Senator and Iraq War vet slams Trump’s transgender military ban

Donald Trump is preparing to brief the Pentagon on his transgender military ban. However, Senator and veteran Tammy Duckworth has something to say about that.

Currently, Duckworth serves as the junior US Senator in Illinois. Prior to her assuming office this year, she served in the United States Army from 1992 to 2014. She rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, earning various awards and medals, including the Purple Heart.

In 2004, while deployed during the Iraq War, she lost both legs when her helicopter was shot down.

On Thursday, Duckworth tweeted out a response to the ban: ‘When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk, I didn’t care if the troops saving me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white or brown.’

When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk, I didn’t care if the troops saving me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white or brown pic.twitter.com/FTzjHpZuuH

— Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) August 24, 2017

‘All that mattered was they didn’t leave me behind,’ the statement continues. ‘If you are willing to risk your life for our country and you can do the job, you should be able to serve — no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation. Anything else is not just discriminatory, it is disruptive to our military and it is counterproductive to our national security.’

She ends her statement calling on members of Congress who oppose the ban to enact legislation to block it.

Trump first announced his proposed ban at the end of July. It will cost the US $1 billion to ban transgender personnel and many people have spoken about both for and against it.

Read more from Source: Senator and Iraq War vet slams Trump’s transgender military ban

Share

About Gay Today

Editor of Gay Today