“Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has issued guidance to military commanders stressing that there will be no change in military policy toward transgender service members until Defense Secretary Jim Mattis receives further direction from the White House,” Luis Martinez reports for ABC News. “President Trump announced via Twitter on Wednesday what appeared to be a reinstatement of the military’s ban on transgender service members.”
Martinez reports, “A ban on transgender military service members was lifted by then–Defense Secretary Ash Carter last summer.”
“Vice Adm. Robert Burke, the Navy’s top personnel officer, issued guidance to his commanders Wednesday that no personnel actions should be taken until further guidance is received by the White House and that no ongoing medical treatments for transgender sailors should be ceased, writing, ‘Currently serving TG [transgender] service members will continue to receive all necessary medical care,'” Martinez reports. “About 160 sailors and fewer than five Marines are undergoing some form of transgender transition through the Navy’s medical services, according to a Defense Department official. About 80 Army personnel are in similar transitions. The Air Force does not provide details about how many of its members may be in transition.”
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
….victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
Full article here.
On Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to Twitter to oppose the Presdient’s policy reinstatement:
We are indebted to all who serve. Discrimination against anyone holds everyone back. #LetThemServe
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 26, 2017
MacDailyNews Note: Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey also took to Twitter yesterday to voice their opposition to the reinstatement of the military’s ban on transgender service members:
I am grateful to the transgender members of the military for their service. # LetThemServe.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) July 26, 2017
Discrimination in any form is wrong for all of us #LetThemServe https://t.co/3cxL0fNdbv
— jack (@jack) July 26, 2017
SEE ALSO:
Apple among 53 corporations to support transgender student’s U.S. Supreme Court case over bathrooms – March 2, 2017
Apple, other tech firms to support 17-year-old transgender student’s bathroom choice case – February 25, 2017
Why Apple won’t be hurt by denouncing President Trump’s decision to rescind federal transgender bathroom guidelines – February 23, 2017
Apple condemns President Trump’s decision to rescind federal transgender bathroom guidelines – February 23, 2017
Tim Cook’s Apple: More socially responsible, less visionary – August 24, 2016
Apple’s politics may be hurting its brand – June 29, 2016
Apple objects to North Carolina law company says discriminates against LGBTs – March 28, 2016
Apple backs U.S. bill banning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender discrimination – July 23, 2015
