And now what's going to happen to thousands of brave transgender servicemembers who have already joined the military in the past and are currently serving?
After I woke up this morning, I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and noticed a post in reply to a Donald Trump tweet. The post was about retired Navy SEAL, Kristin Beck. Beck is transgender and the post mentioned that she has a bronze star, a purple heart, and "more courage than most", as she has been deployed over 10 times, 7 of those times being in combat. I went to check out the President's Beloved Twitter account to see what was up and I found out in no time, since the news is already trending.
President Donald Trump announced today that the US Government will not be allowing transgendered citizens to serve in the military, that it's "too expensive".
WELL!
Here we have a cisgender man, never having served in the military "in any capacity", trying to tell us all who can and cannot serve their country. As if he cares about the "cost". How much money has been spent on military programs? Millions? No, billions. Tens of billions. The calculated cost of transgender medical expenses is estimated at only 2-8 million dollars. According to a Military Times analysis, that's much less than the astounding 41.6 million dollars that the military already spends on erectile dysfunction medications alone.
This decision is obviously not about money. This decision is about the fear and hatred of transgender people in America.
Here is a tweet Trump made during his campaign in which he apparently lied to the LGBT+ community:
President Donald Trump announced today that the US Government will not be allowing transgendered citizens to serve in the military, that it's "too expensive".
WELL!
Here we have a cisgender man, never having served in the military "in any capacity", trying to tell us all who can and cannot serve their country. As if he cares about the "cost". How much money has been spent on military programs? Millions? No, billions. Tens of billions. The calculated cost of transgender medical expenses is estimated at only 2-8 million dollars. According to a Military Times analysis, that's much less than the astounding 41.6 million dollars that the military already spends on erectile dysfunction medications alone.
This decision is obviously not about money. This decision is about the fear and hatred of transgender people in America.
Here is a tweet Trump made during his campaign in which he apparently lied to the LGBT+ community:
"Thank you" - Nah, thank you for lying in an attempt to get more votes. That's patriotic.
"I will fight for you" - That's what every transgender servicemember has already promised this country. They are fighting for us every day, while the President and others fight against them.
"people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs" - OH, like the President and most of the House and Senate, okay, yeah.
And then fast-forward to today's tweets:
"I will fight for you" - That's what every transgender servicemember has already promised this country. They are fighting for us every day, while the President and others fight against them.
"people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs" - OH, like the President and most of the House and Senate, okay, yeah.
And then fast-forward to today's tweets:
I do not believe that any Commander-in-Chief has the right to decide who can and cannot join the military to defend me/my family/my country. Why the heck would anyone try to stop someone from joining the military unless the potential servicemember has a serious mental or physical illness??
If more people are wanted/needed in the military, it makes absolutely no sense to ban able people from joining, especially when the ones being banned from doing so are *already serving*.
An "overwhelming victory" cannot and will not happen when military numbers drop because of this hate-filled decision. Doesn't the military want all the service they can get? Are they seriously going to just kick out the thousands of transgenders currently serving and laying down their lives for us?
Rather than honoring their selfless patriotism, the president selfishly condemns their dignity as well as the value of their courageous service.
It was under President Truman (on this day in 1948, in fact) that the US Armed Forces were finally desegregated. Of course people complained and didn't want everyone together, but you know what? They got over it, because it doesn't matter who you are; if you are serving your country, sacrificing yourself for others and their freedoms, you deserve all the honor and fair treatment there is to give.
If you truly believe that veterans are dying for your right to live, you support all of them. Not just the male. Not just the Caucasian. Not just the heterosexual. Not just the cisgendered.
Before I end this post:
Transgender veterans, thank you for your service to this incredibly ungrateful and undeserving nation.
You are not a burden.
If more people are wanted/needed in the military, it makes absolutely no sense to ban able people from joining, especially when the ones being banned from doing so are *already serving*.
An "overwhelming victory" cannot and will not happen when military numbers drop because of this hate-filled decision. Doesn't the military want all the service they can get? Are they seriously going to just kick out the thousands of transgenders currently serving and laying down their lives for us?
Rather than honoring their selfless patriotism, the president selfishly condemns their dignity as well as the value of their courageous service.
It was under President Truman (on this day in 1948, in fact) that the US Armed Forces were finally desegregated. Of course people complained and didn't want everyone together, but you know what? They got over it, because it doesn't matter who you are; if you are serving your country, sacrificing yourself for others and their freedoms, you deserve all the honor and fair treatment there is to give.
If you truly believe that veterans are dying for your right to live, you support all of them. Not just the male. Not just the Caucasian. Not just the heterosexual. Not just the cisgendered.
Before I end this post:
Transgender veterans, thank you for your service to this incredibly ungrateful and undeserving nation.
You are not a burden.
And as always, thanks for coming on this journey of my thoughts with me.
"it's been a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come" - Sam Cooke
~Say Love <3