By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
July, 26, 2017, President Trump announced that he was going to ban transgender individuals from serving in the United States Military.
President Trump made the announcement characteristically on Twitter: “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 US 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.”
A number of US Senate candidates in Alabama weighed in on the topic.
Senator Luther Strange (R) said in a statement, “The US Military is no place for social experiments. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, my first priority is to ensure the readiness of our military. President Trump’s concerns are well-founded, and I support reexamining any DoD policy that may hinder the ability of America’s fighting forces to execute their missions effectively.”
Former Chief Justice Roy Moore (R) said, “I commend President Trump for putting our nation’s military preparedness before political correctness. I look forward to working with him to strengthen our military so we remain feared by our enemies, respected by our allies, and loved by our people.”
Chief Justice Moore continued, “As US Senator, I will not stand by while the left uses the military for social experimentation. For America to be safe and free, our military leadership must be solely focused on maintaining the most disciplined, combat-ready force in the world. The United States Department of Defense must devote itself to the business of defending our country and preparing our troops for combat, not dealing with members’ misguided confusion over their God-given chromosomes.”
Dr. Randy Brinson (R) said that he does support President Trump’s decision. Dr, Brinson said that transgender troops cause tremendous confusion and negatively affect morale. Brinson claims that it is very difficult to accommodate transgender troops especially on deployment.
Brinson said that President Trump’s decision is very positive step for the US military. “Having served in the military, I support President Trump in that decision.”
U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R from Huntsville) told the Alabama Political Reporter, “I oppose the U.S. military paying for transgender surgery.” Brooks said that if people are confused about their gender and they are willing to risk their lives for their country I am not sure that we should deny them the risk. Brooks said that he needs to talk to our military leaders about whether or not their serving hurts the efficiency of our fighting forces.
Not every Senate candidate agreed with the decision.
Former US Attorney Doug Jones (D) said, “I believe like Senator Shelby, if anyone wants to serve their country then they should do so.”
Michael Hansen (D), to our knowledge, is the only openly gay person running in the Senate Special Election.
Hansen said in a statement, “President Trump has demonstrated once again that he’s more interested in playing games with people’s lives than he is in leading this nation. He has no idea how to be president. Transgender people are first and foremost, fellow humans. And they deserve to be treated accordingly. Anyone who has the courage to risk their life to serve this country should be able to. I have many trans friends and I count them among the most enchanting and inspiring people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. They have taught me invaluable lessons about the value of family, integrity, honesty, and most of all, how to be a better person.”
Hansen went on to attack Roy Moore, who has been campaigning hard to have transgenders barred from US military, as they had been for over 240 years, until President Obama changed the policy.
Hansen said, “Furthermore, disgraced justice and Senate candidate Roy Moore could not have been more wrong when he suggested that being inclusive of transgender service people is ‘political correctness’ and ‘social experimentation.’ Moore is a bully and a coward and he should be ashamed for the decades of prolific bigotry he has spewed at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Alabamians. LGBT people just want to be treated equally in the eyes of the law. Is that so much to ask?”
The special major party primaries are on August 15. If necessary, the special major party primary runoff will be on September 26. The Special General Election will be on December 12, 2017.
