Focus on transgender people

Bathrooms

Regarding “Faith isn’t an excuse for antitransgender bills” (Page A13, Friday), the op-ed by Jonathan Page is right on. How can Christians claim to be following the teachings of Christ and discriminate against a group of Americans such as the transgender community.

Going to the bathroom is a private affair, and the state government should stay out of it. I am reminded of the Jim Crow South where African-Americans could not use restrooms, water fountains or eat in restaurants with the white community.

There are transgender people using the restrooms now. I doubt if anyone is even aware of which restroom is chosen. There is no problem here. Let’s not create one.

Jena’ Hatchett, Dickinson

Military service

Regarding “Transgender about-face” letters (Page A14, Thursday), so, a letter writer thinks President Trump’s position on transgender soldiers is courageous because we “do not have money to spend on gender reassignment nor should our military’s missions be diluted with social issues.” A report for the Pentagon last year found that transitionrelated care would cost between $2.4 and $8.4 million per year. So far, Trump’s seven courageous trips to Mar-A-Lago have cost taxpayers millions. The Defense Department reported in 2014 that it spent $84 million on erectile dysfunction drugs. We have money for that?

As for “diluting” the military’s mission with social issues, the Pentagon has said that its transgender policy is going well, and depriving the military of willing, able soldiers because some people (who are too old to serve) don’t like them is the very epitome of diluting the military’s mission with social issues.

Janet L. Lachman, Austin