Posted on 08/01/2017 10:39:42 AM PDT by jazusamo
Coast Guard officials reached out personally to their transgender service members to express support after President Trump’s announcement of a new policy barring transgender people in the military, according to Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft.
“The first thing we did is we reached out to all 13 members of the Coast Guard who have come out” as transgender, Zukunft told attendees at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in Washington.
Zukunft said he contacted Lt. Taylor Miller, the Coast Guard’s first openly transitioning officer who was featured in a Washington Post article last week.
“If you read that story, Taylor’s family has disowned her. ... And I told Taylor, I will not turn my back. We have made an investment in you and you have made an investment in the Coast Guard and I will not break faith,” Zukunft said.
“And so that was the commitment to our people right now. Very small numbers, but all of them are doing meaningful Coast Guard work today.”
The Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security but is a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and would fall under the transgender ban.
Zukunft added that he then reached out to now former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly — who became White House chief of staff on Monday — who in turned reached out to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
“We’ve stood up a tiger team of our [Judge Advocate General’s Corps] officers,” Zukunft said, referring to the legal branch of the Coast Guard.
Trump last week declared on Twitter that the military would “not accept or allow” transgender people to serve “in any capacity.” The president said in the tweet that he had made the decision after consultation with “my Generals and military experts.”
But the announcement blindsided Mattis , Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford and service leaders.
Dunford has since said the current transgender policy will remain unchanged until the White House sends an official directive to the Pentagon. Such a directive has yet to be sent.
The Pentagon moved last year to lift the ban on transgender individuals serving in the military.
Following that June 2016 announcement, Zukunft released a statement supporting the decision along with then-Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
“The U.S. Coast Guard has been involved in the Department of Defense's extensive review of this issue, and will align its policies with the other military services,” they wrote. “All qualified people who wish to serve in our Nation's military should have the opportunity to do so. Today's announcement is another important step in that direction.”
THIRTEEN mentally-ill individuals out of 36,235 Active duty Coast Guard personnel...and this assclown CALLS them to express "support"? Did he call the tens of thousands of other people who were REJECTED for the Guard due to other mental illnesses, flat feet, low vision, or other ailments?
Trump....FIRE this chump!
Yep, he’s a perfumed prince.
It’s not their call.
LOL. Sounds like they would prefer to “break faith” with the U.S. Treasury. This decision isn’t up to the Coast Guard. If the Coast Guard wants male “members” who like to dress up like women, they can pay them with their own money.
Its pretty clear what the new policy is. Trump said Transexuals will not serve in the military in any capacity.
Waiting until orders are issued gives no license to an Admiral to run out and oppose that VERY clear policy until the order hits.
MacArthur was fired for opposing the president and going public to repeatedly state that his policy was wrong.
This needs to be dealt with immediately. He should be summoned to the white house, and leave 10 minutes later without his job.
If they go to sea on the larger cutters are there padded brigs?
Court Martial. Siri does not like me on my iPhone and messes with my posts. Sorry about that.
“Zukunft” means “the future” in German. Hmm...
Why can’t you get it through your head? Trump himself said the written policy would follow for the DoD to implement. He just wanted everyone to know it was coming.
These idiots like this Coast Guard dingbat I’m sure will be dealt with accordingly. It is just not up to us, the unwashed masses, to know right away what his, and other in his same stupid boat, disposition will be. He is an insignificant teet on a boar hog, no pun intended!
Damn right. The fire people in a second, why not these loudmouth traitors?
“A number reported recently by advocates claims 15,500 in all branches.”
250 is more like it. Trannies overestimate their numbers, just like Muslims and faggies do.
Fake Coast Guard.
The President said he consulted with his generals and military experts. His words, not mine.
What will we ever do without them? /s
They should be used to the butt-hurt by now.
“Whadaya’ mean we can’t hot-bunk with the trannies any more?”
/s
The operative word here is "qualified"
38,000 active service members and 13 are transgenders. What heros. Perhaps we should make them all admirals. The one that is most advanced in transition or most convincing of being the opposite sex of their birth should be Commander.
Have i just gone through the looking glass? What in the name of Sam Hill is going on here. Has everyone gone mad?!
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