Local transgender veterans react to temporary military ban
Veterans expressing a range of reactions after learning the transgender military ban is now in place.
Some saying they’re angry and disappointed, but others not surprised.
Angel Cruz and Peter Ottersbach are both veterans with the Diversity Center Rainbow Veteran group who say they went through their military time having to hide who the really were.
“I couldn’t serve openly, but I enjoyed military life, the comorodery the friends, the attitude that the military taught me, integrity. If allowed to serve openly back then, I probably would still be in the military today,” says Cruz.
But both say while having to pretend they were someone they were not, it did not impact their ability to serve. Ottersbach says, “not at all, I came out of there 3 and a half years as a sergeant and they gave me a medal of commendation so it had no effect, it was positive whatever I did on my service time.”
With Tuesday’s 5-4 vote in the Supreme Court to put a temporary transgender ban in effect, Ottersbach and Cruz feel like it’s a step backwards.
The Supreme Justices decided to let the ban take effect while it is being challenged in some lower courts.
“I think it’s going to lead to an underground don’t ask don’t tell network again because I feel transphobic personalities will be empowered to create incidents,” Cruz said.
An official release detailing the ban says it blocks individuals who have been diagnosed with gender dysmorphia from serving with limited exceptions. People without the condition can serve, but only if they do so according to the gender given to them at birth.
In a 2017 tweet President Trump said the ban would become policy because the military had to stay focused on victory and not the cost or burden of medical treatment that trans individuals would bring.
A Pentagon spokesperson wanted to clarify that it is not all trans individuals, there are exceptions. Also that, “proposed policy is based on professional military judgment and will ensure that the U.S. Armed forces remain the most lethal and combat effective fighting force in the World.”
Another Veteran with the Diversity Center Santa Cruz County says this is not about effectivness, only to push the Administrations agenda, “”when you’re in combat you don’t ask someone next to you are you gay? are you straight ?are you muslim? are you presbyterian? you basically depend on them for you life and being trans is totally immaterial as far as who you are. You just have to be able to perform and do your job. And if you do your job I don’t see any reason why you can’t be in the military,” says Christopher Dimaio.
This ban could be repealled depending on what is found in the lower courts.
