President Donald Trump’s surprise Twitter announcement banning transgender military service brought a rebuke from Hawaii’s congressional delegation, anger from some current service members and the threat of lawsuits from legal organizations.
Trump tweeted Wednesday morning that transgender individuals will not be allowed to serve “in any capacity in the U.S. military.”
“This ban dishonors the thousands of transgender Americans who currently serve in the military,” said U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a major in the Hawaii National Guard. “They deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, not kicked out of the military. Our country owes a great debt of gratitude to all our service members, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation, as they risk their lives to protect our nation.”
After hearing the news, Air Force Staff Sgt. Logan Ireland, a transgender service member, told Air Force Times: “I would like to see them try to kick me out of my military. You are not going to deny me my right to serve my country when I am fully qualified and able and willing to give my life.”
In May 2016 in Hawaii, Ireland married Laila Villanueva, who is also transgender. Villanueva, who was born and raised in the Aloha State, was a patient health care administrator in the Army at the time. The couple was invited to the White House to meet President Barack Obama in 2015.
“For the president to deny an able-bodied, fully qualified person the inherent right to raise their right hand and serve their country, potentially giving their own life for our freedoms, is doing this country an injustice,” Ireland told Air Force Times. “I would personally love for my president to meet me so I can tell him about myself, and the 15,500 honorably serving transgender military members that are fighting right now for their liberties and their country.”
Transgender Americans “serve our country with honor and distinction,” said U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono. “The president’s decision is wrong and perpetuates bigoted stereotypes” about the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said she was opposed to Trump’s “ill-conceived policy.” The delegation members provided their comments by email.
“The men and women who serve our country in the U.S. armed forces are patriots, and the diversity that exists in our military strengthens us,” Hanabusa said. “Unfortunately, President Trump has shown, once again, his inclination to exclude and discriminate.”
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, meanwhile, said, “Anyone who wants to serve in the military should be thanked for their patriotism and allowed to serve if they meet the qualifications.”
LGBT legal advocacy organizations OutServe-SLDN and Lambda Legal threatened to fight any ban.
“If this disgraceful tweet actually becomes policy, we will sue in a heartbeat,” Lambda Legal Director Jon Davidson said in a release.
