Lady Gaga has reacted staunchly to Donald Trump banning transgender people from military service, accusing the US President of “endangering lives”.
Trump made the widely-condemned announcement yesterday (July 26) in a series of tweets. “After consultation with my generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US military,” he wrote.
“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”
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
Writing on Twitter, Gaga – a longtime advocate for LGTBQ rights – pointed out that Trump’s decision could have an adverse affect on the mental health of young trans people, an already highly vulnerable section of society. “Sincerely, did you know of the group you singled out today, 45% of them ages (18 to 24) have attempted suicide already?” she wrote.
“Within the Trans Community are many also who are strong & brave,” she added. “They should be able to serve if they wish. To have honor if they do @POTUS.”
The message you have just sent has endangered the lives of people all over the United States and overseas bravely serving our nation @POTUS
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2017
Many of these young people are transgender & suffer daily from the exact types of social isolation & targeting ur message encourages @POTUS
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2017
. @POTUS Sincerely, did you know of the group you singled out today, 45% of them ages (18 to 24) have attempted suicide already?
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2017
Within the Trans Community are many also who are strong & brave. They should be able to serve if they wish. To have honor if they do @POTUS
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2017
As the New York Times has reported, Trump’s decision reverses President Obama’s transformation of the military, in which transgender people were allowed to serve openly. Obama’s defence secretary Ashton B. Carter also opened up all combat roles to women and made the appointment of the first openly gay army secretary.
Unsurprisingly, many other figures from the entertainment world have also reacted with shock and anger to the ban, with Seth Rogen, Tegan and Sara, George Takei, Lena Dunham, and more all voicing their disapproval.