By: Gabriel E. Miller

On Tuesday the U.S. Supreme Court in a five to four decision ruled in favor of President Trump’s transgender military ban. For any sort of new policy change to go in effect the federal injunction case in Maryland must be resolved.

According to CNN, LGBT activists call this ban “cruel and irrational”.

Former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris, now Kristin, Beck called the decision “bullsh*t” tweeting that the Supreme Court was wrong. Beck also explained that she was pretty lethal. While that was never any question, Beck doesn’t mention that her transition happened after she retired from the military. Meaning that she was touting her prowess from when she was still a man.

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Patricia King spoke with NPR about her thoughts on the decision of the Supreme Court, as she transitioned from male to female in 2014. She said, “This decision and this policy give a false sense of credibility to the inaccurate notion that transgender people are somehow less or less capable than our peers.”

Retired U.S. Air Force Major General Charles Dunlap wrote and posted an article on Duke University explaining the objective reasoning behind why it isn’t a good idea to integrate transgender troops, his main concern being possible readiness concerns. He wrote:


“Transgender people are not medically similarly-situated.  For an armed force that needs its members to deploy on short notice anywhere in the world (the U.S. has 800 bases abroad, including places where medical support may be at best rudimentary) that’s a real concern.  No one debates that transgender people as a group have unique medical needs, and while experts may differ on the scope, cost, and implications of those needs, I think it is unlikely the courts (and especially the Supreme Court) will second guess judgments about medical fitness made by military authorities, to include the President as Commander-in-Chief.”

https://sites.duke.edu/lawfire/2017/08/04/does-the-constitution-really-require-the-military-to-induct-everyone-who-wants-to-join/

According to Mr. Dunlap 71% of all Americans in the 17-24 age group (34 million Americans), are not fit to serve. This ranges from multiple tests on the applicant’s mental, physical, educational, and mental health. This percentage does not even include cosmetic or tattoo issues.

This also brings another serious question into light, mental health. In a study conducted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Williams institute, 41% of people who identify as transgender have tried to kill themselves. Non-transgender individuals, the general population, shows that that only 4.6% tried to commit suicide.

Mental health is extremely important, especially when put in a military environment. This isn’t just about the safety of the individual in question, but also the individuals around them with whom they fight with, to the death if need be. The role of the military is to destroy the enemy, not to create a social experiment where someone or others may get hurt, unit cohesiveness is essential.

According to the official study by the Department of Defense, titled “MILITARY SERVICE BY TRANSGENDER PERSONS” conducted in February of 2018:

” Transgender persons with gender dysphoria suffer from high rates of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders.60 High rates of suicide ideation, attempts, and completion among people who are transgender are also well documented in the medical literature, with lifetime rates of suicide attempts reported to be as high as 41 % (compared to 4.6% for the general population).61 According to a 20 I 5 survey, the rate skyrockets to 57% for transgender individuals without a supportive family . The Department is concerned that the stresses of military life, including basic training, frequent moves, deployment to war zones and austere environments, and the relentless physical demands, will be additional contributors to suicide behavior in people with gender dysphoria. In fact, there is recent evidence that military service can be a contributor to suicidal thoughts.

Preliminary data of Service members with gender dysphoria reflect similar trends. A review of the administrative data indicates that Service members with gender dysphoria are eight times more likely to attempt suicide than Service members as a whole (12% versus 1.5%).”

https://partner-mco-archive.s3.amazonaws.com/client_files/1521898539.pdf

It is important to note that transgenders themselves are not being excluded, as per the document, but those who identify with having the mental disorder, gender dysphoria.

The study also reports the estimated time for recovery from a transitioning procedure may take up to one year. This also includes hormonal treatment therapy.

On March 2018 review, the enlistment policy requires transgenders to serve in their biological sex and mustn’t transition.

According to the Military Times, transgender service members may continue to serve if they relied on the Obama administration’s rules on beginning the process of changing their gender.
They also note that 900 men and women have done so.