Dear editor:
We will not tolerate the transgender military ban.
What message does it send to our armed forces and our country that the commander-in-chief tweeted his decision to stop allowing Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in our armed forces?
Center on Halsted has always supported LGBTQ full participation in the U.S. military. From artwork commemorating those who served to hiring veterans to programmatic work that takes into account the needs of veterans, Center on Halsted affirms that contributions of our community to ensuring the safety and security of this country.
Legal remedies that right the wrongs in our culture are important. When President Obama led the way in allowing Transgender service members to be out, he sent the message that the White House understood and appreciated the contributions of our Transgender service members. Today, President Trump's tweet made clear that this administration holds no such respect."
The most qualified people to do various military jobs have included and will continue to include transgender individuals. While it is an honor and a privilege to serve, Transgender military personnel and those thinking about enlisting have been sent a message that the White House would rather turn them away than maintain the strongest military.
As the Defense Department was getting ready to enact the plan to begin to allow transgender individuals to join the U.S. military, President Trump fell back on using misinformation to justify his administration's prejudice against the Transgender community, claiming, 'tremendous medical costs and the disruption that transgender in the military would entail.'
In solidarity,
Modesto Tico Valle
CEO, Center on Halsted