Ad aims to pressure WH on transgender issue

WASHINGTON — Activist groups are turning to television ads, including on President Donald Trump’s go-to network, Fox News, to pressure the White House into allowing transgender people to keep serving in the military.

Trump has pledged to ban transgender troops from serving. He’ll be able to see the 30-second commercial as of Friday, when it starts airing on Fox, CNN and MSNBC morning shows. It uses a series of quotes from Trump, a former senior military leader and several Congress members who were in the armed forces to argue that all qualified Americans should be able to serve.

“An impulsive president tweets that transgender Americans won’t be allowed to serve,” the ad says. “But decorated military leaders say there’s no reason to single out these brave heroes.” An earlier version described Trump as “unfit,” rather than “impulsive.”

Sarah McBride, Human Rights Campaign’s spokeswoman, said it’s a “critical window of time” to take the fight directly to the White House.

The issue has become mired in a complicated string of political statements, court decisions and policy reviews since Trump first stunned his administration with tweets last July declaring that the government would ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. Share your event information with the Yuma Sun’s online calendar. Submissions are free, and follow the same guidelines as What’s Going On. Go to Yumasun.com/calendar.

LEGAL GUARDIANSHIP CLINIC

WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon WHERE: Yuma County Superior Court, 250 W. 2nd St. GOING ON: The clinic is part of a series of sessions offered by the Yuma County Law Library designed to assist self-represented litigants with various case types; clinic will be given in English and Spanish; free

ARTS EXPO

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. WHERE: Country Roads RV Village, 5707 E. 32nd St. GOING ON: Exhibits include ceramics, fabric art, lapidary, paintings, photography, pottery, woodworking and wood carving; demonstrations, raffles, special lunch menu; free admission COST: $7.50 lunch

MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS

WHEN: Noon to 4 p.m.; park will close 4 p.m. in preparation for concerts, re-open 4:30 p.m. WHERE: Desert Sun Stadium, 1280 Desert Sun Drive GOING ON: Daytime show and shine classic car show, vendors, food; 5 p.m. concert with Crossfire, a Stevie Ray Vaughn tribute band, 7 p.m. concert with Mother Mercy, ultimate retro show, 9 p.m. concert with Fortunate Son, a Creedence Clearwater tribute band; gates close 11 p.m. COST: Show ‘n shine $3 adults, $1 youth ages 6-15, under 6 free; concert adults $10, youth ages 6-15 $5, under 6 free; advance passport $20 (must be purchased in advance at Caballeros office) INFO: Call (928) 343-1715 or visit