Mayor welcomes trans troops kicked out of military to serve in police force
A Mayor in Texas has welcomed any transgender troops kicked out of the military following Trump’s ban, saying they can serve in the police there.
Yesterday, President Trump suddenly announced that he was rolling back Obama-era changes which would have allowed trans people to serve openly in the US armed forces.
But the Mayor of Austin, Texas has got some good news for any trans person who finds themselves out of a job because of the ban.
Mayor Steve Adler said in a number of tweets that they would be welcome to join the police force in the city to protect its citizens.
He wrote: “If you’re qualified to keep our country safe you’re qualified to keep Austin safe. Transgender Americans are welcome on our police force.
“Austin is the safest big city in Texas partly because we know our differences make us a stronger community.”
Adding: “If you get kicked out of the service because you’re transgender, please apply to join our police force.”
Earlier today, the Veterans Affairs Secretary said he “was not aware” that President Trump was about to announce a ban on trans people in the military.
In June of last year, President Obama asked the Pentagon to lift its long-held ban on transgender soldiers serving openly in the military.
The Department of Defense was given until July 1 of this year to implement the policy, with LGBT advocates hopeful that transgender soldiers would finally be able to serve openly.
The decision was delayed by Trump’s Defence Secretary James ‘Mad Dog’ Mattis – and the President confirmed yesterday that he would reverse the decision put the ban back in place.
Despite the assertion that it would cost the military too much to implement a transgender-inclusive policy, the Department of Defense spent five times more on Viagra in 2014 than it would on care for transgender troops.
Out trans former Navy SEAL Kristin Beck challenged President Trump to tell her to her face that she is “not worthy” after he announced the policy.
She also noted the negligible cost of providing the healthcare to trans troops compared to other military costs.
According to reports, the Pentagon was unaware that Trump was about to announce the rolling back of the Obama-era change.
It is not the first time Trump has gone out of his way to reverse a decision on LGBT rights made by Obama.
The GOP leader has already scrapped protections for transgender school kids, ceased government opposition to state-level anti-LGBT laws, and sought to slash HIV aid funding.
The decisions sour Trump’s previous claims during his election campaign to be a “friend” of LGBT people.
In a speech directly after the Orlando massacre he had claimed: “Ask yourself, who is really the friend of women and the L-G-B-T community, Donald Trump with his actions, or Hillary Clinton with her words.”
He also won endless praise from gay Republicans for waving a Pride flag on stage, while making no pledges on LGBT rights.
