The recently announced ‘ban‘ of transgender people in the military has outraged many. The policy change was announced in a tweet by President Trump and the reason he gave? Cost.
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
Guess what the military is happy to pay five times more on than the amount transgender procedures would cost?
Viagra.
That’s right it seems men being able to perform or last longer in bed is worth more than fair treatment or mental health for others. Montel Williams recently claimed that the military:
“…Spend $98 million to make sure soldiers get an erection.”
In defense of some Viagra users, from veteran Paul Loebe, on Facebook:
“Maybe you don’t know the effects of PTSD, but sexual dysfunction is one of them (for both men and women).
“These men aren’t trying to go to the clubs. They’re trying to salvage their marriages. Because sex in a relationship is actually a pretty big deal for married couples, believe it or not.”
Loebe finishes his comment by saying:
“Why can’t we take care of them AND pay for trans surgeries?”
Military spending is rarely questioned. If Trump had posted a tweet saying ‘Viagra will no longer be paid for by the military,’ that would be one thing, but imagine if he said ‘Impotent men are no longer allowed in the military, the cost is far too high.’
Transgender individuals are people with skills, knowledge, feelings and rights. This new policy has just made it law to refuse anyone who is trans to be part of their own country’s defense force.
Many people have been outraged by this new move. Serving in war often has devastating effects on mental health. If cost is truly the reason why trans people are being banned from the military, there are plenty of other areas where they could cut costs. Especially when they have squandered billions on the F-35 jet program, as Chelsea Manning pointed out with this tweet:
oh, thats easy ? the one on the left ?? duh ? was that a trick question? ? https://t.co/V2IPMt2Fjb
— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 20, 2017
The cost factor is obviously not the reason, this is a deliberate act to exclude a group of people, to make them feel like they are a burden and unwanted to serve. It also ignores the contribution that many people from this community have made both now and in the past to the services. Kristin Beck, a Navy Seal and member of the trans community has called the rejection a “…Slap in the face.”
The LGBTQ community still has far to go for equality and this was a big step backwards. When The US spends more on military than many countries in the world combined, this ban appears to many as just an excuse for a highly discriminatory policy.
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nBHQLB2oEk
Watch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIRHW5QKSp8
Featured image via YouTube.
