You’re In The Army Now… Maybe

With Trumps edict the role of trans people are in limbo, no one knows what is going to happen to trans servicemembers who are serving in the military or are planning on serving.

Pentagon may propose changes to Trump transgender ban
The Hill
By Ellen Mitchell
August 14, 2017

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Monday hinted that the Pentagon may propose its own changes to President Trump’s plan to ban all transgender individuals from the military.

Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon that he has “no doubt” that the White House would soon send official guidance on the issue, but added that the Pentagon would study the policy once it’s handed down and may incorporate its own changes.

“I’m going to wait until I get the direction from the White House and then we will study it and come up with what the policy should be,” Mattis said.
[…]
Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer said last week that “any patriot” should be allowed to serve.
[…]
And earlier this month, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft asserted he “will not break faith” with transgender individuals serving in his service.

Is there going to be wiggle room for the military to do an end run around the policy and still obey any lawful order from Trump?

Then we have this guy…

Column No right to serve: An opinion on Trump's transgender ban for the military
San Diego Union-Tribune
By Ed Hiner
August 14, 2017

Immediately when you join the military, you learn that you fight for a democracy — but you don’t work for one.

You also learn that you change to meet the needs of the military. It doesn’t change to meet your needs.

I say this in the controversy surrounding the recent social engineering issues: The opening of combat jobs to women and President Donald Trump’s announcement last month that he will reverse the Obama-era acceptance of transgender troops.

The military serves one purpose, and that is to win our wars as efficiently as possible.

Stop right there! Eighteen countries around the world allow trans troops and trans people have fought alongside our troops in the middle east, so don’t tell me that having trans troops effects the fighting status of our military.

For good reason the military is governed by a strict Uniform Code of Military Justice that in effect strips away many of the constitutional rights that civilians enjoy.

The UCMJ has its roots all the way back in the Second Continental Congress of 1775. It may be antiquated in some people’s eyes — but it works!

But you know what? The military still has to obey the U.S. Constitution. There is something called the Fourteen Amendment that guarantee equal treatment to everyone,

Then get this… he compares us to overweight and unfit servicemembers!

The National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance has been around for nearly 50 years, but I don’t hear them complaining about fat people not being able to serve.

I mean, if they can pass the fitness standards why are they being blatantly discriminated against?

And then he says this!

But here’s one potentially crucial difference that could stop us from comparing the transgender minority to a racial minority: One large study of transgender people found that more than 40 percent had attempted suicide, according to research by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

He quotes figures that he knows nothing about. If he did any research he would know that those figures drop back to almost the levels general population if they have family and friends support. That the high suicide rates is caused by discrimination, harassment, and bigots.

His bio says,

San Diego resident Ed Hiner retired in 2012 as a Navy SEAL lieutenant commander.

He should know that he has served alongside trans servicemembers of the coalition in the middle east and that there was a trans SEAL, Kristin Beck.

Eighteen countries have trans servicemembers: Canada, The United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Bolivia, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Netherlands, Spain, and Germany. Many of them are NATO and SEATO nations.

Major Alexandra Larsson of the Swedish Armed Forces, second from left, speaks alongside fellow transgender service members—Corporal Natalie Murray, right, of the Canadian Armed Forces; Major Donna Harding, second from right, of the Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps; and Sergeant Lucy Jordan, center, of the New Zealand Air Force—during a conference in Washington on October 20, 2014.

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/GETTY IMAGES