Immediately after President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he was barring transgender Americans from serving in the military, the head of the U.S. armed forces was met with stunned disbelief over the slap in the face to thousands of service members.
There are thousands of active transgender service members protecting America, according to the Rand Corporation.
Trump's shots at the people who put themselves in the line of fire for America's freedoms — and the people who support them — has caused people to respond to Trump's declaration with swift anger.
Former Vice President Joe Biden weighed in, saying that "every American who is qualified . . . should be able to serve."
Then there was a story from a Twitter user who described her experiences under the discriminatory Don't Ask Don't Tell:
separation date. They gave you a general discharge (instead of an honorable one,) usually on a Section 8: "mentally unfit for service." This
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
assistance, nothing. And it was on your transcripts forever: GENERAL DISCHARGE, MENTALLY UNFIT FOR SERVICE. Imagine what that does when you — Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
you were poor and wanted to get the GI Bill, or because you truly, genuinely believed that you were working in service to the American
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
at Pride a few years ago, when I saw those out and proud servicepeople marching in the parade. We had come so far, THEY had come so far, and — Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
because it sets us BACK. We aren't moving forward; we're moving back to shame and censure and erasure from public life and public service.
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
Tens of thousands of transgender servicepeople are now on the verge of being separated from their service. Some may lose pensions, many will
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
speak the truth of their unjust discharge, because I never did. Not until today; I always told people that I got hurt. Which I did, but it
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
lose the GI Bill. All will be marked GENERAL DISCHARGE, MENTALLY UNFIT FOR SERVICE. But I hope that they will have the strength to tell the
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
would have healed. But I was never going to stop being queer, and somebody asked-- and somebody told. Support your #transServicepeople. What
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
comes next could be unimaginable. #LamdaLegal #ACLU #TransRightsAreHumanRights
— Saundra Mitchell🏳️🌈 (@SaundraMitchell) July 26, 2017
It's worth noting that Trump is pivoting to a red-meat issue for conservatives as his conservative base responded to outrage over his brazen attempt at resurrecting two culture war issues — the military and transgender rights — a day after the conservative media hit him for his attacks against Jeff Sessions. And, as Trump proved Wednesday morning, those attacks don't look like they'll be ending soon.
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