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Trump tweets a transgender military ban

Danielle A Martin
Visalia Times-Delta
President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday as Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., listen.

In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump said the United States military will not accept transgender troops to serve in any fashion, reversing a policy implemented by the Obama administration.

His social media statement, posted in three parts read, "After consulting 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 U.S. Military. 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. Thank you."

The tweets sparked criticism from lawmakers, civil libertarians, the 6,000-plus transgender military personnel and hometown centers that provide a safe place for the LGBTQ+ community.

Democrats also disagreed.

Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, called Trump's announcement "an unwarranted and disgraceful attack on men and women who have been bravely serving their country."

Ashton Carter, who instituted the policy that would allow transgender troops to serve as President Obama's defense secretary, said the only thing that matters in choosing service members is that they are qualified.

"There are already transgender individuals who are serving capably and honorably," Carter said. "This action would also send the wrong signal to a younger generation thinking about military service."

Republicans had mixed opinions on the matter.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., tweeted that "no American, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be prohibited from honor + privilege of serving our nation #LGBT."

Many Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, had criticized the transgender policy, and applauded Trump's move.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Mo., said on Twitter that she was pleased to hear that Trump "shares my readiness and cost concerns and will be changing this costly and damaging policy."

The Pentagon commissioned a report last year by the non-partisan RAND Corp. on transgender troops, finding the treatment for transgender troops would cost as much as $8 million per year.

According to the Defense Health Agency, in 2014, the Department of Defense spent $41.6 million on Viagra and $84.24 million on erectile dysfunction prescriptions.

Brian Porth, executive director of theSOURCE LGBT+ Center in Visalia, said that number is merely a thousandth of a percent of the Defense Department's annual budget.

Nick Vargas, chairman of theSOURCE, said this is not only a transgender issue but a human rights issue and the timeliness of the announcement is used as a distraction from other major issues facing America. Issues such as health care and the ongoing ethics investigation.

"When you start targeting one group, it affects others and it sets a precedent to be able to target any other group," Vargas said. "It just feels unamerican. It sets a very negative, punitive and discriminatory message to Americans."

Trump's tweets sparked an opportunity for people in the LGBTQ+ community to keep the transgender conversation going, Vargas said.

"It gives us an opportunity to talk about the facts and the reality of transgender people in the military," Vargas said. "It brings a conversation and idea that we need to have into public discourse and that's very important. We aren't just fighting against transgender rights but human rights." 

USA Today contributed to this story.