Secretary Of Defense Pauses Gender-Affirming Care

Secretary of Defense Pete Hesgeth pauses all gender-affirming care (scheduled or unscheduled) for current trans service members and pauses all enlistment from trans people. Hesgeth issued a memo addressed to senior pentagon leadership, and military leadership stating that they need to, “abide by strict mental and physical standards” and act in accordance with one of many of Trump’s transphobic executive orders. The order states that, “adoption of a gender identity inconsistent with an individual’s sex conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life.” It also claims that, “expressing a false “gender identity” divergent from an individual’s sex cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service.”

The executive order putting the words ‘gender identity’ in quotes as if it is something made up is extremely foolish and frustrating. Every single person, regardless of how they were born, raised, or identify has a gender identity. Even bigots like Trump and Pete Hesgeth are performing their chosen gender identity. Gender affirming care is also not only bound by surgucal procedures, it can be things as simple as shaving one’s face or getting a haircut. Of course the Secretary of Defense isn’t putting a pause on razor distribution, because that would mean that cis people could not affirm their genders.

The memo ends by Hesgeth claiming that, “Individuals with gender dysphoria have volunteered to serve our country and will be treated with dignity and respect.” One may begin to recognize a pattern within these statements that admit they will be complying with one of Trump’s executive orders that are actively attacking and seeking to further disenfranchise a community and then close with saying something about how they still “respect” the community they’re aiding in the attacking of. Target mentioned this in their DEI statement and the president of the NCAA did the same thing, just to name a couple.