Multiple former top military physicians are sharing in a study that President Donald Trump banning transgender individuals from serving hurt the military.
The controversial ban on individuals with gender dysphoria went into effect in April of 2019 and was blasted by the nonpartisan Palm Center, “The policy is insidious in operation but designed to be as comprehensive a ban as possible.” The policy allowed troops who are transgender and serving prior to its implementation to continue to serve.
“In that sense, it is a perfect parallel to the failed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, also sold as not being a ban although designed to systemically push gay people out of military service — or at least keep them silent and invisible,” the Palm Center added at the time.
Now, three former military surgeons general are saying that the ban “has harmed military readiness,” they reveal in a Palm Center study.
The study says that the “ban inflicts concrete harms on the military in numerous areas of readiness.” It adds that “the overall impact of the ban has been to harm readiness by compromising recruitment, reputation, retention, unit cohesion, morale, medical care, and good order and discipline.”
Former U.S. Coast Guard Director of Health and Safety Alan Steinman said, “The transgender ban has harmed military readiness across the board. That’s what happens when the military needlessly discriminates against people who are qualified to serve,” according to The Washington Post.
The study reads, “The ban harms retention, including in ways not captured in discharge figures, by stigmatizing and uniquely burdening transgender personnel. An estimated 14,700 transgender troops are currently serving in uniform, notwithstanding reinstatement of the transgender ban in April 2019, but the ban makes them less likely to continue or extend their service.”
It also says the ban harmed morale, “Numerous survey respondents and interviewees noted the feeling of being singled out, targeted for unfair treatment, stigmatized and devalued, and of having their careers and futures thrown into uncertainty as a result of the ban.”
Additionally, the ban harms cohesion, the study says. It cites an anonymous Navy aviation electronics technician, who has flown in multiple combat missions, said, “The ban has kind of emboldened everybody to be transphobic again. There’s no protections.”
She added, “Before the ban, the Navy’s stance was that transgender people are real people and they have a status and we’re going to help them transition to what they need to be so they can continue to serve. So there was pressure for the leadership to push down [from the top] acceptance of trans people. But now that the ban has been reinstated, there’s no longer anyone trying to accept us anymore.”
