Immediately after President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he was barring transgender Americans from serving in the military, the head of the U.S. armed forces was met with stunned disbelief over the slap in the face to thousands of service members.
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
There are thousands of active transgender service members protecting America, according to the Rand Corporation.
Trump’s shots at the people who put themselves in the line of fire for America’s freedoms — and the people who support them — has caused people to respond to Trump’s declaration with swift anger.
I know transgender service members and vets who have done more to serve their country than @realdonaldtrump has in his entire life.
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) July 26, 2017
@realDonaldTrump YOU just opened a can of WHOOP-ASS!!!!#NavySEAL #pipehitter #transgender
MEET ME & tell me I'm not WORTHY to my face. pic.twitter.com/eqAHTysfma
— “Chief” Beck ᚦᛟᚱ (@valor4us) July 26, 2017
Former Vice President Joe Biden weighed in, saying that “every American who is qualified . . . should be able to serve.”
Every patriotic American who is qualified to serve in our military should be able to serve. Full stop.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 26, 2017
Then there was a story from a Twitter user who described her experiences under the discriminatory Don’t Ask Don’t Tell:
separation date. They gave you a general discharge (instead of an honorable one,) usually on a Section 8: “mentally unfit for service.” This
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
assistance, nothing. And it was on your transcripts forever: GENERAL DISCHARGE, MENTALLY UNFIT FOR SERVICE. Imagine what that does when you — Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
you were poor and wanted to get the GI Bill, or because you truly, genuinely believed that you were working in service to the American
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
at Pride a few years ago, when I saw those out and proud servicepeople marching in the parade. We had come so far, THEY had come so far, and — Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
because it sets us BACK. We aren’t moving forward; we’re moving back to shame and censure and erasure from public life and public service.
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
Tens of thousands of transgender servicepeople are now on the verge of being separated from their service. Some may lose pensions, many will
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
speak the truth of their unjust discharge, because I never did. Not until today; I always told people that I got hurt. Which I did, but it
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
lose the GI Bill. All will be marked GENERAL DISCHARGE, MENTALLY UNFIT FOR SERVICE. But I hope that they will have the strength to tell the
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
would have healed. But I was never going to stop being queer, and somebody asked– and somebody told. Support your #transServicepeople. What
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
comes next could be unimaginable. #LamdaLegal #ACLU #TransRightsAreHumanRights
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
It’s worth noting that Trump is pivoting to a red-meat issue for conservatives as his conservative base responded to outrage over his brazen attempt at resurrecting two culture war issues — the military and transgender rights — a day after the conservative media hit him for his attacks against Jeff Sessions. And, as Trump proved Wednesday morning, those attacks don’t look like they’ll be ending soon.
