In this presidency, the line between legislation
and a twitter declaration gets thinner every day.
Despite what happens in Washington, we get
a clear view of what's on the President's
mind every morning he tweets.
And at 5:55 AM, he posted a series of tweets
that made his feelings about Transgender Americans
very clear:
"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 cost and disruption
that transgender in the military would entail.
Thank you."
[When The President of The United States wants
to tells you that he hates you, he tweets
you and then goes back to watching infomercials
during the Fox News commercial break.]
This announcement devastated many transgender
people who are currently serving, and people
who rely on military benefits to care for
their transgender children.
Last year, in June of 2016, The Pentagon lifted
the ban on trans people serving in the military.
This gave hope to many Transgender Americans
who were eager to serve.
[Like most things, I'm of a few minds when
it comes to this particular topic.]
I see the US Military as a corrupt organization
that largely continues Imperialistic goals
. Imperialism that has lead the the exploitation
of people internationally, especially women
and children.
The eagerness in which the United States has
rushed into war is disturbing.
The glee in which American frames Military
violence exploitation deeply disturbs me.
Knowing several Military Service Men and Women,
both inside and outside of my family, I've
seen the Military chew up and spit out people
who sacrificed their bodies to "defend their
countries", as they're told.
People who came out with their minds and their
bodies altered forever because they fought
in a war they didn't believe in for benefits
they don't receive after they served.
And this leads me to another side of my perspective.
Paradoxically, While I do not support the
actions of the Military, I do support the
troops.
I support them because in many situations,
they aren't serving because they believe in
what they do, but because they're placed into
a situation where military service is the
only feasible option.
In the United States if you're poor and you
struggle to find employment with health benefits....
or want an education and you don't wanna go
into debt because of it, the Military is one
of the best options.
For many, it's one of the only options.
The Military covers health insurance and education
for its troops and health and education are
necessities for anyone who wants any sort
of upward mobility in this country.
For many trans people, the Military offers
the opportunity to be employed in a country
where you're often denied employment because
of who you are, and provides health benefits
that assist with your transition.
Currently, cross-hormone treatments are covered
by the Military's health insurance, Tricare.
Gender Affirmation Surgery is also covered,
for active service members only.
Being trans myself, I understand that often
what we try to do is survive and sometimes
that means doing things that we aren't necessarily
comfortable doing, if it means we get access
to trans care.
While, currently, Trumps tweets haven't turned
into legislation, what they did communicate
to every Trans American, regardless of how
you feel about the Military, is that the sitting
president doesn't see the value in providing
trans care to Trans Americans.
In fact, in his words it's a burden.
The first thing many people want to do in
response to the accusation that trans people
are a financial burden is prove that we aren't.
Studies have shown that providing care to
the few transgender members of the Military
that need it, wouldn't really result in a
significant increase in spending.
But the reality of covering transgender care
isn't really the point.
The numbers don't matter.
The numbers are simply a convenient excuse.
One that some people believe they can use
to argue, with some sort of authority, to
disguise their transphobic perspective.
"They don't hate trans people, they just can't
afford them."
Despite what I feel about the Military and
War in general, this is a clear attack on
transgender people and their right to employment.
It's an excuse that can be used by any employer
of transgender people, especially in government
positions.
It's not even the most rational one because
not all trans people use these services.
There's no way to view preemptively denying
trans people employment for things they may
possibly need, as not discrimination.
On that aspect, I believe that we should fight
against this.
Though personally, I'm not a fan of presenting
images of trans soldiers and celebrating their
kills and contributions to imperialism.
[I have no moral dilemma fighting against
transgender employment discrimination.
But I do have a moral dilemma with fighting
for their right to further imperialistic goals.
Imperialism is still imperialism, even if
the soldiers are queer.
]
That being said, I'm realistic about the necessity
of the Military in this country.
War is something I dislike but, often not
participating in war has much greater consequences.
On paper, I believe in living in a country
that's protected by a military.
I know that people will attack this country
and i believe we should be prepared for that.
We live in a world that's been devastated
and changed drastically because of the Military
actions of several nations in this World and
I don't believe we can survive, as a country
without a military defense.
While I don't understand why any marginalized
minority would want to fight for a country
that doesn't fight for them, I believe that
discrimination is wrong in all contexts.
And unfortunately, this country is constructed
in a way where those who are the most marginalized
are really not given many options beyond Military
service.
It makes you wonder what would happen to the
Military if we did have Free Health Care and
Education.
[Ultimately, stripping trans care from active
soldiers and the trans children who rely on
Tricare is an act of violence.]
In my opinion, the system is flawed, but we
need to fight against this administrations
transphobia because it sets a much larger
precedent for this country and how it treats
transgender employees.
Am I surprised that Trump is transphobic?
No.
Am I surprised that his supporters applaud
his decision?
No.
I knew who he was from day 1.
I ultimately knew that things like this would
happen and I believe that this is just the
beginning.
I don't know why any marginalized minority
would look at Trump and who he caters to,
and think there's a part of him that wants
to fight for them.
Still, there are many people who are in the
LGBT community who remain indifferent to his
attacks on transgender people.
If they came for us, they'll come for you
and I hope Twinks for Trump are ready when
that day comes.
