DISCRIMINATORY.
>> IT WAS A 243-183 VOTE IN THE
DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED HOUSE, TO
BLOCK THIS.
THIS IS A 15 PAGE DOCUMENT FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THAT
LAYS OUT THIS POLICY.
BUT THE PASSIONATE ARGUMENTS FOR
AND AGAINST THIS AREN’T LIMITED
WALL -- LIMITED TO WASHINGTON.
IT’S RIGHT HERE AT HOME AS WELL.
IT’S NOT OFTEN KAYLA DAVIS TAKES
HER ARMY ATTIRE OUT OF HER
CLOSET.
>> THIS WAS MY CLASS A UNIFORM
THAT I WORE IN THE MILITAR
>> WHEN SHE DOES, THERE’S NO WAY
THIS WOULD BE ANYWHERE NEAR
INSPECTION-WORTH
, --
>> BUT WHEN SHE DOES IT’S EASY
, TO FEEL HER SENSE OF PRIDE.
>> OVER HERE YOU’LL SEE MY
, PERSONAL RIBBONS I RECEIVED.
>> KAYLA SECURED AND MAINTAINED
FIREARMS FOR THE UNITED STATES
OVERSEAS.
>> IT REALLY HELPED MY DEVELOP
AS A PERSON.
PROFESSIONALLY, TO GAIN
DISCIPLINE WITHIN MYSELF.
>> BUT WHEN KAYLA SERVED, SHE
WAS PRESENTING AS A MAN, THE
GENDER GIVEN TO HER AT BIRTH.
>> I HAD ALWAYS GROWN UP KNOWING
IN MYSELF THAT SOMETHING WASN’T
RIGHT.
I KNEW AT A VERY YOUNG AGE THAT
I WAS A GIRL.
>> KAYLA SURPRESSED THOSE
FEELINGS UNTIL SHE COULDN’T
ANYMORE AFTER ENLISTING.
>> THE FIRST COUPLE YEARS WERE
AGONIZING.
THAT’S THE BEST WORD I CAN
DESCRIBE IS AGONIZING.
NOT BEING ABLE TO BE OUT WITH
MYSELF.
I HAD TO KEEP WHAT I WAS FEELING
PRIVATE.
>> SHE CAME OUT AND BEGAN
TRANSITIONING AFTER SHE WAS
HONORABLY DISCHARGED.
SO WHEN SHE FIRST HEARD ABOUT A
BAN AGAINST TRANSGENDER PEOPLE
SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
SHE FELT SHE NEEDED TO SPEAK UP
FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL IN THE
MILITARY.
IT WAS A FEELING OF DESPAIR.
>> KNOWING THAT THERE JUST WAS
JUST NOT A WHOLE LOT OF RECOURSE
THAT COULD BE TAKEN IN THIS
MOMENT BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE
PEOPLE IN SUCH HIGH POSITIONS OF
POWER WHO LOOK UPON MYSELF AND
OTHERS LIKE ME AND DEVALUE OUR
SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY IN SUCH
A WAY AND IT’S HEARTBREAKING.
>> IN A STATEMENT TO WLWT, THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SAYS THIS
ORDER CAN REMOVE OR WILL NO
LONGER ACCEPT THOSE WHO HAVE
BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH GENDER
DYSPHORIA INTO THE FORCES.
THE PENTAGON SAYS THE GOAL IS TO
MAINTAIN MILITARY EFFECTIVENESS
AND LETHALITY.
TIM THROCKMORTON WITH THE FAMILY
RESEARCH COUNCIL AGREES.
>> THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH
GENDER DYSPHORIA SERVING IN THE
MILITARY, THERE’S A LOT OF
THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON DURING
THAT TIM
THERE’S MEDICAL ATTENTION, THERE
ARE EMOTIONAL ISSUES AND SO IT’S
MORE ABOUT MIITARY READINESS.
>> BUT KAYLA AGRUES THAT THE
MEDICALS COSTS ARE MINIMAL AND
THAT IN HER EXPERIENCE, BEING
HONOST ABOUT WHO YOU ARE OPENS
UP THE TRUST BETWEEN SOLDIERS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE A CHEAP EXCUSE
TO INACT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST
PEOPLE YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
RATHER THAN TAKING THE EFFORT TO
TRY TO REACH OUT AND TRY TO
UNDERSTAND THE SOLDIER NEXT TO
YOU.
>> A STUDY BY UCLA FROM 2014,
ESTIMATES THERE ARE ABOUT 15,000
PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY WHO ARE
TRANSGEN
