Trump in trans ban for military
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military “in any capacity”, citing “tremendous medical costs and disruption”.
Mr Trump’s announcement on Twitter did not say what would happen to any already in the military.
The announcement marked a stunning reversal: the military has spent months on implementing a plan put in place under Barack Obama’s administration to start accepting transgender recruits.
“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 US Military,” the President tweeted.
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”
Estimates of the number of transgender service personnel vary widely. A much-cited study by the Rand Corporation in June 2016 found 1320 to 6630 among 1.3 million active members. But the Human Rights Campaign civil rights organisation said about 15,000 were serving.
Trans advocate Caitlyn Jenner lashed out at Mr Trump.
“There are 15,000 patriotic transgender Americans in the US military fighting for all of us. What happened to your promise to fight for them?” she asked in response to Mr Trump’s June 2016 tweet where he promised the LGBT community: “I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.”
Long-time Republican Jenner’s response, along with celebrities such as Mia Farrow, George Takei and Sandra Bernhard, came hours after the announcement.
Transgender service members have been able to serve openly in the military since last year, when former Defence Secretary Ash Carter ended the ban.
According to a new report, the US military spends $52 million a year on Viagra for its troops – about five times more than the estimated medical costs for transgender service people.
Spending on the pills is part of $104 million the military outlays annually for erectile dysfunction medicines, according to the Washington Post, which cited a 2015 report by the Military Times.
THERE ARE 15,000 PATRIOTIC TRANSGENDER AMERICANS IN THE US MILITARY FIGHTING FOR ALL OF US CAITLYN JENNER