Transgender Military Announcement

How do you feel about Trumps most recent announcement?

In my personal opinion, its rubbish. I just cannot stand by as our military is weakened over something so arbitrary.
Despite what the current leader of our country tries to argue, this (to me) obviously isn't about keeping our military strong. There is upwards of 5,000 transgender members of our military and even more in reserves. All this will do is make it harder to protect our country. This will leave us weak and vulnerable. Protecting the home and people we love should be top priority, do you not agree?

Anyways, what are your opinions on this? Feel free to inform me on any viewpoints i may have missed, or information i was not aware of. Thank you.

- RedLeader

I agree, especially on the arbitrary nature of it. Trump claimed that he made the decision because of "tremendous medical costs and disruption", but that's just false. Unfortunately, with 1,281,900 active military personnel and 811,000 in reserve, its hard to argue on the basis of military advantage. However, this doesn't mean it's a nonissue. Military service is a source of employment that's crucial to many people, and can be a way of showing patriotism and respect for one's country. So, let's dissect Trump's objections.

"Tremendous Medical Costs"
The US military budget is absurd. It spends 5 times as much money on Viagra than support for transgenders. Seriously.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-viagra-as-it-would-on-transgender-troops-medical-care/

Even from an ethical standpoint, supporting troops [and citizens too!] with medical benefits makes much more sense than many other unnecessary military expenditures. This isn't even mentioning the fact that some transgenders in the military have already fully transitioned and do not need further financial aid.

"disruption"

One of the greatest idiocies in political arguments. Assuming something will cause a disruption before it happens is a dangerous presumption. Especially when there is nothing to suggest it will. 46% of military soldiers are under 25, and many more are well within that younger range. This age group is statistically known for LGBT-supporting politics. And disruption? This is something we've had for a while! He's the one making changes! These Obama-era transgender-affirming actions were lowering military cultural prejudices against transgenders, Trump is the one causing disruption with a large sweeping change to the US military.

And his general tone of weakening the military? What?! Why does removing military personnel out of every aspect of the military [I'd be surprised if this didn't affect R&D or other non-combat positions in the military] seem like strength?!?!


Now, for his motives. An article I'd read had suggested that he did this to try to damage Democrats in states that had voted for him. Unfortunately, that won't work for him. In some of those Western states, support for LGBT people is still strong, especially among younger people. In fact, Montana recently elected their first openly-lesbian senator. Trump's decision has earned him scorn from both sides of the aisle, and has earned spoken criticism even from Senate Republicans. In particular, John McCain has spoken out against a ban on transgenders in the military.

Trump claims to support the US military, but all he seems to really care about is hardline-conservative street cred. In a country that supports LGBT rights and an inclusive government/military, this choice will haunt him for years to come.

EDIT NOTE: There are 15000 transgender in the Military.

Plus, another stupid fact around this stupid storm:

For the military, transgenders "cost the military between $2.4 million and $8.4 million annually"
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-viagra-as-it-would-on-transgender-troops-medical-care/?utm_term=.e677e777d075

While in comparison, Trump has spent more than 48 MILLION dollars on golf trips already as a lower estimate.
http://trumpgolfcount.com

So while Trump berates "tremendous costs", in the six months of his presidency, he's spent more than 5 times the highest estimates of the cost of transgenders in the military over a whole year. Assuming we follow the stats that are most favorable to Trump, he will have spent over 96 million by the end of the year, while transgenders will have cost 8.4 million. Approximately a factor of 12. In one month, the president blows the military's annual budget for transgenders on GOLF TRIPS. This doesn't include business trips, or other leisure activities. "Tremendous costs."

I believe there is another factor in his motives. Recently, Fox News had been airing segments about the service of transgender individuals in the military and why this is bad. Trump has a reputation of responding to what he sees on Fox with "policy" (I use the term loosely because based on the reaction from the Pentagon I have serious doubts anything major in terms of change will occur). I feel the most likely scenario is Trump took what he saw on the news and acted accordingly.

True, although a news-based reactionary executive branch may just be one of the most pitiful government styles ever. Trump's seeming inability to follow good political practice and instead introduce overly-broad and sweeping measures on a moments notice is particularly dangerous when it can hold immediate consequence. This is one of those situations, where people's jobs, careers, and ability to work are now up in question.

Given the Pentagon's resistance, I think we'll have to wait and see if this eventually develops into policy, or is forgotten in the Trump Train of Chaotic Government. I hope it's the latter, but I fear that either if Trump matures, Pence follows him after an impeachment, or if 2020 brings a Republican, that anti-Transgender policies would suddenly become a much more damaging and tangible threat.

I personally find it hard to believe a Democrat will not be elected in 2020 for a variety of reasons, a Pence presidency on the other hand could conceivably happen. We're just gonna need to wait and see what will ultimately happen.