President Trump's Ban On Transgender Military Personnel Is Ludicrous | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

President Trump's Ban On Transgender Military Personnel Is Ludicrous

Someone's gender identity does not make them any less qualified to serve in the military.

25
President Trump's Ban On Transgender Military Personnel Is Ludicrous
Wikimedia Commons

This week, President Donald Trump announced that he would be reinstating a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. armed forces. The ban was lifted by the Defense Department during President Barack Obama’s administration.

President Trump tweeted, “After consultation 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[.]”

As a staunch supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, I woke up to this news and found myself completely sickened and angry over this ban.

I have seen quite a few reactions to this new policy via social media. Some people stated that this was a good move on President Trump’s part because this country should not be spending taxpayer dollars on the healthcare transgender individuals need.

Others, however, have made the argument that more taxpayer dollars go towards other types of healthcare, such as Viagra, and that the notion that transgender healthcare is “expensive” is laughable.

After doing some digging, I did find a 2016 Rand Corp. study that was commissioned by the Defense Department itself. The study came to the conclusion that allowing transgender individuals to serve openly in the military would have a “minimal impact” on health care costs.

Why?

Because there are actually very few transgender individuals serving in the military.

In fact, the study stated that out of the 1.3 million individuals serving in the military, between 1,320 and 6,630 of those individuals identified as transgender. Additionally, the study estimated that there would be about 30 – 140 new hormone treatments a year and 25 — 130 transition-related surgeries.

Overall, this would cost about $2.4 million — $8.4 million, which, according to the study, was an “exceedingly small proportion” of total health care costs.

In his tweets, President Trump also wrote that transgender individuals serving in the military would be a “disruption.”

However, according to an article by The Washington Post, there is “no evidence” that the disruption argument is true.

18 countries allow transgender individuals to serve openly in the military. And, none of those 18 countries have reported that transgender personnel are a “disruption” to their armed forces — unlike what President Trump tweeted.

Someone’s gender identity does not make them any less able to defend our country. Many politicians — from both sides of the aisle — have spoken out against this new policy with many arguing that the military should not be discriminating against anyone, that everybody should be given a fair chance to serve in the armed forces and that any American who is qualified to serve in the military should be allowed the opportunity to serve.

I agree with those that state we should not be discriminating in the armed forces. Based on what I have read, there aren’t any strong arguments that support President Trump’s claims.

Healthcare costs would not be drastically affected, if at all. As for the “disruption” claim, there seems to be no support for that either. I know a few trans individuals who are members of the armed forces, and they serve this country just like any other individual in the armed forces.

They take the privilege of being a member of the military seriously, and they love this country just as much as anyone else does.

If someone wants to defend our country and potentially give their life to do so, I don’t think that they should be told no simply because they identify as a different gender than the one they were given at birth.

A person’s gender identity should not matter when it comes to serving in the military, and I think President Trump, who claims to support and fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, is far off base in his assertions.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180553
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7540
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452702
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23406
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments