Transgender Soldier Speaks Out Against Trump Ban, 'I Will Always Be A U.S. Marine'

“You can be damned sure I will continue to fight for what is right.”

Yesterday, Donald Trump took to–where else–Twitter to announce his plans to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military. Naturally, this bigoted and seemingly baseless decision prompted a massive nationwide outcry because it’s just another ban on a targeted group of individuals, and it’s as dangerous as it is cruel.

Social media has been abuzz with stories from transgender soldiers who have risked their lives for our freedom. Emma Shinn, a transgender marine and veteran, shared her thoughts about the ban on Facebook.

“I am a US Marine and will always be a Marine,” she began.

“I am also a transgender woman.

“I served my country for 20 years, on every continent of our globe except Antarctica. As an infantry platoon sergeant, I led Marines in direct combat on the streets of Fallujah during OP PHANTOM FURY. As an officer and judge advocate, I fought in courtrooms to defend our service members’ rights under the US Constitution.

“You can be damned sure I will continue to fight for what is right.”

It is inconceivable that the human rights of someone who has sacrificed and fought long and hard for her country are now completely disregarded by our current president.

In her post, Shinn compares the actions of Trump versus those of President Truman, who signed an executive order in 1948 to commit the government to desegregating the military. In 2017, we have a president who issues executive orders that make it legal to discriminate against Muslims who wish to enter the U.S. In 2017, we have a president who announces a military transgender ban from his personal Twitter account.

“My fight is against oppressors of any cloth,” Shinn writes.

“My fight is against those who seek to use minorities as pawns in a political game. My fight is against those who would deny quality health care to all. My fight is against those who see corporations as more valuable than people. My fight is against anyone who would deny any of my brothers & sisters-in-arms our existence, our value, and our courage.

“I ask you: when is this Administration’s actions enough for you to take action of your own? Volunteer. Call your elected representatives. Protest. Run for office. Do good in this world.”

Republicans claim the basis for the transgender ban is a fiscal one, but that argument just doesn’t add up. A study commissioned by the Pentagon showed potential hormone treatments and surgeries would only raise U.S. military healthcare costs by 0.13%.

Republicans say they don’t want gender reassignment surgery costs to be government-funded for enlisted soldiers and veterans. Which is interesting, since they don’t seem to be up in arms about the financial burden on taxpayers when it comes to weekly golf trips to Mar-A-Lago that cost four times as much as taking care of transgender soldiers, or Melania and Baron residing in New York which reportedly costs the New York Police Department between $127,000 and $146,000 per day.

Comparatively, a study completed by the New England Journal of Medicine concluded transition-related healthcare expenses costs the military $5.6 million per year. Another interesting fact: the military currently spends nearly 10 times more on covering erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra, when compared to transition-related health care for transgender members.

Republicans can lay the blame on money all they want; it’s clear the reason for the proposed transgender ban is primarily discriminatory. Luckily, there are admirable people like Shinn who are ready and willing to keep fighting against the nonsensical and alarming policies of the Trump administration by calling on us to fight for change.

“Speak alongside me, for I will not be silenced and together our chorus of voices shall drown out the ignorant, the hateful, and the vile. Be the change you want to see in the world.”