Since the last attempt of Trump’s transgender blanket ban last year many have become outraged at the United States’ president. Many protested and contacted their state’s representatives but Donald Trump has still gone forward with his ban. On March 23, 2018, Trump released a new memorandum that states that transgender individuals that require or have undergone gender transition cannot serve. Also, individuals who have a history of gender dysphoria cannot serve because they bring a burden to the military. Gender dysphoria means to have the experience of distress or discomfort as a result of a disparity between a person’s biological sex (assigned at birth) and what they feel their gender to be. The only way they might be able to serve is under “limited circumstances”. Recruits may be allowed in if a medical provider certifies that they’ve been clinically stable in the preferred sex for 18 months and are free of significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas. Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy must be stable on their medication for 18 months.
This has brought outrage to the LGBT community, Democrats, and their supporters. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted, “No one with the strength & bravery to serve in the U.S. military should be turned away because of who they are. This hateful ban is purpose-built to humiliate our brave transgender members of the military who serve with honor & dignity.”
Rep. Ted Lieu, Democrat of California, tweeted about the issue saying, “As a veteran who served on active duty, we focused on the mission. We didn’t care if you were transgender, bald, gay, or had freckles. No evidence a trans sniper is less accurate or a trans pilot is less effective.”
“There is simply no way to spin it, the Trump-Pence Administration is going all in on its discriminatory, unconstitutional and despicable ban on transgender troops,” said Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin.
Even though it may seem hopeless to change the president’s mind there is still more that can be done. Memoranda are often used to carry out routine executive decisions and determinations to perform duties consistent with the law or implement laws that are presidential priorities. Memoranda can work as an executive order with can be stopped and modified by Congress. So, if you feel strongly about the situation you can try to contact your congressman/woman through their office or directly. Another option may be to join an organization that supports transgender rights and contribute to helping to stop the possible executive order.
-by Joan
Source:
Stracqualursi, Veronica, and Tom Liddy. “How a President Can Use Orders and Memos and Who Can Stop Them.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 30 Jan. 2017, abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-orders-memos-stop/story?id=45036506.
CBS/AP. “Trump Transgender Military Ban: Democrats, LGBT Groups Are Outraged, and GOP Is Silent.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 24 Mar. 2018, www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-transgender-military-ban-gop-silent-democrats-and-lgbt-groups-outraged/
“Trump Signs New Transgender Military Ban.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Mar. 2018, www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43525549.
