The real reason Trump banned trans people from the military

Transgender airman: ‘I would like to see them try to kick me out of my military’

After his commander-in-chief’s tweeted declaration, Logan Ireland, a trans member of the military, said, “I’d like to see them try to kick me out of my military.”

In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump dictated a new policy for the US military: transgender people will not be allowed to serve. Reaction was swift, emphatic and hotly divided. Many citizens, celebrities and service members were dismayed and expressed support for trans troops. But on the far right, especially at outlets like Breitbart, the ban was enthusiastically applauded. While the ban seemed arbitrary and capricious, the divisive reaction to it may have been precisely the point. Continue reading

How bathroom bills create a purposeless wedge issue

trans-sign

You may have seen this gender-neutral bathroom sign somewhere and felt an overwhelming sense of inclusion.

With the nation having pretty much wrapped up its discussion of gay marriage, conservatives are scrambling to find another wedge issue for future elections. North Carolina’s controversial House Bill 2 highlights just how desperate they are to find such an issue.

HB2, otherwise known as the “bathroom bill,” requires individuals in public places to use the restroom that matches the sex they were assigned at birth. It is widely seen as deliberately targeting transgender Americans. Because of this, the bill has attracted scathing criticism, including high-profile boycotts of the state by entertainers like Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr. Continue reading