On Wednesday, President Trump sent out a series of tweets that suggested that transgender people would be banned from serving in the military. While the tweets do not make the policy official, many people were shocked and surprised by the announcement. The following day, Pentagon leaders issued a statement saying that transgender people would be allowed to continue serving in the military until the White House and the secretary of defense issues new rules and guidelines.
While the surprise Twitter announcement is disappointing, it's not surprising. Considering that Trump has mentioned planning on making abortions illegal, building a wall to stop illegal immigration, and banning all Muslims from even entering the US, this announcement just adds another thing to a long list of ridiculous things Trump has said over the past few months.
The transgender population is becoming more and more visible with each and every passing day, and it seems like the American people are still struggling to figure out to react. There are those who have welcomed them with open arms, and there are those who believe that transgender people should not even be allowed to exist, and I have seen people are fall on both ends of the spectrum. It seems that President Trump is someone who believes that banning a population who is willing to fight and die for our country will "fix the problem."
That's where President Trump falls short. Banning something does not make it go away. Banning Muslims from entering the US does not stop terrorism. Likewise, banning transgender people from serving in the military does not mean that they will disappear. They are still going to be there, growing even more resentful than they already were.
We are living in a society that is constantly changing and more and more people are fighting for greater visibility. Acting like something doesn't exist and forcing people to fall into boxes that they do not fall in will only do more damage. The fact that we have a President who is constantly saying things that will go against every fundamental American value makes my blood boil.
Our world today is a lot different than it was ten, twenty, even fifty years ago, but there are still people out there who do not want to accept that change. Maybe it's a weak argument, but it's 2017. Homosexuals, transsexuals, and even asexuals have always been here, they are just becoming more visible now. Like it or not, they are here to stay and we have to adapt to that if we are to truly be rid of oppression and hatred.