Donald Trump still thinks U.S. policy can be settled in a tweet, but House Democrats are working to correct his lack of knowledge on how the government actually works. That was evident on Thursday when the House of Representatives voted against Trump’s policy, announced with no warning and no legislative process, on banning transgender citizens from joining the military.
The House rebuffed a move by the Trump administration to restrict transgender individuals from serving in the military https://t.co/J7LUypYGIZ
— POLITICO (@politico) March 28, 2019
The measure to condemn Trump’s bigotry was decided in a 238-185 vote, with five Republicans supporting the measure and one voting present. The resolution is not binding and will not stop Trump’s ban from being put in place on April 12, 2019.
POLITICO reports that:
‘Voting 238-185, the House approved a nonbinding resolution opposing transgender troop limits just weeks before the Pentagon’s new policy is set to take effect.’
Today, the House voted in favor of a bipartisan resolution opposing the discriminatory ban on transgender service members and recruits. #ProtectTransTroops #TransMilitaryBan https://t.co/eN7c2WLhP0 pic.twitter.com/j6ZbRA9W1J
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) March 28, 2019
The debate is based on inaccurate and ridiculous assumptions by the right, which have been debunked numerous times. Republicans insist that transgender Americans are only joining the military for free gender reassignment surgery despite the fact that evidence shows that less than one percent of all healthcare spending for military members is spent on care for trans members, which includes the entire cost of their healthcare and not just the cost of reassignment surgery.
House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) said:
‘What this policy is primarily based on is ignorance and bias against the transgender community…There was no problem. This was not an issue … until the president decided in his words he wanted to ban transgender people from serving in the military. He sent out a tweet … and the military has had to backfill that tweet with a policy.’
Proud to stand with the transgender community on the march for full equality. From cosponsoring the Equality Act to rejecting the Trump transgender ban on military service, I’ll keep fighting for all Americans to live without discrimination. #TransVisibiltyWeek pic.twitter.com/E4OS9qe8C2
— Sen Dianne Feinstein (@SenFeinstein) March 27, 2019
The Pentagon announced earlier in March that they are fully prepared to institute the ban despite the lack of legislative action taken. This resolution will not stop the ban from taking place, so the fight is far from over.
‘The resolution, sponsored by Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.), affirms the House’s opposition to Trump’s move to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military and “rejects the flawed scientific and medical claims upon which it is based.”
‘It also urges the Pentagon not to reinstate a ban on transgender troops and “maintain an inclusive policy allowing qualified transgender Americans to enlist and serve” in the military.’
It is heartening to see a strong bipartisan vote in the U.S. House supporting transgender troops and condemning Trump's attempted ban on trans people in the military. As a military veteran and proud trans woman, my gratitude to @RepJoeKennedy, Rep. @davidcicilline, + others. https://t.co/vR16pJk7rN
— Charlotte Clymer?️? (@cmclymer) March 28, 2019
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
