Faith Leaders Speak out on Transgender Military Ban

AKConiferious

darn evidence... AKConiferious August 16, 2017 at 8:59 am “You think someone that killed themselves…” if they already killed themselves they are not in any military. and you follow that with “Come on! Reality is calling.”

same day as the email from ulc.. try to relax a little, just going on your comments you seem slightly unhinged, and possibly anger control issues, talk to a therapist, I will pray for you... Hail Satan 666 Praise His Holy Darkness, Take John Owens useless soul and mind, he needs them no more... Hail Satan, Praise His Holy Darkness, in the Number Of The Beast, 666

Stacy

September 21, 2017 at 8:09 am Johnny Doeseph September 21, 2017 at 6:09 am

,”Unfortunately I believe he is right in this. If you want to be transgender, go for it. Not my business how you live. However, many gender altering medications will leave the taker, weak, shaky, and sometimes vomiting. Unless this can be fixed, people on these and serving are dangerous to themselves on the field.”

Do you know that for a fact? . It don’t have me weak, skanky nor vomiting. In fact these medications made my hair grow I look 15 years younger, I know bench 130 lbs. I am more heathy now; And most importantly my self esteem is very good. Unless you experience the meds for your self don’t even think you know the effects. Thousand s of transgenders serves most still in private. A few in public. Transgender people is Human beings that loves this country and is willing to go threw hell and back to defend this country. Before you start talking about side effects that rearly happens the bright side of the meds is most calls it fountain of youth. Before my transition I had a bold spot on top of my head. And very obese. Now I am in Target weight and I have very nice wavy long hair. Most of my friends male and female swears I was born a female. And sI amtill waiting for final surgery. I been transitioning for 4 1/2 years now.please before you start posting effects that is extremely rare why not research and talk to people that’s been down the road. I bet most here knows a transgender and u don’t even know about it. One major requiment is the person before surgery must live full time as the sex they are transitioning into. I am pretty open and my California license says female my US passport says female. If I joined the military I would get in!

If a person was weak swanky etc would never graduate boot camp or get accepted to go threw boot camp I day let them go threw the process if they make it then another asset of they don't make it at least they know they did not make it with no outside influence.

Stacy

I hate this lg cell phone spell checker changes words on me

Stacy

Johnny Doeseph September 21, 2017 at 6:09 am

,"Unfortunately I believe he is right in this. If you want to be transgender, go for it. Not my business how you live. However, many gender altering medications will leave the taker, weak, shaky, and sometimes vomiting. Unless this can be fixed, people on these and serving are dangerous to themselves on the field."

Do you know that for a fact? . It don’t have me weak, skanky nor vomiting. In fact these medications made my hair grow I look 15 years younger, I know bench 130 lbs. I am more heathy now; And most importantly my self esteem is very good. Unless you experience the meds for your self don’t even think you know the effects. Thousand s of transgenders serves most still in private. A few in public. Transgender people is Human beings that loves this country and is willing to go threw hell and back to defend this country. Before you start talking about side effects that rearly happens the bright side of the meds is most calls it fountain of youth. Before my transition I had a bold spot on top of my head. And very obese. Now I am in Target weight and I have very nice wavy long hair. Most of my friends male and female swears I was born a female. And sI amtill waiting for final surgery. I been transitioning for 4 1/2 years now.please before you start posting effects that is extremely rare why not research and talk to people that’s been down the road. I bet most here knows a transgender and u don’t even know about it. One major requiment is the person before surgery must live full time as the sex they are transitioning into. I am pretty open and my California license says female my birth certificate says female. I can no longer walk around with my shirt off in public. Most of you remember the TV shows stereotype where one looks like a female but you can 100%tell that's a guy! Only a few close friends knows this about me every one else swears I was born female. So do research on this topic. And a few transgenders won the purple heart. For saving their fellow marine or solidare. Even no transgender in the war on the front lines thrws up seeing bodys bor in whole, and the stench. If a person was weak swanky etc would never get out of boot camp or get accepted to go threw boot camp

Johnny Doeseph

Unfortunately, I believe he is right in this. If you want to be transgender, go for it. Not my business how you live. However, many gender altering medications will leave the taker, weak, shaky, and sometimes vomiting. Unless this can be fixed, people on these and serving are dangerous to themselves on the field.

Minister Anthony Longstreet

Trump did the right thing.

Stacy

The military spends $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, according to the Military Times analysis — roughly five times the estimated spending on transition-related medical care for transgender troops.

Looked at another way, the upper estimate for annual transgender medical costs in the military amounts to less than a tenth of the price of a new F-35 fighter jet. Or a thousandth of 1 percent of the Defense Department's annual budget.

The cost of providing medical care to transgender servicemembers, in other words, is negligible, and hardly “tremendous,” as the president put it.

Some people think that determining who is male or female at birth is a simple matter of checking the baby's external anatomy, but there's actually a lot more to it. Every year, an estimated one in 2,000 babies are born with a set of characteristics that can't easily be classified as "male" or "female." People whose bodies fall in the vast continuum between "male" and "female" are often known as intersex people. There are many different types of intersex conditions. For example, some people are born with XY chromosomes but have female genitals and secondary sex characteristics. Others might have XX chromosomes but no uterus, or might have external anatomy that doesn't appear clearly male or female. To learn more about what it's like to be intersex, check out this videoor click here.

While it's possible to be both transgender and intersex, most transgender people aren't intersex, and most intersex people aren’t transgender. For example, many intersex people with XY (typically male) chromosomes but typically female anatomy are declared female at birth, are raised as girls, and identify as girls; in fact, many of these girls and their families never even become aware that their chromosomes are different than expected until much later in life. However, some intersex people come to realize that the gender that they were raised as doesn’t fit their internal sense of who they are, and may make changes to their appearance or social role similar to what many transgender people undergo to start living as the gender that better matches who they are.

What is the difference between being transgender and being gender non-conforming?

Being gender non-conforming means not conforming to gender stereotypes. For example, someone’s clothes, hairstyle, speech patterns, or hobbies might be considered more "feminine" or "masculine" than what's stereotypically associated with their gender.

Gender non-conforming people may or may not be transgender. For example, some women who were raised and identify as women present themselves in ways that might be considered masculine, like by having short hair or wearing stereotypically masculine clothes. The term “tomboy” refers to girls who are gender non-conforming, which often means they play rough sports, hang out with boys, and dress in more masculine clothing.

Similarly, transgender people may be gender non-conforming, or they might conform to gender stereotypes for the gender they live and identify as.

John Owens

Take all the moral and religious arguments out of it-- no judging, none of that. If the military excludes certain personnel from active duty, that is the military's prerogative. I don't know why we're even arguing it, except haters can't stand Trump, because he beat Hillary, even though the Dems were cheating every way they could. Everything else is a smoke-screen for the hate. Most of you don't even give a crap about trans people.

AKConiferious

let's work on eliminating the need to have any soldiers in war zones before discriminating against volunteers.

Stacy

If rather see our service men or woman get a Transgender surgery at military cost them Trump spending that and lot more on his vacations, and his family promoting his private company's on our tax payers money with would be lot more then transgender surgery

Stacy

To put this in perspective, the military paid:

$16.3 million for an M1 tank, according to the FY 2015 DoD budget $164.3 million for an F-35, according to a DoD release to Congress Up to $33 million for the Marine Corps February request for 11,000 M27 Infantry Automatic Rifles $31 million for an Apache helicopter, according to the FY 2015 budget request $400,000 for a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, per the DoD Inspector General’s Office $170,000 for a per-person personnel cost, according to the Congressional Budget Office. And the government shells out $3.6 million each time Trump travels down to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend, according to the Government Accountability Office.

Stacy

President Donald Trump issued a ruling on Wednesday outlawing military service by people who do not conform to a binary gender system.

“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,” he wrote in a string of tweets. “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.”

Trump previously promised to be an advocate for transgender people, writing during the campaign, “Thank you to the LGBT community! I will fight for you while Hillary brings in more people that will threaten your freedoms and beliefs.”

Rather today Trump imposed a rigid standard, preventing service “in any capacity,” even roles that might avoid contentious issues like restrooms and living quarters.

His only clear justification was the inability to deal with “tremendous medical costs.”

The military has not historically covered gender-transition surgeries, though President Barack Obama did announce plans for it to begin doing so. That cost would be between $2.4 million and $8.4 million annually for transition-related costs, according to a RAND analysis commissioned by the Department of Defense. The group estimated there are between 1,320 and 6,630 active-duty transgender servicepeople currently. A study in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2015 put the number at 12,800 people and $4.2 million to $5.6 million, concluding that “doctors agree that such care is medically necessary.”

This would be a military health-care spending increase of 0.04 to 0.13 percent. Even in the most extreme case, it is one tenth of the annual $84 million that the military spends on medication for erectile dysfunction.

The relative costs drops into the ten-thousandths of a percent when taken in context of the Department of Defense budget as a whole, expected to be proposed at $640 billion. The F-35 cost $1.5 trillion. Military bands cost taxpayers $437 million.

Of course, not only is it false that the medical costs of transgender soldiers would be prohibitive, it’s wrong. The vast majority of medical costs among people of any gender in America are the same: heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and cancers. If these costs are a concern, they could be minimized in many ways, including investing in public-health programs and a system that gives people access to preventive health care.

Rather Trump and congressional Republicans are now proposing to do the opposite.

The diseases that do seem to disproportionately afflict transgender people are mental-health issues. The pathology behind this is abetted by societal marginalization of exactly the sort that Trump’s language propagated today—portraying transgender people as a burden to The Mission, with a focus on “medical costs” as an apparent euphemism for gender-reassignment surgeries.

Trump’s ruling will leave many talented Americans ineligible for service. Others will opt to serve and deny their own gender identities, an unhealthy situation that will carry its own medical costs. So it’s unlikely this is really about medical costs, as much as it is part of Trump’s quest to undo measures undertaken by Obama. Even when it means that the commander-in-chief is dividing and weakening his military and country.

Stacy

I been reading a lot of stuff on here. We should be outraged at the following figures:

President Trump's trips to Mar-A-Lago

Total cost for security in Palm Beach: $3.7 million Roundtrip flights from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland to West Palm, Florida: $700,000 Overtime for local law enforcement during Trump’s trips: $60,000/day Total golf cart rentals ordered by the Secret Service "for POTUS visit": $35,185 Loss to business due to airport closure: -$30,000/weekend

Keeping the first family in Trump Towers

Request for additional Secret Service funding to secure Trump Towers: $60 millionNew York Police Department security costs: $127,000-$146,000/day"Elevator services" ordered by the Secret Service: $64,000Air Force One flights to New York City: $180,000/hour

The Trump children's trips around the world with Secret Service

Eric Trump’s hotel costs in Uruguay: $97,830Eric Trump’s hotel costs in the U.K. this week: $11,261Eric Trump’s limousine services in Dublin: $4,029.85Rental ski equipment and clothing for secret service during Ivanka Trump's trip to Aspen: $12,208Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump’s hotel costs in Vancouver: $53,155Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump’s hotel costs in Dubai: $16,738

The provided costs don't even include airfare rates for Secret Service agents taking each trek with the Trumps, nor does it include the data on those agents’ salaries and other expenditures taxpayers may be footing the bill for. The budget was expected to naturally increase based on the size of the Trump family as compared to the size of his predecessors, but critics are concerned the billionaire first family hasn’t acknowledged that it's not him paying for his trips, it's the American people.

"The Trump family’s frequent travel to international destinations purely to promote the Trump family business is burning through taxpayer dollars at an unprecedented rate and stretching the Secret Service increasingly thin."

Please comment

Stacy

Monday I will be using freedom of information act to find out how many solidare really had a sec change surgery at the military expense and how many transgender is enlisted vs non transgender. I will post my finding here

Christenberry, Georgeanne

I believe transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military ONLY if they have already "changed ". The citizens should not have to pay the costs involved in that process.

Lord Christopher Lloyd

Trumps an ass what's wrong with transgender person being in uniform serving your country just remember there been lot transgender soldiers have fought died and been wounded in conflict do we now forget they protected your country mine.as an ex soldier I.know who I rather have looking out for me than an idiot in white house.sorry if it offends you or anyone this is just all wrong

Stacy

I called my Congress person and senator. If their is enough votes Congress can over rule a presidents order

Prix Hamilton

It's pronounced "Pree". My guess is that you are a straight, white, cis, "Christian" male and you have never been prohibited from applying for a job for any of those reasons. There is not a 'bright side' to being denied serving your country because someone doesn't understand or like your race, gender, sexuality or religion.

Prix Hamilton

I'm just commenting that saying they should be glad that they aren't allowed to do something they want to do - serve their country - is a ridiculous statement.

John Owens

If they aren't going to join just to get free sex change on the government dime, I would think they would all be very happy that they are exempt from military service. Gee, a lot of people would LOVE being exempt-- Quakers, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh Day Churches of God, MANY.

David

There is a lot of people who hound for military service but not everyone is allowed because physical and psycological standards are not met. As I mentioned before if you meet those standards then welcome aboard. But in no way should blanket permission be given just because it makes you feel good about yourself not is the armed services a daycare center or an experiment for social justice.

Accepting people into the armed services has nothing to do with God's love or good intentions or feeling virtious. It has everything to with seeking those who meet standards to an effective and warrior.

Stacy

If a person is in prison or on medical or Medicare or Medicare there operation will be covered if all conditions and tests are met. Most transgender hound not for surgery but to protect and defend. The white house again lied about the reason and people believe it. Trump just violated the US constitution and un constitution i see this heading to the US Supreme court

David

Was listening to NPR while I was getting my coffee this morning. There was a transgender advocate whos argument was, if I understood it correctly wasnt so much about how a transgender can shoot as well as any other soldier and therefore should be allowed entry into the armed services. But instead she was advocating entry so that those diagnosed with gender dysphoria can recieve the care they need while serving.

Sorry but thats not what the military is for. There has to be standards, if you meet them those standards well welcome aboard. But if as some estimates show that 70 percent of those diagnosed with gender dysphoria suffer from depression, anxiety, sucidal thoughts, and schizophrenia. Then maybe blanket permission to serve isnt such a good idea.

I can remember during my entrance exam nobody not even once asked me how well I could shoot. All anyone ever wanted to know was if I was physically and mentally fit to serve. Marksmanship and good intentions were not a prerequisite for military service. The big then concern was my blood pressure which almost prevented me from going any further.

Nobody should be allowed to bring your personal health issues with you and then demand the service in question to finance the treating of it. Its not even about the money that much, but about the principle. Who wants to see for example depressive patient without a therapy place or money for a doctor entering the army, and then telling the army that he is depressive and demands psychotherapy paid by the army?

Leslie Gray

As a member of the transgender community, I feel that transgender people have every right to serve if they should so choose. There is a plethora of hate filled excuses disguised as morality being put forth by evangelicals and some Christians. I fail to see how morality has anything at all to do with the condition of ones birth. Transgender people are born transgender. There has never been any choice as to whether or not a transgender person is really who they claim they are. Even Jesus recognized the lack of choice to be a given fact in his remarks in the book of Matthew to his disciples during a discussion on the topic of marriage.

In Jesus' time the terms homosexual and transgender did not yet exist. The former would not become a word until 1869 and the later term would come to be in the 1960's, but not be subject to common use until the 1990's.

Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others--and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.

The much less accurate term eunuch was the most frequently used term when referring to both a homosexual or a transgender person. From my perspective, it would seem that denying the life condition of anyone that has been recognized as having been 'born that way' by such an important figure as the Messiah himself would run dangerously close to denying a biblical truth.

O.H.O.

It is because this individuals love humanity, they choose to keep this country safe and we as government accepted them in contract to become fine soldiers of the pease therefore let them server because we were all born to do our call this is theirs. We have always fought for peace in the world why are we creating war in our backyard. Trace your ancestry back and you will find we are all children of God. One thing that people love about this country is the freedom and the vision for the future and the love for humanity that's why we oppose to wrong doings and that my friends is the expression of God.

Angel on earth

Jacob Harkins

The US Military accepts both men and women and so regardless of gender identity they are one of those biological genders and should be allowed to serve the country that grants them the freedom to live as they please. As long as no one is hurt why should we care? I have seen a number of transgender people (some within my own family) who have or wished to have served our proud nation. This act by our president is a betrayal to the American people who supported him into the office he now holds. I condemn him in his ignorance and bias against those who are different than he. We are one nation, it says so on the money he values over the human lives he obviously does not.

Victoria Vlandis Barela

You are all wrong! If you believe that the modern day bible is the word of god you are wrong! If you can read the original testament written in ancient languages then you know the truth. It's impossible to translate ancient language or even some modern day language into English! Once you do you change the meaning. Believe in love. Believe in kindness. Don't judge it's not your job. God loves each and everyone of us. Stop arguing it makes all sound foolish!

Stacy

My phone is badly cracked sorry for the bad typing

Stacy

My cousin he is a Transgender fought in desert storm. Dragged 2 solidare that got hit with bullets to safety. My cousin revived the purple heart for his bravery but later died from his injury saving 2 soliaredres. In the heat of battle no one is going to worry about it no it’s an lgbt when lives are on the line everyone is trained to do what’s right. Funny thing it was my cousin that ceased to these 2 guys and got them to safety no other solidare was going to. My cousin was US Marine G5 camp Pendleton. He served protected 2 fallen troops later he died after getting the purple heart. How many people was saved by a unknown or k own transgender?

Stacy

One thing we forgot about and puts President Trump ban on transgender in military is UN. Here is a copy and past The principles of equality and non-discrimination are part of the foundations of the rule of law. As Member States noted in the Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law, “all persons, institutions and entities, public and private, including the State itself, are accountable to just, fair and equitable laws and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law”(para. 2). They also dedicated themselves to respect the equal rights of all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion (para. 3).

The international human rights legal framework contains international instruments to combat specific forms of discrimination, includingdiscrimination against indigenous peoples,migrants, minorities, people with disabilities,discrimination against women,  racial and religious discrimination, or discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In the Declaration of the High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law, Member States also recognized the importance of ensuring that women, on the basis of the equality of men and women, fully enjoy the benefits of the rule of law.  Member States committed to using law to uphold their equal rights and ensure their full and equal participation, including in institutions of governance and the judicial system, and recommitted to establishing appropriate legal and legislative frameworks to prevent and address all forms of discriminaion and violence against women and to secure their empowerment and full access to justice.  UN Women engages in advancing these issues by supporting the UN system in the formulation of policies, global standards and norms, providing technical and financial support to Member States, and forging effective partnerships with civil society. The Declaration notes the importance of the rule of law for the protection of the rights of the child, including legal protection from discrimination, violence, abuse and exploitation, ensuring the best interests of the child in all actions, and recommit to the full implementation of the rights of the child [para. 17]. In the UN system, UNICEF engages in advancing the rights of the child, and supports Member States in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.un.org/ruleoflaw/thematic-areas/human-rights/equality-and-non-discrimination/&ved=0ahUKEwihy8nB29zVAhVX6GMKHUy2AIEQFggcMAA&usg=AFQjCNGxmfvr049Xm3w5qog9xVNAVNzACA

Jerry

The one issue that hasn't been addressed is the profound mental health issues found in the trans community. They have higher suicide and depression rates than the general public. Another issue is the overtaxing of the military and VA medical systems. When you allow someone with a medical/psychological problem join the service the military and VA "own" that issue. If a woman joins and then converts to male or vice versa, they will become eligible for 100% disability- especially if they decide they want to be converted back. The military/VA own that problem and all the medical expenses (meds, surgery, pysch) forever not to mention disability pension.

Jim D.

Here's an idea I haven't read yet. How about who gives a crap about any of this stuff? You really want to sit around and debate the origins, the biology and the psychology of all this? Good luck. You'll never get there. Let's try this instead:

1. Can you pass all the PT requirements the military has?
2. Do you know your left from your right and can figure out how to march?
3. Can you shoot your rifle and your sidearm with enough proficiency to meet requirements?
4. Can you follow orders?
5. Can you perform the duties you are assigned?
6. Can you actuate a weapon that will kill the enemy, even if it means killing non-combatants?
7. Will you take the oath of enlistment?

If you answer yes to all seven questions, you're in, and the rest of it doesn't matter one bit. As far as I'm concerned, the only reason to ban someone from the military is because they fail at one or more of the items on the list. I'm sure we can come up with more items to add to the list, but anything that has nothing to do with the duties and responsibilities of being in the military does not belong on the list.

Now, go ahead and argue.

Jon

That came out wrong. I meant to say if women could serve as women and man can serve as man then why can't trans gendered people service. We are all equal in the country that we love and are conviction moms and I believe the trumps actions are both cowardly And pathetic.

Jon

I don't understand it women could serve as women and men conservative man then why can't transgendered people serve there all equally straightforward and the power but they believe in and fight and their convictions. It's a pathetic pathetic and cowardlypart on Trumps part.

Monti Skiby

I have read many of your comments, I have been a minister for many years, and have a been a counselor, and dried in Developmental Psychology, since 1983. Being a transsexual is not a choice nor is it in the same category of homosexuality. At concept, the two chromosomes which make up a embryo are two xx's. At about six weeks one of the "legs" falls off of the x chromosome and you know have an xy a or it doesn't fall of and you maintain an xx. Ovaries drop and become testicles, the vagina becomes a penis and the miracle of life happens. However, sometimes things do not go the way they are suppose to. Male bodies are born but have female minds, female bodies are born with male minds, sometimes there will be a penis but there will be no testicles but the body has ovaries. It is a process of science and not Biblical. How the child, who later grows into an adult, views the world will depend on the mind that God gave them. Not how they were raised but the hormones that flow through his or her system regardless of the physical genitals that developed. Things happen which cannot be explained. However, long before someone enters the military he or she know whether they are transgender. The process of reassignment is not a short process but takes years of counseling, years of hormone therapy and then reassignment of the genitals. This would put a soldier out of commission for emotional, physical, and mental reasons for up to six year at a minimum. In the event of a war that could be crucial to other soldiers. For that reason, and that reason only, I would not suggest transgender individuals enter the military. There is no reason for the ones who have been in the military to be discharged for being transgender. But there it should be considered before entering the military just like someone with a heart defect should not be allowed in the military because it is obvious they will be unavailable for service for a long period of time for medical reasons. Again, it is in my opinion, not a Biblical issue, it is a scientific issue that the individual has no choice in. God accepts everyone. John 3:16

Debbie

I am disgusted by how militarized the US is. No, I am opposed to gays in the military. I am equally opposed to straits in the military.

Cindy Murten

I don't see why they can't serve. They are defending their country just like anyone else. They have a right just like so called normal men and women do to stand up for their country. What is between a person's legs does not defend this country it's the whole body.

Judy Riggenbach

God created all of us. Every one of us is equal in his sight. Those who want to serve in the armed services should be able to do so with no prejudice about color , race or sexual persuasion . That includes transgender people! I don't believe the military should pay for sex reassignment operations though i believe someone serving in the military should be allowed to pay for their own sex reassignment surgery.

Duane Smith

We need a strong military and if an individual is confused about their gender then they should keep that confusion at home, not in the military. And it has nothing to do with sexual choices, men to the men's room and in male uniforms, women to their own bathrooms and uniforms. The military should not be a playground for your life choices, serve your country and serve it well.

Stacy

I am a hermaphrodite. Nature left me to decide what sex I want to be. I been on both sides of the fence. I worked as a female and male. . How many LGBT had the purple heart? How many LGBT goes above and beyond and gets by passed up on promotion's because they are LGBT. Most transgender pre operation has there gender marker changed on the I'D or drivers License already. Making them a legal female or male if a Transgender is going from female to male! As long as the LGBT dont push there lifestyle on aother person let them serve.

I see this going to US supreme court

Felix

Ummmm, I hate to tell you this John, but both 1984 and Brave New World are works of fiction. Perhaps we should focus on facts?

Bill Fox

Not knowing what sex you should be means one of two things. 1) You were born with both sexes, hermaphrodite. 2) You are mentally ill. I don't pretend to understand everyone's thoughts. Most of the time, the average person does not act on thoughts that are contrary to social norms. It's not illegal to physically change one's self to fit their mental construct of what they should be. The question is, does it make a stronger military to allow such people into the military? I'm a 200 pound man and I struggled in Marine boot camp in the 1960s. I can only imagine how a person taking strong enough hormones to over load their natural hormones will struggle. Does the US want a strong military or a politically correct military? Can we have both?

Stacy

Gender is defined by the brain, not just the genitalia.  Occasionally the genitals do not match the sex the brain has been assigned. Harry Benjamin Syndrome is a congenital intersex condition that develops before birth, involving the differentiation between male and female. This condition is thought to occur in approximately 1 in 500 births. It is impossible to diagnose HBS at the time of birth causing babies to be raised as the incorrect gender. Since most people are unaware or content living in the gender their genitalia has assigned for them, it is impossible to know exactly how many people are affected by this syndrome.

Harry Benjamin Syndrome, much like Parkinson’s disease or Alzheimer’s disease, is a condition of the brain. Essentially it is a biological variation in human sexual formation. Dr. Benjamin believes that genetic and hormonal irregularities cause the brain not to match the genitalia. While genes and hormones are playing a significant role in diagnosing those with HBS, no specific cause can be defined. After an egg is fertilized initially during reproduction, it divides into three sections, each responsible for a different part of development; the skin, nervous system and brain in one, bone blood and muscle in another, and the internal organs in the last. Since each section is essentially developing independently, it is not unusual that fluctuations or imbalances in the mother’s hormone levels could have a different effect on each section of the developing embryo. While the developing brain may be responding to an increase in testosterone, the internal organ section by not be. The end result could be a brain that develops as male while the genitals develop as female or vice versa. Dr. Benjamin believes the brain is the part of the body that is likely to be correct, and the body which has been incorrectly altered. The brain, in its complexity is what drives the body. It also requires significantly more development during the embryo stage and is less likely to be altered significantly by subtle changes in hormone levels of the mother.

Harry Benjamin Syndrome is an intersex condition, not a psychological condition. Treatments for those with HBS include hormone replacement therapy as well as gender reaffirmation surgery. The term reassignment surgery would be incorrect in this instance, as those with HBS are simply having surgical procedures to correct the mistake their bodies have made. While a less common and more controversial intersex condition, Harry Benjamin Syndrome is finding its place in the texts books and the medical community. In addition to chromosomes, hormones, genitalia and reproductive organs, it is now known that brain structure also contributes to the definition of sex. This knowledge allows for a much larger variation in intersex conditions and less stigma attached to those once merely thought to be suffering from mental conditions regarding their gender.

“The recent discoveries about the brain’s sexual differentiation on people with transsexualism could open a door to see this condition in a different way that we see it today. First, from the medical view transsexuals could be reassigned to their true sex and not be seen as mentally disturbed people. Second, the medical insurance would be obligated to pay for all medical expenses for the sex reassignment as it happens with other cases of intersexuality. The legal system would have to treat transsexuals in the same way they treat people with other intersex conditions. The rest of the people may change their attitude towards transsexuals and even religious institutions would stop seeing it as a sin. The fascinating consequences of the “biologication” of transsexualism in all the domains of life are difficult to value. Louis Gooren.

The information found herewithin can be found on Transsexualism, a form of intersexuality atwww.figinternet.org/mod-subjects-viewpage-pageid-5.html.

James

Mental illness is sad. But it is a part of the real world.

Minister KIM

Good for you Trump! Finally, a real man that stands up for what works in the military. Sadly, to many malcontents within our government, news media and the public domain. These people twist what is rightous and what is evil to destroy what is good and wholesome. The Bible (God's Word) is very clear on these matters. Just do the research! As far as the worldly governments are concerned, they have freedom of choice to choose the best qualified people for their military. If people don't meet the standards, well then, all things are obvious and THEY don't qualify.

Some people understand and grasp the higher levels of knowledge and Scripture (and these same individuals must stand up and fight the good fight according to Scripture). Most do not and degrade into the festering sewer garbage that we now see littering our society today trying to change this or that. Nuff said.....

Everyone have a nice day!

elk keep

This was his opinion in an unofficial tweet, a tweet is not official military policy, then he double down on it verbally. With freedom of speech we can all say what we want - it does not make it true, it does not policy, it's not law and it doesn't make it right, or wrong for that matter. Everyone is entitled to voice their opinion in a a democracy. This is his opinion, air and a few words, nothing more.

Vincent

Years ago women weren't allowed in the military with some really stupid reasons then don't ask don't tell. It's a matter of stupidity all over again. I am opposed to violence. We are all human no matter the language or skin tone. You can't doubt that even if you believe in evolution there's proof we came from the same branch of apes we all share the same genetic code. But not all people believe we should be peaceful and love each other. As opposed as I am to war we need a military to defend us. And if someone wants to join it should be their right no matter how they consider themselves.

Rev. Ian T. Lombardo

Let me make this clear... It takes a lot of willpower, patriotism and guts to even think about enlisting into any branch of the armed forces. It does not matter if a person is gay, bisexual or transgender, if they are willing to step up to the plate and serve, let them serve.

ROGER GILBERT

The reason that trump put a ban on them is because they were using the military to pay for their sex change operations..period end of story! They use the system for their own agenda and put a burden on others. Be who you want to be but don't use the military to pay for elective surgery!

Ian

Sorry people it clearly states thi shall not kill so there should be no army's thus no problem every one is gods child and made us all individual, yet soles get trap in the wrong body dose not make them weak it makes them university special

Simone A. Malboeuf

This is yet another example of this administration's use of the age old tactic "Divide and Conquer" The more red herrings they can throw out , and the more hornets nets they can stir up suits their purposes just fine. It gets everyone arguing and marching and fighting (and killing) each other, so they can go merrily along behind the scenes (since the media is also taking the bait) doing dastardly deeds unnoticed. The likes of which we probably won't know for generations - if then. The fact that The Donald has reneged on another campaign promise does not surprise me. I'm certain there will be more to come. Let us stay focused, and stop taking the bait.

fran gilbey

its none of any body buisness what type of person or colour you are, they have the right to protect their mother land, when you go to war who do you call up first. you be crying out for anyone to fight then, knowing trump they will be in the front row. first to be bloody killed like the unwanted in america. one way of getting rid of unwanted baggage, and he calls us english name. kick him out put some one who is more for their contry

Joe

I agree with my president. The military is not the stage for Trans agenda to put on a new show. There are multiple physical and mental disorders that hold people back from military service. This generation of military are ready commits more suicide than any other era in group of military before. More of our soldiers today face PTSD then our Old World War II wartime vets. Our military needs to always be strong. That is strength found in their mentality, their readiness and their action.

Bruce W. Angus

My father served 25.5 years in U.S. Air Force retiring as a Chief Master Sergeant. He flew as Radio-Operator/Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress out of England and was shot down on his fourteenth mission during Big Week where 5 of his crew were killed in action and 5 became POWs. He supported Korea from Hawaii and served a year in Vietnam. I believe he today he would support today the right of transgender members to serve in the Armed Forces!

Terry Williams

If you follow the Bible then it is obviously a sin (if you believe in sin). If you do not believe the bible is God's law then nothing is sin. The difference of opinion is just that. Opinion...on the other hand ..military discipline must be maintained to have an effective fighting force, therefore in my opinion anything that over rides that discipline should be avoided ...Live long and prosper

Benjamin Zoellner

They are people and should be able to sserve.

James

"Transgenders" have found a loophole in our countries military system. Some join to have their surgeries paid for by our tax dollars. I'm sorry they are confused about their gender but I don't feel I should have to pay for their surgeries.

Just a. HEBREW

Let them serve, just not next to me..., no hate jester

LtBil Drat

It's one thing to practice your lifestyle within your social circle etc. Not as a member of a military fighting force where a qualification is the entire reason for your MOS.

Cheryl

I left the church after 58 years. I got really tired of the hate that is spewed in the name of Christianity. I found much more peace when I began to look at the world through love rather than hate. Who cares who you love as long as you love? If you feel you should be another sex, who I am, or any one else, to deny you what makes your soul sing? (Why do I care who's using the bathroom stall next to me as long as they clean the seat when they're finished--any gender!) Would I care that the person fighting next to me used to be another gender? No. As long as they know how to handle whatever weapon happens to be in their hands, I couldn't care less. (And does that really come up in conversation? "Hey, I used to be a guy." Really?) NONE of us knows what's at the end of our lives. I'm sure I have a different take on the hereafter than most but I'm not forcing my beliefs down anyone's throat. I remember a saying, "Live and let live." Pretty darn good way to live your life. And stay out of others' business. Don't try to "save" me, don't force your beliefs on me. You live your way and I'll live mine and I bet we both end up in the same place.

Cindy Rich

Christians are not here to judge the world. We are here to lead people to Christ. If you continue to condemn the world for being worldly, you will loose wonderful opportunities to share Gods word and His love. How can you lead someone to Christ by judging or turning your back on them? Scripture tells us we are to hold other Christians accountable. Not the world. They are not saved as of yet so you cannot hold them to follow Gods word. Be Saints and leaders of Christ not a twisted version that will push people away from Christ. I thank God for not condemning me before I was given the opportunity to follow Him. I thank God for the wonderful long suffering patience of good Christians (and God) to guide me and not condemn me for any sins of my own while living a worldly life. Think and pray before you speak hate. "Christ will help me lead more people to You and not push them away?"

Mark

Freedom of religion is or should be a very important consideration in this. That eliminates all the sanctimonious blather regarding the evils of homosexuality or it should. From a practical standpoint individual sexual preference doesn't effect fighting ability. Historically there have been some very gay cultures that were also extremely effective fighters. The Spartans of ancient Greece are an excellent example. The 300 at Thermopylae were all gay. Sparta was so gay they had to have captured male slaves breed with their women to keep their birth rate at a sustainable level.

I believe transgender individuals are benignly mentally ill. Sexual reassignment surgery is in my opinion not an effective long term solution. This surgery is likely encouraged by doctors because the great expense instills a profit incentive. Transgender individuals can be very high functioning and valuable assets to any organization.

Harry Sechrest

I am a vet that served two tours of duty in Vietnam. Trans folks should never be allowed in the active military. The military was never designed to a appease or coddle a single sub group for the sake of social justice or feelings. The VA with it's limited resources was never designed for social justice either. If trans people want to serve, let them compete in Civil Service where advancement is merit based. Another opportunity would be the Red Cross or Army Corps of Engineers. Confused sexual identity is not an attribute needed in combat. As for some of these comments..... Yeah we get it that you didn't vote for President Trump's. More of us did vote for him.

Rev. Dr. Michael R Perez, Ph.D., M.Th., M.Div.

I've seen there are a lot of opinions here regarding this issue, however, what I haven't seen is anything from anyone who has actually served in the military of our country.

The individuals whom you are referring to and, in many cases, whom you are criticizing and bashing, have come forward of THEIR OWN ACCORD, and have volunteered to lay their very lives on the line to defend our great country. And that, to me, is worthy of not simply respect, but also our gratitude.

And yes, I AM A VETERAN...Sergeant First Class M.R. Perez, First Special Forces Regiment, 5th Special forces Group, SFOD-C - Attached to and Served South Vietnam Observational Battalion, and served proudly from 1973 to 1975. And if you think that my A-Team was simply 'observing' or was in-the-rear-with-the-gear, you are very wrong.

One of the men I served with was a gay black man, and so confided in my while we were still in AIT. He was concerned our brothers-in-arms would find out, and he would no longer be welcome, or be subjected to some type of hazing to get him to quit our unit, but he was wrong. He was a soldier, and he had earned his right to be there, as had the rest of us. Sadly, he gave his life protecting his brothers during our last tour of duty. But I and the rest of our unit was proud...more than proud...HONORED...TRULY HONORED, to have had a chance to not simply know, but to have served our country with this man.

You homophobes with all your righteous indignations who quote the Bible to make your discriminatory opinion SEEM to have some weight, haven't truly found God, nor Jesus, nor any other deity worthy of worship, faith or devotion. You have OPINIONS...MISGUIDED OPINIONS...and PREJUDICE...That's all you have. If you can't understand it, or it offends what YOU feel is wrong, then it's wrong, and should be wiped out.

And when it comes to the Bible, lets not forget that the Bible was NOT WRITTEN BY GOD: it was written by MEN! Men who had OPINIONS, and PREJUDICES, and who were, at best, misogynistic. And if you disagree with that assessment, then you need to reread the beginning of Genesis in it's original translation, which I have had the privilege of actually seeing and reading. Specifically, the reference to Eve and Adam and the Fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It states that "..and Eve gave of the fruit to her husband Adam, WHO WAS THERE WITH HER, and he did eat". Well, Adam knew the rules just the same as Eve did, and since he was there with her, why didn't he say something? "Hey, Eve, you know we're not suppose to eat this". But no, he said Nothing, until God showed up. Then he threw Eve under the bus. "The women whom you unto me to be with me gave me the fruit, and I did eat". Sounds like two siblings who just got caught doing something wrong, and one looks and dad and says, "...He made me do it"!

The men who wrote the Bible had OPINIONS and PREJUDICES, and they wrote what they wanted us to believe what was the 'Word of God'. "if a man lay with another man as so with a women, it is an abomination to God, and the two shall be put to death by stoning". So, how many of you Bible literalists have stone to death a homosexual or transgender person? If you truly believe that what you read is the indisputable word of God, then you need to follow through...have the COURAGE or your convictions. But then, it's easier to die for your principles than it is to live by them, isn't it?

These HUMAN BEINGS that you take issue with do have the Courage of their Convictions. They, again, have CHOSEN to serve our country...to lay their lives down if need be...and they do it because of a sense of honor...a higher calling, which some of you 'claim' to have. Yet, again, all you have is misguided OPINIONS and PREJUDICES.

Someone else, in an earlier post said what you all...what we all...need to keep in mind...Judge Not, Lest You be Judged in a Like Manner!

Priestess Christina Maher.

We are all equal under Goddess/God's eyes. There is no male, female, transgender, ONLY HUMAN! Better yet in relation to our military, that is the right to server our country regardless of sexual orientation. They still are human beings and AMERICANS. I come from a military family. My brother is gay, he served our country for 26 years until MS made him retire. MS that was given to him by the military due to a vaccine that was tainted. He served in the Navy, the Air Force and retired from the U.S Coast Guard. I performed the his marriage to his partner. I have never been so proud to be apart of his life and to join them in matrimony. Virginia didn't allow me to legally marry them. So I told him to go the Justice of the Peace do their generic vows for them, so they were legal and I would do the real marriage in the presents of his extended family and friends.

You see Virginia depending on who you see at the court house will either accept ULC ministers if they feel like it. So it is hit an miss on who you get at the counter. I got tiered of their crap and went around them to get the same end result. People to have the minister that they want, the ceremony they want in the faith that they want.

I am Pagan, a Priestess of Avalon, I was raised Catholic, Christianity never really spoke to me, but it was all I knew. But not all that I felt. My felt like I was part of the earth, creation. I went through the motions like my mother and grandmother wanted. I never hated Christianity I just didn't feel close to it. I raised my children up until their pree-teen years and through my oldest daughter I found the Goddess. Some of you here do not agree I'm sure but here we are all Universalist. Because our belief in all humans as equal HUMANS under Gods/Goddess non God's eyes. If we as ministers only choose everyone as HUMANS, there is no differences to discriminate against or for. All my life I have been judged by the color of my skin and my gender. I've had to fight for everything in my life. If I gave in to women can only be house wives, or never be able to manage a company, without sleeping with the head boss to get it. I could not live with myself. If I did I would have lost myself. But my faith and self respect kept that from happening.

You see hate, prejudice, shunning those who are different from us is a gift from the God/Goddess and a challenge of our own acceptance of who we truly are. Who are WE the PEOPLE? That is the easiest answer we should give. The answer is (Human)!

Stephen

It was a disgrace to God man with man or woman with woman then. yesterday today and forever my word will never change so now because it's 2017?because some people say it's ok it's just old time stuff that's old Religion it doesn't apply today if his word never changes why is it ok it's not ok Way to go President Trump stand by Gods word

Reverend Daniel

This is not a religious matter. If a body and mind is fit and trained for military duty then so be it. I applaud all those unselfish enough to want to be in harm's way to protect this country.

Bob Vela

A number of the so called transgender folks have joined the military to receive free treatment and conversion surgeries. How many psychologists could we hire to assist the victims of PTSD could we hire for Eight Million Dollars? Troops returning from multiple deployments are in more need of psy services than having to provide for transgenders .

Sylke

I Believe if you have a question on who God made you, then there's no question you'll QUESTION DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE for the safety of missions, yourself, and the others with you in service. There are 2 ways God can make you male or female and He does not make errors!

Father Joseph Hudson

Did our Father not teach us that we are not to judge? Many times we allow our personal beliefs, opinions, and feelings guide us instead of allowing God to guide us. This puts us in a position to weigh judgement when we should stop shouting, listen to what our Savior tells us, live as he did, and let others feel the wrath of our Father's judgement. It seems to me that when the question of allowing them to serve arises there is but one question to ask to receive the correct answer. Do they fit the guidelines of age and fitness serve? We let resident aliens gain citizenship through service in our military, as we should also allows Americans to serve. Many people plan retirement from the military, will YOU go to their door and tell them they don't deserve it and their families in some cases don't deserve the benefits? Will you cast the first stone?

Evelio Matos

http://www.businessinsider.com/kristin-beck-trump-transgender-ban-2017-7

Joseph

It is shameful for this President to ban transgendered people from military service. The stats he cited were ridiculous and he clearly lied about saying he would support LGBTQ people.

Minister Walls

It takes everyone to defend against enemies and threats to our nation.

Sam

Jim, When that day comes, all the bigots will be in hell. But I feel they are in their own hell right now which is why they spiel so much hate. In the meantime, still love them as our neighbors, but understand that they are the ones that have a sickness.

rabbi jim

One day, we will enjoy a society of genderless people. Genders will be a silly thing of the past that we will laugh about as we socialize as one unified people. The same will be of religions - one religion for all to enjoy. Then there will be no need for bigotry comment venues like this. Live long and prosper. Sholom, and have a blessed and fruitful day!

Sam

First of all, having an education does not make you intelligent. But I totally agree with Katelyne. You can nick pick all you want, but as long as you are on the side of Trump and his extreme agendas that is hurting America, your on the wrong side of history. You are the 1 in 3 people or 32% that support his crazy ways and that makes you no better. You all have your heads in the sand rather then do any honest research and form an intellectual opinion that's based on love and empathy. Go back to watching Fox News and your beer. God bless you all and your children. If the ran away, I get it.

John Owens

I don't know the exact percentage of trans people in our country, but subjects concerning them seem to occupy an INORDINATE amount of our attention. I mean, there are homeless, paraplegic, quadriplegic, blind, deaf, all manner of people who NEED our attention, but we give so much to the trans, it's amazing.

We have to ask ourselves, do we want our military to try to appease a tiny fragment of our population, or to slaughter our bloodthirsty and merciless enemies? If it is the latter, then let the MILITARY determine whom they want and whom they will train. It is NOT a democracy and cannot be.

All of us know that the military can function just fine without trans people, and there will never be enough trans people to make a noticeable contribution to the military, so the whole purpose of this flap over them is just social engineering. It just creates havoc. Is that what we want in our military.

Try applying at the fire department or police department instead.

Katelynne Victoria Shouse

Herr Twitter only did this to appease all you ass backwards evangelical bigots and the absolute proof that you've absolutely no idea of which you speak is this "Sexual preferences are not some blah blah blah"..... Ignorant ass, being transgender has absolutely nothing to do with sexuality or sexual preference. If you knew ANYTHING WHATSOEVER you'd know that one very important thing!!

Clayton Beardmore

Hurrah for President Trump's decision. Hopefully we have turned the corner from fads (like the gay and transgender movement) (which seem to grasp impressionable people) and Political Correctness, Take it from a 28 year veteran of the U.S. Army - we DO NOT need (or want) transgender military members.

eric k

just as qualified as anyone else to protect the country, regardless of what may – or may not – be between their legs.

'

sasmith004

You are either a boy or a girl. There is no such thing as transgender. I blame the parents for allowing these belifes to go on. It is not an a " OH I AM SORRY IF I HURT YOUR PERSONAL FEELINGS" military. They dont baby the recutes. They have to be hard core to survive a war. Get off my rights have been wronged.

Rick Smith

My calling is to spread God's Love to ALL. Not to pass judgement on anyone. Remember..... Judge not lest you be judged by the same accord. Love someone today whom you don't feel like loving, it can change both your lives.