So I wasn't planning on uploading this video today
but with everything that's happened in the last day
I think it's incredibly important to talk about and to voice my support.
Not supporting the ban. That's not...
The ban is not what I'm supporting.
So yesterday, July 26th, Donald Trump tweeted
"After consultation with my Generals and military experts
please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow
Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military.
Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming
victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs
and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you"
Aside from the typos, weird punctuation, and capitalization errors
and Trump's inability to thread a fucking tweet.
I think it's clear that this is incredibly discriminatory and fucked up.
The idea that trans people are a burden on our country for doing what they believe is right
and trying to protect our country makes no goddamn sense to me.
And I've seen a lot of people being critical of the military, which I think you should be.
I'm not a fan of the military by any means.
I can go on for days about how I think it's a corrupt institution
and exploits soldiers and people who enlist because that's their only option.
But I would never disrespect a soldier or someone in the military
who is doing what they believe is right and risking their life and giving up their time
in order to do something that they think is benefiting our country.
Just because I don't support people in power making decisions about our military
doesn't mean I'm not gonna support the everyday people who are doing the damn job every single day.
And I think it's frustrating 'cause I've seen quite a few people say
"Well we should be trying to abolish the military." or "We should be reforming the military
so we shouldn't care about transgender rights because it's really just supporting a corrupt institution."
And I don't think trying to challenge discrimination against trans people and being critical of the military
are mutually exclusive. I think you can do both of those things.
And even if you don't support the military, you're never gonna join the military
that's not a reality for you.
For a lot of people the military is the only avenue they have to access education
and have a future and a career and have health care.
The military is also the largest employer of transgender people in the United States.
It's not like a small problem it's gonna affect a ton of people.
And what about trans people already enlisted in the military?
I know that this is only a tweet right now but it could very easily become an executive order.
Even if it never becomes an executive order
I'm worried that this is gonna affect harassment rates of trans people.
Because if the President of the United States is telling them that they're a burden
and that they're not fit or worthy to be there it's not great for morale.
I've also seen this point brought up a lot but the military spends more money on fucking Viagra
than they do on trans medical bills.
So boner priorities.
Also maybe I'm just being ignorant but why do you need Viagra in the military?
Why are you trying to pop a boner in the military?
I feel like that's a bigger distraction than, like, a trans person just trying to do their fucking job.
Not very long ago people were making the exact same arguments
against cis women and gay people in the military.
They were considered distractions and a burden and people said that they were unfit to serve.
And imagine being a trans woman or a trans person who's gay in the military
and having those double stigmas placed on you.
I just think as a feminist, as a marginalized person, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community
I think it's important for me to condemn discrimination and to show my support for the trans community.
If you're trans, I support you, I'm an ally
and I don't want you to have to live in a world where people think it's okay to discriminate against trans people.
I don't want to live in a world where people think it's okay to discriminate against anyone.
I'm gonna share some links below from trans people
who've spoken on this issue in a much more eloquent way than I'm capable of as a cis person.
Please go check those out.
I think it's super important to elevate trans people's voices right now
and to listen to them, and make them feel valid and supported.
If you're a member of the LGBTQ+ community or just a person who cares about human rights
I think you need to be condemning this threat against trans people in any way you can.
Let people know that this is not okay, and it's not acceptable.
I've seen some people arguing that this is gonna be the start of
a slow rolling back of rights for all LGBTQ individuals
because the trans community is arguably the most vulnerable.
And even though that is definitely a possibility
I think it's important to care about this issue
regardless of whether or not it's gonna affect you personally in the future.
Because it might but also just, like, support other people because it's the right thing to do.
Anyway, thank you for watching this video.
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