Lawmakers Make a Move to Block Transgender Troop Ban

Finally, solid moves have been made to demonstrate a strong and sturdy position that goes against Trump’s Transgender Military Ban.

A group of lawmakers introduced legislation to protect transgender people from being barred from military service. The proposal prevents the Department of Defence from eliminating those currently serving solely based on their gender identity. Under the House bill, Mattis would be required to complete his review accepting transgender individuals into the military by the end of this year and report the results to Congress.

Removing members from the military based on their gender identity is not only hateful, but it is also discriminatory, and does not fit well with where our history sits today. Our world has grown and become embracing of these factors that make us unique and free to be who are.

News flash ~ Mr. President, thousands of transgender troops already serve with pride and dignity. Our military should be focused on recruiting and retaining the best troops, not on rejecting qualified service members on the basis of discrimination. These individuals are willing to sacrifice their lives for our freedom, a freedom that they should also be able to enjoy. So let us give this to them because they deserve it.

BAN the TRANS BAN, because like us all, #transCAN!

– C.N

Former Army Secretary: Transgender Military Ban Weakens the Army

Eric Kenneth Fanning was the 22nd Secretary of the Army, nominated by President Barack Obama, where his job “was to ensure the Army remained the most effective fighting force the world has ever known”.

Eric believes that the strength of the military derives from the intelligence, creativity and ingenuity of the soldiers, regardless of their race, national origin, gender identity or sexual orientation. After all, discrimination should never be a factor when considering who is capable of wishing to sacrifice their own lives for others’ freedom and protection…

This is why Fanning has submitted declarations in the legal challenges to President Donald Trump’s harmful decision to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. He says, “Our all-volunteer military cannot long succeed, let alone thrive, when it turns away qualified, capable and patriotic individuals committed to serving their country.”

This strongly reflects how barring fully qualified transgender troops from serving in the military is a MISTAKE. Transgender Americans have long served in the military and they have done so with honor and valor. Their presence in the force is NOT a burden OR a disruption, and providing them with the same medical care we provide every other service member is not a significant budget expense. What is disruptive however is ripping transgender troops out of ready units, wasting the tens of millions of dollars taxpayers have spent on their training, and asking military leaders to focus on executing this purge rather than the challenges posed by North Korea, Russia and terrorism.

It is time to call an immediate end to this ban.

BAN the TRANS BAN! because #transCAN

– C.N

Careers & Futures Taken Away

The fate of President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender troops serving in the military somewhat lies in the federal judiciary. This is why filing lawsuits are of crucial importance leading up to the ban’s potentially official implementation. In August, civil rights groups filed three separate lawsuits against the policy, arguing that it violates constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection. Regan Kibby, a 19-year-old transgender midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, has identified himself as a plaintiff in a lawsuit brought by the National Centre for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders.

“The future, I had planned for myself was crumbling,” said Kibby. Kibby has “always wanted to serve” his country. He began at the Naval Academy before the Obama-era defence secretary announced that transgender members of the military could serve openly. Kibby is currently on leave from the Academy because of the Obama-era military requirements to change ones gender. Before Trump made his announcement, the military’s policy required that transgender individuals had to have eighteen months of stability in their gender identity prior to graduation, which is when Kibby would have been commissioned.

Kibby was planning to return to the Academy and graduate in 2020. But, under Trump’s directive, he won’t be allowed to go back, change his gender records, or even enter the military…

Trump’s Transgender Military Ban evidently has domino effects, affecting the life, career and future of trans individuals. We must not let Trump take this away from trans troops as they deserve every right to follow their career and life goals.

– C.N

Understand What Transgender Really Is

Transgender – also known as Gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder – is a condition characterised by discomfort or distress, resulting from a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth. More direct, a transgender is born with the outward appearance of the opposite sex. And while the sex of a child is known at birth, gender identity does not develop until 3 years old, and according to psychologist Dr. Wallace Wong, they do not always match. In this manner, it is so crucial that we must be understanding of transgender individuals. They deserve all the support they need because they are no different, and so knowing they have your support is critically important. They are just as capable as we all are – so why should they be discriminated and banned from serving in the military? Think about how this ban is affecting them…

Discriminating against trans individuals is not only ineffective; it is dangerous and can do permanent damage to their mental health. So-called “reparative” or “conversion” therapies, which are typically faith-based, have been uniformly condemned as psychologically harmful by the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and numerous similar professional organisations. So let’s all work together to void such discrimination that is being caused by Trump’s Transgender Military Ban.

BAN the TRANS BAN because #transCAN.

– C.N

Fully Qualified and Willing to Give Life

Kristen Beck is a transgender woman and is one of approximately 15,000 transgender military members and veterans who are fully qualified and willing to their life to protect their country.

Kristen served for 20 years in the U.S Navy SEALs taking part in 13 deployments, including seven combat deployments. She was a member of the elite counter-terrorism unit popularly calld SEAL Team Six, and received multiple awards including a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Kristen was and still IS an honourable military member who served well for her country and was willing to sacrifice her life to protect others.

In response to Trump’s announcement of his trans ban, Kristen says she is “Disgusted, but not surprised”.

“This is all a red herring. It’s only to distract us from these bigger issues already taking place around Trump,” Squires said, referring to allegations of collusion with the Russians and other negative news about the administration. “So in turn, I feel used more than anything else. Because I don’t think Trump actually gives a damn.”

Kristen goes on to say, “It’s particularly maddening because all the trans people I know are some of the most loving people. They care about their communities. Most of them are doing this for identity purposes. Most, if not all, are thinking above self. When you restrict some part of a social group from the military, it only hurts in the long run; it ends up hurting the service as a whole.”

Trump’s ban that bars trans troops from serving in the military evidently has domino effects. It achieves nothing and rather hinders the whole military process. Banning trans from the military will affect our countries and our military performance. Together, we can put a stop to this. BAN THE TRANS BAN because #transCAN.

– C.N

Meet Laila Ireland & Logan Ireland

Laila Ireland and Logan Ireland are a transgender couple who have both served their country in the military. Laila Ireland, now a veteran, served the Army for 12 years while her husband Logan is a Staff Sergeant, active duty with the Air Force.  The couple have proudly served their country over the years even with Obama’s support when he was president, up until President Trump, their very own Commander in Chief, put all transgender dreams in jeopardy by posing the trans ban.

It is a human right for one to protect their country and also a human right to make that choice. The military has always been built on diversity as it welcomes “different perspectives from different places, and that’s what makes us the greatest military in the world”, said Laila. But now, Trump’s ban ‘will not accept or allow’ ‘in any capacity’ for there to be any trans military members… Even when, trans troops such as Laila and Logan have previously served at high military levels for so long.

Logan shared his response to the ban by posting to Facebook, “For my President to deny an able bodied, fully qualified person the inherent right to raise their right hand and serve their country, potentially giving their own life for our freedoms, is doing this country an injustice. I would love for my President to meet me, so I can tell him about the 15,500 honorably serving transgender military members that are fighting right now for their liberties and for their country.”

“There was a sense of panic, like, ‘What’s going to happen?'” said Laila. “We want to adopt children and raise a family and do it in the military because that’s what we know, but this puts a pause on that.”

The couple were drawn together by what they share – their love of country, and knowing what it feels like to identify as the gender not assigned at birth.

Why should we be allowing a discriminating ban to prevent trans individuals from living their life, pursuing their dreams and growing a family of their own? Everyone can and so #TransCAN

This is why we must put a stop to this ban and BAN THE TRANS BAN!

– C.N

Caitlyn Jenner Speaks Out

Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, has opened up on her response to President Trump’s Attack on Transgender Service Members.

Caitlyn initially lived her life as a male and has only recently transitioned into what she views to be her true self. Till today, Caitlyn is still learning what it means to live in her true identity, and she has endured so much to get to where she is today.

In response to Trump’s Trans Ban, Caitlyn believes everyone should be “outraged by the disrespect shown” to those trans individuals proudly wearing their uniform. Caitlyn calls it to be a “half-baked idea” that puts all of our service members in harms way. According to Caitlyn, there are as many as 15,000 transgender people already serving in the military… “Does President Trump intend to just pull 15,000 people out of every critical position to which they are currently assigned? That would disrupt core military missions around the world and needlessly endanger our troops.”

Here, Caitlyn speaks the honest truth. We must come to realise that trans troops have been serving for decades. Why should it change now? It will only cause disruption and interfere with current military processes. These troops have made sacrifices for us and should deserve all the support we can give. Not only do they deserve to be thanked for their service, but they deserved to be treated with the utmost respect.

Caitlyn goes on to say, “Over the past two years I have met the most inspiring trans people, and I can testify to the trans community’s incredible resilience and perseverance in the face of enormous discrimination and hate. We are strong, we are beautiful, and we will win.” So let us help them win by fighting with them on transgender equality. Why? Because allowing transgender people to serve in the military is not a new idea. Many other countries around the world have successfully and willingly integrated trans service members without any issues including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.

So let us make this entitlement for trans to serve in the military as one that is globally accepted. Trans CAN and should be allowed to continue to serve.

BAN the TRANS BAN because TRANS CAN!

– C.N

Celebrities Outraged Over Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

President Trump’s Transgender Military Ban which will no longer allow trans individuals to serve in the military “in any capacity” has sparked tremendous criticism and condemnation from celebrities, politicians, and past veterans of the 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”, Trump tweeted. After calling trans troops a “burden”, it is no wonder that Trump has lost respect from some of our greatest celebrities who are together standing alongside one another, contributing their influence, and reaching out to their followers to fight for what is right – trans rights. Trans troops are NO burden, and we should be grateful and forever in their debts for being so courageous for fighting on our behalf. As a world, we must all acknowledge this, for this will unite us together and strengthen a rally against Trump’s unjust ban.

Among the influential celebrities joining forces against Trump’s ban included Star Trek actor George Takei who called him the “most incompetent President ever”. Such incompetence only questions Trump’s validity as a President, where Ellen De Generes, a part of the LGBT community herself, said that Trump’s decision was “baseless”, failing to provide any form of solid grounds to implementing the ban.

Then there’s Lady Gaga, who believes Trump’s ban has “endangered the lives of people all over the United States and overseas bravely serving our nation”. Indeed Trump’s ban is putting lives at danger, the lives of those who have chosen to fight for OUR lives and our own right to live. So let us join these celebrities in supporting our trans troops and protecting their equality and human rights. Let us all fight for their free will to fight!

BAN THE TRANS BAN.

– C.N

BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS

It is our basic human right to equality and self-dignity, giving us the freedom to express our individual self and who it is we believe we are. President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals  serving in the military is a clear obstruction of these basic human rights which every single one of us are entitled to. Trump’s ban on transgender military service raises many social and ethical issues as it violates the rights of the service members to due process and equal protection under the law. Not only does this ban defy equality and human rights, but it also goes against Trump’s very own vowed commitment to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that was made during his presidential campaign. In a world where equal rights and human dignity are universally valued, Trump’s military ban on transgender individuals therefore affects our society as a whole due to its impediment on the grounded values that bound our society together. It is time for action to be called. We can no longer let such issues break our society apart. Those who choose to serve in the military and fight for us are our heroes, it is decision that is open for anyone to join. If Ican, and you can, and we all can… then why not #transCAN?

– C.N

Trump Promised…

‘LGBT for Trump’ he said…

Why should we listen to someone who fails to follow through with a commitment they made? Someone who is meant to be our leader? Someone who is a symbol of all people? Someone who is in the position to make decisions that affect us all? If Trump can’t even keep his word, what does that say about his decisions and policies President?

As a presidential candidate, Mr Trump vowed to fight for the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people. But now that he IS our President, he has turned his back on this promise. By banning transgender individuals from serving in the military, this evidently goes AGAINST trans rights. If anything, he is only further augmenting the existing issues that were already surrounding trans.

In his Twitter post during his Presidential campaign, Trump tweeted, ‘Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.’

‘Fight for you?’ How is this Transgender Military Ban fighting for Trans individuals? If anything, Trump should be thanking Trans troops for serving in the military. They are the ones who fight for us. Now it is time for us to fight for them.

It is time we reveal Trump’s true colours.

BAN the Transgender Military ban.

– C.N