McCain Backs Bill to Block Trump Transgender Troops Ban; Joint Chiefs Oppose Ban

Joseph Dunford Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff

As noted in previous pots, the only area in which Der Trumpenführer is keeping his campaign promises is in the realm of his promises to Christofascists to roll back LGBT rights and non-discrimination protections.  His effort to ban transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. Military is merely one part of an aggressive agenda that includes appointing anti-gay Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, reversing Obama era policies and promoting the myth of Christian persecution. Thankfully, Trump is running into perhaps unexpected opposition to his transgender ban.  As the title to this post notes, a bi-partisan bill is in Congress that would thwart Trump's effort.  Moreover, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is in opposition to the outright ban.  First these highlights from The Hill:

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is backing a bipartisan bill that would block President Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.

“When less than one percent of Americans are volunteering to join the military, we should welcome all those who are willing and able to serve our country,” McCain said in a statement.

“Any member of the military who meets the medical and readiness standards should be allowed to serve — including those who are transgender," he said.

This is the latest show of resistance by McCain, who has frequently been a thorn in Trump's side. Most dramatically, McCain cast the deciding vote in July to kill the Senate's attempt at repealing Obamacare. As a Russia hawk, he's also blasted Trump's attempted rapprochement with Moscow, and as Armed Service chairman, has frequently criticized Trump for requesting lower-than-expected defense spending and taking months to develop an Afghanistan strategy.

Friday's bill would prohibit the Pentagon from involuntarily separating or denying the re-enlistment of currently serving transgender troops solely on the basis of gender identity.  It would also require Defense Secretary James Mattis to complete the study of accession — recruitment and training — of transgender recruits that he started before Trump announced the ban.

Finally, the bill would express the sense of Congress that individuals who are qualified and can meet the standards to serve in the military should be eligible to serve.

As for the Joint Chiefs, here are highlights from Politico:

The nation's top military officer on Tuesday told Congress that transgender troops who meet existing standards should not be kicked out of the military, underscoring the Pentagon leadership's reluctance to carry out President Donald Trump's earlier call to ban them from serving "in any capacity."

“I believe any individual who meets the physical and mental standards and is worldwide-deployable and currently serving should be afforded the opportunity to continue to serve," Marine Gen. Joe Dunford told the Senate Armed Services Committee during a hearing on his reappointment as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Dunford’s advice meshes with “interim guidance” that Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued earlier this month for the military to follow while a study on transgender service members is underway.

Dunford’s testimony covered a wide range of front-burner issues, ranging from personnel and combat readiness to the current situations in Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

Trump's effort to harm LGBT Americans needs to be resisted.  This ban does nothing but pander to Christofascist extremists.