Queer Service Member: Trump's Trans Ban 'Is About Fear and Loathing'
Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear this segment.
Just over a year after President Barack Obama introduced a new policy to allow transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military, President Donald Trump announced a ban on transgender service members on Wednesday.
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 about 2,400 trans service members, according to the RAND Corporation. In all, there are 1.3 million active-duty members of the U.S. military.
"We will continue to work closely with the White House to address the new guidance provided by the commander-in-chief on transgender individuals serving in the military," the Pentagon said in a statement on Wednesday.
Dan Lamothe, a national security reporter for The Washington Post, has covered the military’s transgender policy for several years and he joins The Takeaway to discuss the president’s announcement.
Staff Sergeant Patricia King was the first infantryman to reveal she is transgender. She has served in the Army for 18 years, and reflects on the new policy with Charles Clymer, a genderqueer writer, social equality advocate, and U.S. Army veteran who was with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment for three and a half years, and then attended West Point while on active duty contract. Charles was medically retired in 2012.
This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.
