Retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Laura Perry, 45th Medical Operations Squadron master social worker, talks with an attendee after a speaking engagement, Dec. 2, 2016, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Perry was instrumental in the fight for transgender military members to openly serve and travels the country sharing her story. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Janiqua P. Robinson through the Los Angeles Blade)
LOS ANGELES — Trump’s tweets have now become an official policy ready to go into effect. It bans transgender people from serving in the U.S. Military.
The news broke early Saturday morning from the Los Angeles Blade. The newspaper reported that the tweets were used to create a “guidance” policy that was approved by the White House Counsel.
From the Blade:
Though the policy—called “A Guidance Policy for Open Transgender Service Phase Out”—has not yet been made public, sources familiar with the planning said it would encourage early retirement, usher out any enlisted personnel after their contract is up, and would fire trans officers up for promotion. Basically, said a source, “the administration want to get rid of transgender servicemembers as fast as they can.”
No one yet knows what will happen to the servicemembers currently fighting in combat. The new policy does allow trans servicemembers to continue serving but apparently does not offer any protection from harassment or other efforts to get them to quit.
The new policy comes despite widespread objections from both the public and the military. More than 70% of the American public supports allowing trans members to serve and 56 retired generals and admirals spoke out against the proposed policy.
We will add more information as it becomes available.
