Posted on 06/17/2015 8:47:22 PM PDT by jimbo123
The leader of a leading organization representing gay, lesbian and transgender military service members says he's "cautiously optimistic" about comments made by Jeb Bush regarding transgender people serving in uniform.
Campaigning in Iowa on Wednesday, the former Florida governor was asked by a reporter whether he would support allowing transgender people to serve in the military.
"I’m sure there’s a role for everybody to play in the armed forces. I think it would depend on the specific role and whether it’s appropriate enough," he said. "The first priority for the military is to create an environment where the morale is high, where people are trained and we have the best fighting force. And if you can accommodate that in that kind of environment, I don’t think there’s a problem for it."
He added, however, that he had no specific knowledge of transgender people seeking to enter the military or attempts to block them from doing so.
Gay rights groups have focused on ensuring that transgender individuals can also serve ever since the military's "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gay men and lesbians serving in uniform was repealed in 2011.
An estimated 15,500 transgender people serve in the military, according to the Williams Institute, a legal think tank that studies sexual-orientation and gender-identity issues. The Pentagon has been grappling with how to allow them to continue serving without affecting the morale and cohesion of military units -- a key area of concern in the years leading up to the repeal of the gay ban.
OutServe-SLDN, a military gay rights group, remains one of the leading organizations pushing for changes. In response to Bush's comments, Matt Thorn, the groups' interim director, said that the issue "should and has been a non-partisan issue. While I welcome Governor Bush's statement on open transgender
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Who are they kidding?
Bush is just a Republican Tweedle-dum to the Democrat candidate Tweedle-dee.
I’m “cautiously optimistic” that ammo prices continue to be within my range.
Have you seen my tag line?
Proud member of the 300 club :)
but if i skip a meal or two this month, and i need to skip lots, lol, i’ll donate a little more.
Proud member as well.
And I always have a bit extra, as do you.
All the best to you!
OutServe-SLDN
what would it cost to get these people to go back into their closets????
Just what is the uniform of the day for “transgendered” forces?
Good God!
Oh terrific.
WTF? How do they figure that? Taking the assumed percentage in the general populace and applying it to the military is probably not accurate...
At least in my day, when the doc grabbed your crotch and said, “Turn left and cough,” he knew what he would find.
Now, not so much.
Jeb’s last name is Bush. He will be all things to all people....a great big tent!
Keep Basic Training tough. Don’t allow it to be “sissified” down to accommodate anyone. - Battle conditions are tough. - My Dad, a WWII combat veteran, told me that they had a few overt ones that washed out of basic. Foolishness & fancy pants weren’t tolerated. They were fighting for their lives, & to take the fight straight to Herr Hitler in Germany.
Bruce sure opened up QUITE the can of Subjective worms didn’t he!
Thank you!
Person who is on steroids doesn’t belong in the military, unless the person needs to feel like a woman.
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