Maine Republican Susan Collins joined 44 other senators Friday in a letter opposing President Donald Trump’s policy proposal to bar transgender Americans from serving in the military.
“Forcing these brave Americans out of our military would be cruel and discriminatory” while hurting the armed forces’ readiness, the letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis said.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., put together the letter and rounded up signatures from nearly half her Senate colleagues after Trump issued a statement Wednesday that transgender people can no longer serve in uniform.
Though Trump has yet to issue a formal order as commander-in-chief, the president’s comments set off a firestorm of protest and created confusion within the ranks. So far, the military is not enforcing it.
The military has said nothing will change until implementation guidelines are drafted.
Collins is the only Republican senator to sign the letter telling Mattis that 45 senators “strongly oppose this policy change and urge you to advise the president against it.”
State Rep. Jared Golden, D-Lewiston, a combat veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, also took a stand against Trump’s policy.
“As a Marine, my unit was united by our love for this country and our commitment to protect it,” he said.
“If you are the kind of person who believes in service and believes we should take the fight overseas to our enemies, then more power to you,” Golden said. “I believe those qualities give a person the right to serve in our military and we should thank them for their service.”
The senators’ letter said that Trump’s declaration “contradicts existing Defense Department policies, undermines our military readiness, and puts our transgender service members as well as their commanders in an impossible situation.”
“Transgender Americans who serve in our military put their lives on the line to protect America,” the senators said. “They make up a small percentage of the military population, but are reportedly twice as likely to serve in the military as other Americans.”
They said transgender members have served openly for more than a year “and in that time no service has reported any issues” involving them.
With a shrinking pool of recruiting possibilities, the senators said,
“It will harm morale in the military as service members see their brothers and sisters in arms – some of whom are currently forward deployed – thrown out simply because of their identity,” the senators said.
“And the uncertainty associated with making policy this way is already harming our military readiness and morale, as transgender service members and their superiors struggle to make sense of the policy and what it means for them today and tomorrow,” they said.
“Any American who wants to serve and meets the standards should be allowed to serve our country. Transgender service members are serving with honor and distinction today and we ask that you, as our Secretary of Defense, assure them that their service will not be ended simply because of who they are.”
Susan Collins, R-Maine speaks to members of the media as she arrives for luncheon with fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 11, 2017.
AP
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