A transgender member of the U.S. Air Force dared Donald Trump to remove him from the military on Wednesday after the president went on an early-morning tweetstorm saying that transgender individuals will no longer be allowed to serve in the military.
“I would like to see them try to kick me out of my military,” Staff Sgt. Logan Ireland said to the Air Force Times. “You are not going to deny me my right to serve my country when I am fully qualified and able and willing to give my life.”
Ireland added that Trump is doing the “country an injustice” by denying people the chance to fight for the United States.
“For the president to deny an able-bodied, fully qualified person the inherent right to raise their right hand and serve their country, potentially giving their own life for our freedoms, is doing this country an injustice,” he said.
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Ireland said that instead of hiding behind his social media accounts, Trump should actually take an opportunity to meet the thousands of transgender Americans currently serving the United States.
“I would personally love for my president to meet me so I can tell him about myself, and the 15,500 honorably serving transgender military members that are fighting right now for their liberties and their country,” he added.
The strong push back comes on the same day Trump tweeted out his offensive position on the issue, calling transgender members of the military a burden.
Tweets:
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
Any American who chooses to put their life on the line to protect this country deserves respect and admiration, especially from the President of the United States.
Once again, though, Donald Trump has shown that he is on the wrong side of history – but the thousands of brave transgender members of the U.S. military aren’t likely to go down without a fight.
Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.
