Donald Trump tweets out ban on transgender people serving in the US military.

US President Donald Trump has banned transgender people from serving in the military, according to his Twitter announcement on Wednesday.

Trump tweeted that he consulted his “generals and military experts” before deciding that the government will not “accept or allow” transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military.

Why?

Because, according to Trump, transgender people and the “tremendous medical costs and disruption” they “entail” apparently will distract from the military’s focus on “decisive and overwhelming victory.”

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

The reaction to the ban has been swift.

Former US Vice President Joe Biden argued that any patriotic individual should be permitted to serve their country.

Every patriotic American who is qualified to serve in our military should be able to serve. Full stop.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 26, 2017

Army whistle blower Chelsea Manning also spoke out. Detained in 2011 and found guilty in 2013 of leaking classified US military documents, she was pardoned by outgoing President Obama. During her incarceration, Manning sued the military because it didn’t provide her with medical treatment for her gender dysphoria under health cover.

Today Manning called President Trump’s decision “cowardly.”

so, biggest baddest most $$ military on earth cries about a few trans people ???? but funds the F-35? ???? sounds like cowardice ???????????? #WeGotThis

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) July 26, 2017

In 1948, the US Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, permitting women permanent status in the military.

In 2011, President Obama repealed President Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which banned openly gay, lesbian or bisexual persons from military service.

Now in 2017, transgender people are no longer permitted to serve their country. Surely, this is a step backward?

Tell Me It’s Going to Be OK tackles the latest news from Washington. Post continues below.

It echos the President’s February decision to rescind protections for transgender students that had allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.

Simply put, both decisions are harmful, ignorant and enable institutionalised discrimination and transphobia.