Trump signs memo directing Pentagon to implement transgender ban

[rooster59]

Trump signs memo directing Pentagon to implement transgender ban

By Jeff Mason

 

U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he walks on South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., before his departure to Camp David, August 25, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on Friday that directs the U.S. military not to accept transgender men and women as recruits and halts the use of government funds for sex-reassignment surgeries for active personnel unless the process is already underway.

 

The memo, released by the White House, laid out in more detail a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. armed forces that Trump announced via Twitter last month, reversing a policy shift started under his predecessor, President Barack Obama.

 

In it, Trump directed the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security to stop using government funds for sex-reassignment procedures unless it is necessary "to protect the health of an individual who has already begun a course of treatment to reassign his or her sex," the memo said.

 

The order requires Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis to determine in the coming months how to handle transgender individuals currently serving in the military using criteria including "military effectiveness and lethality," budget constraints and law.

 

A White House official who briefed reporters about the memo declined to specify whether transgender service men and women who are currently active in the military could continue to serve based on such criteria.

 

The official said Trump decided the Obama administration had not identified a sufficient basis for changing what was then long-standing policy on transgender troops.

 

The memo called on Mattis to submit a plan to Trump by February 21, 2018, on how to implement the changes.

 

Trump's decision appealed to some in his conservative political base while creating uncertainty for thousands of transgender service members, many of whom came out after the Pentagon said in 2016 it would allow transgender people to serve openly.

 

The change drew swift criticism from advocates of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights.

 

"The President’s order to remove transgender service members from the United States armed forces and deny them healthcare is nothing less than a purge," Matt Thorn, executive director of OutServe-SLDN, a group dedicated to LGBT equality in the military, said in a statement.

 

"Our military is strongest when all people who are fit to serve have the opportunity to do so. This unprecedented policy amounts to a purge of qualified, contributing troops, and will serve only to undermine unit cohesion and weaken military readiness," said Jennifer Levi, an official at the gay rights group GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders) in a statement.

 

Asked how the policy squared with Trump's pledge to stand up for gay rights, the White House official said the president would ensure that such rights were protected but had been critical previously of the transgender changes under the Obama administration.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-26

 

[gummy]

Apparently the money saved on transgender surgery he wants re-allocated to a private White House watersports centre,  staffed mainly by Russian females.

[darksidedog]

Way to go Donald. To add to your many character flaws we already knew about, last week you proved beyond doubt you are a racist and this week you have confirmed you are Homophobic too. One wonders what distasteful side to your personality we will have proven to us next.

[Foozool]

What will be next ❓ ?

[Jingthing]

Just now, Foozool said:

What will be next ❓ ?

Hard to say, but 45 is a horrible human being with the soul of a cockroach (but maybe I'm being hard on cockroaches). 

A draft dodger himself, he insults brave patriotic Americans wanting to volunteer to serve with this ignorant ban. 

[Thaidream]

This man is incorrigible- he supports racists; white supremacists; and homophobes. In addition, he just pardoned the former Sheriff of Maricopa County Arizona- Joe Arpaio who was convicted of contempt of court for violating the rights of Hispanics by ordering his deputies to stop anyone looking Hispanic and asking for proof of citizenship or legal entry. The court ruled he could not do this and the sheriff ignored it.  

 

Let's see now- Trump has alienated the African American population; the Gay and Lesbian community; the Muslim community and now the Hispanics.In addition, he is despised by many of America's staunchest allies.  Undoubtedly, the worst President in American History and probably the worst person I never want to meet.

 

Every time I think it just can't get any worse- It does.  Good Lord!!

[mikecha]

AMASING AMERICA  TAKEN OVER FROM AMASING THAILAND 

 

what will  ths guy cook up next  

 

 

[khwaibah]

BUIL THAT WALL.

[ELVIS123456]

Good for Trump - no more listening to minority group complainers who are just a waste of time and money. Most TGs were just joining the military so that they can use taxpayer's money for their medical procedures and ongoing costs. No net benefit to the military for obvious reasons - the same obvious reasons they don't allow people with lots of other physical and medical issues (like diabetes, flat feet, weight, height, STD etc etc etc) to join - they cost too much to support and they don't improve the fighting force. It is not discrimination, it is common sense.

 

Obama's disdain for the military is well known, and his taxpayer funded 'social experiment' in the military has failed . And his related TG experiment in public schools, has also been cast aside by Trump. Some say that he had personal reasons for wanting to do this - but who knows.

 

[ilostmypassword]

6 minutes ago, ELVIS123456 said:

Good for Trump - no more listening to minority group complainers who are just a waste of time and money. Most TGs were just joining the military so that they can use taxpayer's money for their medical procedures and ongoing costs. No net benefit to the military for obvious reasons - the same obvious reasons they don't allow people with lots of other physical and medical issues (like diabetes, flat feet, weight, height, STD etc etc etc) to join - they cost too much to support and they don't improve the fighting force. It is not discrimination, it is common sense.

 

Obama's disdain for the military is well known, and his taxpayer funded 'social experiment' in the military has failed . And his related TG experiment in public schools, has also been cast aside by Trump. Some say that he had personal reasons for wanting to do this - but who knows.

 

Wow, you must have really good connections!  The Defense Dept's study of the transgender issue is still underway but apparently you somehow got a copy of it. You a time traveler? It sure seems like you come right out of the distant and ugly past.

[sirineou]

 If all transgender people were to disappear from the force or if their numbers were to double the affect would IMO be negligible 

This is just a distraction

The only significant affect this decision will have will be on transgender people.  

 

[tomwct]

I understand in Afghanistan, a TG put on his/hers Burka on a trip to the 7/11 and he/she was shot in the head. The government had just spent $190,000 on his/her transformation, so this ban will stop the costs of these folks. His/Her M-16 was also painted pink and it was glowing when shot. No more pink M-16's! Thank God!

[ilostmypassword]

42 minutes ago, tomwct said:

I understand in Afghanistan, a TG put on his/hers Burka on a trip to the 7/11 and he/she was shot in the head. The government had just spent $190,000 on his/her transformation, so this ban will stop the costs of these folks. His/Her M-16 was also painted pink and it was glowing when shot. No more pink M-16's! Thank God!

This is of course a complete lie. Unless of course you actually believe it. Which would be even sadder.

[Jingthing]

I understand in Afghanistan, a TG put on his/hers Burka on a trip to the 7/11 and he/she was shot in the head. The government had just spent $190,000 on his/her transformation, so this ban will stop the costs of these folks. His/Her M-16 was also painted pink and it was glowing when shot. No more pink M-16's! Thank God!

What perverted alt right site did you get that garbage from?

[Thaidream]

Many lies- but one only has to listen to Donald Trump -who is the master liar to understand why so many people emulate his style.  What a sad example we have as President.

[Jingthing]

Many lies- but one only has to listen to Donald Trump -who is the master liar to understand why so many people emulate his style.  What a sad example we have as President.

He's successfully charged the game so that a significant percentage of the people do not care about truth and reality any more. Only feelings. Yes sorry but it's true this madness is straight from historically tragic dictator's playboys.

[johnnyonesock]

7 hours ago, Thaidream said:

This man is incorrigible- he supports racists; white supremacists; and homophobes. In addition, he just pardoned the former Sheriff of Maricopa County Arizona- Joe Arpaio who was convicted of contempt of court for violating the rights of Hispanics by ordering his deputies to stop anyone looking Hispanic and asking for proof of citizenship or legal entry. The court ruled he could not do this and the sheriff ignored it.  

 

Let's see now- Trump has alienated the African American population; the Gay and Lesbian community; the Muslim community and now the Hispanics.In addition, he is despised by many of America's staunchest allies.  Undoubtedly, the worst President in American History and probably the worst person I never want to meet.

 

Every time I think it just can't get any worse- It does.  Good Lord!!

if you asked most white Americans they would say he was a patriot

 America is now built upon multiple fantasies such as:

    Diversity is good for the country
    There are no differences between the races
    The border can remain wide open indefinitely and an unlimited number of invaders can move in with no ill effects
    Sexuality is voluntary, not built in at birth
    The family can be destroyed and replaced with recreational sex without damage to the culture

Edited August 26, 2017 by johnnyonesock

[Opl]

deleted

 

 

Edited August 26, 2017 by Opl

[Opl]

1 hour ago, johnnyonesock said:

if you asked most white Americans they would say he was a patriot

 America is now built upon multiple fantasies such as:

    Diversity is good for the country
    There are no differences between the races
    The border can remain wide open indefinitely and an unlimited number of invaders can move in with no ill effects
    Sexuality is voluntary, not built in at birth
    The family can be destroyed and replaced with recreational sex without damage to the culture

 

So, US army should  exclusively recruit white American patriots - correct?

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2017 by Opl

[Becker]

2 hours ago, johnnyonesock said:

if you asked most white Americans they would say he was a patriot

 America is now built upon multiple fantasies such as:

    Diversity is good for the country
    There are no differences between the races
    The border can remain wide open indefinitely and an unlimited number of invaders can move in with no ill effects
    Sexuality is voluntary, not built in at birth
    The family can be destroyed and replaced with recreational sex without damage to the culture

[manarak]

5 hours ago, Jingthing said:

He's successfully charged the game so that a significant percentage of the people do not care about truth and reality any more. Only feelings. Yes sorry but it's true this madness is straight from historically tragic dictator's playboys.

errr... I think this is true of many political sides.

socialists and greens are no different.