BY KATIE PHILLIPS, Sophomore
BLYTHEWOOD -- On July 26 President Donald J. Trump announced on his Twitter @realDonaldTrump that a ban on transgender personnel serving in the military should come into effect. This national issue not only affects the country as a whole, but has a local influence in Blythewood.
The term “transgender” refers to a group of people whose gender, their personal sense of identity, differs from their assigned biological sex.
In the past, those who served with a different sexuality were forced to fall under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law enacted in 1994, yet it was recently repealed in 2011 to allow gay, bisexual, and lesbian military members to serve openly. However, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, this did not affect those with a separate gender identity.
The announcement came as a shock to many as a series of tweets from President Trump stated “... the United States Government will not accept or allow… Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S Military.” Especially after tweeting “I will fight for you (LGBT community) while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs” after the June 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.
According to the recent tweet, the president’s reasoning for this ban is due to “the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail…”
The country is divided on whether the president has the right to ban the transgender community from the military, which is affecting the livelihoods of many in the country.
“I believe it is immoral and it’s against our constitutional rights,” said sophomore Abhi Sailesh. “Legally, he can’t segregate on any form of identity. It’s against common morals as well, it’s just not right.”
According to the Williams Institute of Law, there are approximately 15,500 transgender personnel serving in our military as of May 2014, with 134,300 transgender veterans.
Junior C.J. Wiley has similar opinions.
“It is pretty stupid, if they actually want to fight for America, they should be allowed to do it,” he said. “Their personal wants shouldn’t affect their ability to serve.”
“It is pretty stupid, if they actually want to fight for America, they should be allowed to do it,” he said. “Their personal wants shouldn’t affect their ability to serve.”
Even adults who have no military connection are feeling the affects. “I feel like it affects my teaching because as an English teacher, I have my students analyze current events...” said English teacher Anna Howard. “This is certainly something I will have to ask them about.”
Due to the ambiguity of the announcement, generals in the military are not taking swift legal action to discharge members of the military who identify as transgender. As of September 2017, LGBTQ+ members of the military are still employed and will continue serving until further notice.
