Community post
Transgender individuals serving face uncertainty
So I was reading that Trump announced bringing back the ban of transgender people serving our country. I find myself to be a bit torn on the issue because of me not fully understanding the dynamic and chemistry among our troops. Is it really a distraction as people claim? If so, is it a distraction to the point where it harms us as a country? Why have we not heard of any negative feedback about trans people serving until this ban? The problem I see with people calling this a "distraction" is that not too long ago, allowing African-Americans to serve was considered a "distraction". Same goes for women. They are all "distractions" that we seemed to have grown past and they eventually made us more unified in and out of our armed forces. I don't see how what's between someone's legs is any more of a distraction than the shade of someone's skin. I believe that if anyone wants to serve this country by joining the military, they should be allowed to do so. Their genitals are really no one else's business.
I also read an article on how a Navy SEAL hero recently came out as trans and has received overwhelming support from her brothers. I think this is a shining example of acceptance and how we learn to move forward and progress as a country. But hey...just my $0.02 on the matter.
Replies (13)
I agree completely. I mean, wouldn't we want the most amount of people to be able to join the military as possible? Where is the downside to letting trans people protect our country?
Its not about the transgenders, its about their medical expenses which will cost too much when that money could go to feeding troops and keeping the nation safe. They are, and its truly not something they can control sadly, too much of a burden compared to normal troops. I don't want to make anyone mad, I'm just giving the other side of the argument.
I understand that that's Trump's reason but if you look at what most people are saying, the topic has shifted to it being a distraction. The money it costs when it comes to their medical expenses is so tiny compared to places where we actually waste money. It's hard to not find that as an excuse. I don't think that they're "abnormal" troops. I think troops are troops. I def see what you're trying to say though.
It's just such a weird thing to me. They're there. They're doing their job keeping us safe. Why on earth do we want to discriminate against these people when there is so much that can actually help us "make America great again"?
The downside is the expenses for them are a lot higher than a normal troop. There is also the cost of accommodating those needs into the rest of the army, like their hormone pills.
Your gif is impressive by any standard.
Also, the military spends 5x the amount you're talking about on viagra. Just to put things in perspective.
So I did a bit of research and I found out that accommodating them would increase medical expenses by about 3 times as much as without them and that is accommodating only a very small number of soldiers. But your point about Viagra is a valid one. I think we need to get ALL of our priorities on point when it comes to money to be honest.
Yeah I really didn't even think of that. But I would have to look at the amount of money the government would actually have to spend on that. I don't think there is a large population of trans people in the military. Then you would have to look at the benefits of having more fighters compared to spending a few bucks here and there on medication.
Ya I can't defend all costs that are nation does. I mean do you know how much money goes into painting jets? I mean their in the sky! why do you need camouflage when your in the sky and really loud!? lol
Ya they would basically raise Military health system costs by about 3 times to about 8.4 million dollars. It really isn't that much money but the point is that its 3 times the normal amount. It really sucks that there can't be a healthy medium here though, maybe let in a certain amount of soldiers?
Exactly!! Our military waste is a huge problem. I just don't think that accommodating those serving our country falls under "waste". But what do I know. I never served.