can all see it. If you can’t be honest about this and be clear that you are willing to use the tools of pseudoscience and homophobic mob mentalities to harm Trans people then there really isn’t any reason to take what you are saying seriously.
KaiserVonScheiss
I called it a mental disorder because it is. Period. And you just admitted that they are different.
I’ve explained why one is a mental disorder and one isn’t But what’s wrong with calling a mental disorder what it is? Plenty of people have mental disorders. Some of them are excluded from military service.
Some people just can’t stop being butthurt about the word ‘mental disorder.’
DarkZephyr
“That makes no sense. How do you define “trans”? Isn’t trans someone who has the desire to change to the opposite sex? If your definition includes non-binaries (i.e. people who aren’t trans) then you’re just flatly wrong.”
It doesn’t make sense? Which part?
“Dysphoria (from Greek: ???????? (dysphoros), ???-, difficult, and ??????, to bear) is a profound state of unease or dissatisfaction. In a psychiatric context, dysphoria may accompany depression, anxiety, or agitation. It can also refer to a state of not being comfortable in one’s current body, particularly in cases of gender dysphoria.”
“f your definition includes non-binaries (i.e. people who aren’t trans) then you’re just flatly wrong.”
What the hell are you talking about? Did you pay attention to what I actually typed? Absolutely anybody can have dysphoria for one reason or another, you don’t have to be trans. And not all trans people have it. Some trans people recognize their trans status but come to perfect grips with their bodies, others who did have dysphoria are cured when they transition and embrace their true transgender selves.
Charlie in Charge
Kaiser isn’t interested in any definitions or history that don’t bolster his crackpot ideas about pop psychology.
He claims homosexuality isn’t a mental disorder and seems unfamiliar with the fact that it was indeed classified as one until it wasn’t.
KaiserVonScheiss
@DarkZephyr
If you don’t have gender dysphoria, why would you be trans. There would be no reason to become the opposite gender. That’s what trans means. It’s short for transition.
@Charlie
I’m aware that homosexuality was considered a disorder. I mentioned that I was aware of the history. But trans and gay are two different things, and I’ve explained this already.
Dysphoria is a mental disorder and SHOULD be a mental disorder.
DarkZephyr
Because Kaiser…you don’t need to be freaked out about being Trans to be Trans. You just are. Gender Dysphoria is NOT synonymous with being Transgender. Period.
DarkZephyr
BTW Kaiser, your precious Trump is now coming for ALL LGBT people in the work place. Gonna defend that too?
dwes09
“You really just aren’t that smart are you? ” Nope. He is not smart at all. Even “clever:” is too good for him. Dull and mired in regressive mythology is more like it. His brain is shit.
dwes09
Even now, as Trump’s justice department moves to make discrimination against gays and lesbians the law of the land, you still defend him! You, hetero scum, have no place here. you can no longer defend the fiction that you have some relation the gay community.
And given how dire things are there is no longer any need for civility extended to scum like you.
I wish you all bad things and an early death, as you wish gay and lesbian folks. We do not want or need scum like you here. All trump supporters are our enemies and lies that you are gay do not protect. Get lost idiot!
Gender dysphoria may have been intellectually acceptable in the 80’s, but despite your idiocy, understanding progresses.
dwes09
“BTW Kaiser, your precious Trump is now coming for ALL LGBT people in the work place. Gonna defend that too?”
He is going to defend that. He is neither intelligent nor actually gay. at best he is an “MSM” (men who have sex with men), and hopes he does not get caught blowing truckdrivers in the rest rooms off the interstate. Personally I hope he does , his hatred for gay people is so, so obvious.
dwes09
“I’ve explained why one is a mental disorder and one isn’t But what’s wrong with calling a mental disorder what it is? ”
So the king of shit (sorry, EMPEROR of shit) is a clinical psychologist now who knows what is a disease and what is not.
Actually, you are a lying piece of shit. Your lies, your ignorance and your hatred of what you cannot seem to understand with your limited intellect is not really welcome here.
KaiserVonScheiss
@Dwes09
That’s an imaginative scenario. Do you speak from personal experience?
Tobi
Trump dropped the T. I think we should follow suit.
WillParkinson
Yeah, because I want to do something simply for the fact that Trump did it.
DCguy
Wow the Trump Trolls are out in force. Come on guys, you’re making the fact that you are anti-lgbt trolls too obvious. EVEN Log Cabin spoke out against this. See that, EVEN the group that has supported every anti-lgbt politician out there spoke against this. The fact that you are still rabidly supporting Trump on this shows that you are just bigots who are on here to give cover to other bigots.
As for all of your talk about Transgender being a mental disorder, one thing I notice. Nobody has ever pointed out ANY issues with transpeople serving where they have caused problems or a weakening of the military. Sorry that facts upset you all.
Paco
I didn’t expect anything less from the con man. It was laughable when the the gays for Trump fell for his last minute afterthought of holding an upside down pride flag with support for LGBT scribbled on it with a black sharpie.
So will gays be next to be booted from military service? I’m sure his “Generals”, Pence and Perkins, are pressuring him for that to happen.
WindsorOntario
Trump is only doing this to appease the toothless trailer park gospel tabernacle that put him in office. This is for the rural Christian fanatics; who knows what this man is going to do next.
Be very concerned.
Paco
The EVILvangelicals.
Brody
No, he did this because his military advisers told him it was in the military’s best interest.
Hank
Too, but mainly to undo everything Obama has done.
WillParkinson
Uh, then why are his military people saying they were blindsided?
Mack
Sounds like we have bunch of Trump supporters in here who only think about themselves like their hero. Face it, Trump is a bigot and coward. But in reality most of this he’s doing because he needs to take attention away from the Russian problem he has and most people are falling for it.
Daniel-Reader
Does Trump still have all those loans from Russia outstanding? Is this an action to please Putin? Since more money is spent on Trump travel and security so far than all 8 years of the last President, is Trump going to refund all taxpayers since he says “cost” is the factor in his decisions? He needs to provide all his financial records to taxpayers, right, to ensure he isn’t being controlled by foreign powers, right? Since having a Commander under the influence of Russia would be a betrayal of the entire military, right?
Deepdow
Everyone loves an excuse to hate a group of people. I support the right of trans citizens who feel compelled to serve their military. A study by the Rand Corporation concluded that covering the costs of Trans service members would be 8.4 million dollars. Currently the Pentagon spends 84 million dollars a year on Viagra for male service members. Banning Trans people from anything is cruel and not necessary. Please raise your consciousness people.
Kangol
This moronic “ban,” issued on Twitter and apparently not cleared with the top military brass, is just more hateful, incompetent idiocy from Donald J. Trump. How do you launch a policy that your military hasn’t even planned for? What the hell is wrong with him?
I also bet most of the people on here who are trashing trans people as suffering from mental illnesses or misconstruing it as body dysmorphia are NOT serving this country’s military and sure as hell aren’t putting their lives on the line like the trans soldiers are. And draft-dodger Trump sure in the hell didn’t serve. The man is beyond disgusting!
Also, Trump just nominated a hideous right-wing homophobe, Pete Hoekstra, as the new ambassador to the Netherlands. There’s a reason Trump’s has abysmal approval ratings: he’s the worst president ever, by a long shot.
Hank
marriage equality is the next.