Donald Trump’s transgender military ban: What forced US President’s controversial decision?
President Donald Trump’s tweets on Wednesday forbidding transgender people from serving in the U.S. military sent a shock to America’s LGBTQ community.
As Americans reacted with concern and disappointment, leaders from countries around the world used the moment to share a message of their own to LGBTQ communities that bravely serve in their country’s armed forces.
Donald Trump said the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said specifics aren’t yet worked out, including when the ban will begin and whether it will affect current active-duty transgender service members.
Donald Trump’s ban would remove the U.S. from the 19 nations that allow LGBTQ individuals to serve in the military, according to Newsweek. There are 175 countries that bar LGBTQ people from serving.
Here are some of the world’s responses.
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