A transgender former US Navy SEAL has called ‘bullsh*t’ on President Donald Trump’s position on transgender troops.
Yesterday (January 22) the US Supreme Court lifted an injunction against Trump’s transgender military ban, and so the policy can now be enforced.
Both the Pentagon and the US Department of Justice welcomed the move which means certain transgender troops will be banned from joining or, if they are already a part of it, staying in the military.
As reported by CNN, the controversial policy bans individuals, with limited exceptions, who have gender dysphoria from serving in the US military.
Gender dysphoria is a condition where there is a disconnect between the sex a person is assigned with at birth, and the gender they identify with. The policy claims the condition impairs functionality.
Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Carla Gleason emphasised to CNN they ‘treat all transgender persons with respect and dignity’ saying:
[The Department of Defense’s] proposed policy is NOT a ban on service by transgender persons. It is critical that DoD be permitted to implement personnel policies that it determines are necessary to ensure the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world.
DoD’s proposed policy is based on professional military judgment and will ensure that the U.S. Armed Forces remain the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the world.
Kristin Beck, who served for 20 years in the US Navy with SEAL Teams 1, 5 and the elite 6, begs to differ taking to Twitter to call the policy ‘bullsh*t’.
She wrote:
Trump idea transgender affects ‘lethality and effectiveness’ which is total BULLSH*T. US Navy SEALS, yes, ME, Kristin Beck, is more lethal than 87 per cent of the US Marines. Supreme Court is wrong,
18 other nations ALLOW trans service members… zero issues!
Day after Dr Martin Luther King Jr Day, our government is using same TACTICS and arguments to OPPRESS group of citizens. Trans Rights Are Human Rights!
Not smart enough? Can’t lead others? Can’t follow orders? Lethal? EFFECTIVE? It’s all BULLSH*T! I was @us_navyseals.
Beck earned the Bronze Star award for valour and the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat after being deployed 13 times serving in countries including Iraq and Afghanistan.
She previously voiced her outrage at the ban when Trump announced it via Twitter in July 2017.
At the time, Beck told Business Insider:
Let’s meet face to face and you tell me I’m not worthy. Transgender doesn’t matter. Do your service.
Being transgender doesn’t affect anyone else. We are liberty’s light. If you can’t defend that for everyone that’s an American citizen, that’s not right.
I was defending individual liberty. I defended for Republicans. I defended for Democrats. I defended for everyone.
They care more about the airplane or the tank than they care about people. They don’t care about people. They don’t care about human beings.
Although the controversial policy is going ahead for now, appeals are currently being submitted at lower courts.
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