
You Are Not A Burden
Our Response to the U.S. Military Trans Ban
Yesterday morning, the president went on a Twitter rant proclaiming that the “U.S. government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in the military in any capacity”, due to the “tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” A tweet alone cannot enforce any law, but it has already caused a panic. Our hotline has been flooded with calls from trans veterans, trans people currently serving, and trans people in crisis all wondering what’s going to happen next. Regardless of what anyone thinks of the military, this is blatant employment discrimination and an attack on trans people everywhere. Many of our staff and operators have served in the military, so this hit extremely close to home for us as well.
People join the military for a variety of reasons but for many the only other options are homelessness and prison. When 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, it’s easy to see why joining the military might be an attractive option. In fact, the military may be the largest employer of trans people in the country, with an estimate of 15,500 in 2014. The actual number is likely much, much higher as more people are living their truths and coming out as trans every day. All of these trans service members may have lost their jobs and many more people including family, friends, and the entire trans population will be affected.
The shockwaves from these tweets are felt throughout the entire trans community, not just by those who are current or former military. This sort of policy choice suggests a careless disregard for the rights of trans people to dignity and self-determination. As trans people around the country struggle to navigate a climate of fear, messages like these can have devastating effects on a person’s mental health. These effects quickly bleed over into other areas of life like work, family, friends, or a person’s ability to pursue their goals. Trans people, regardless of their affiliation with the military, deserve better than this.
As always, we will never back down. We will continue to resist and fight that much harder. With the call volume rising, the trans community needs more help than ever and we are here. Please continue to fight with us, spread the word, and donate if you can to make sure we stay here for years to come.
Love,
Trans Lifeline & Trans Assistance Project
