Vicious attack on transgender military members

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

Less than two weeks after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis delayed for six months the military services allowing transgender persons to enlist, another effort that affects trans military members are in the works in Congress. Yesterday, July 12, notoriously anti-LGBT+ Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that is offensive.

According to the Associated Press, “Her measure bars money from being spent by the military's health care system on gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy.”

This isn’t a first for Rep. Hartzler. In committee hearings, she introduced an amendment to require the military to immediately release all known transgender members with an honorable discharge. For over a year, transgender people already in the military have been allowed to serve openly.

Estimates of the number of transgender service members range from 2,500 (in a Rand study) to 15,000 (in a Williams Institute estimate).

Reaction to Hartzler’s amendment was swift.

The American Civil Liberties Union’s Ian Thompson, legislative representative said in a statement, “The Hartzler Amendment is specifically designed to discriminate against transgender members of the Armed Forces and their families."

“By barring them from receiving medically necessary health care, this amendment would put the health of members of our military and their families at risk by undermining the ability of military doctors to provide care for their patients.

“Leading medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and American Psychiatric Association, agree that transition-related care is safe, effective, and medically necessary. If a doctor determines that transition-related care is appropriate, there is no reason why Congress should interfere and deny health care to certain members of the armed forces.

“All members of our military willingly put their lives on the line in defense of our freedoms. The least that Congress can do is ensure that their health care needs are not ignored. Congress should reject this unconstitutional amendment and protect the rights and dignity of transgender military service members and their families.”

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) was equally direct. "Rep. Hartzler’s attack on active duty troops and their families is unconscionable,” said Stephen Peters, HRC National Press Secretary and Marine veteran. “The proposal would bar access to medically necessary health care for military families and transgender service members who put their lives on the line for this country. It puts their health at risk and undermines military readiness by stripping away the ability of medical professionals to ensure their patients have the care they need and deserve. It is imperative that the House of Representatives reject this harmful amendment."

The Washingtonblade.com detailed how the amendment is making its way to the floor, reporting, “The House Rules Committee met Wednesday night to consider amendments to the defense bill. Although the committee never voted on the Hartzler amendment, Republican leadership made the amendment in order backstage as part of the rule for floor consideration.

“Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), who’s gay and co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, offered an amendment during committee to strike the anti-trans measure from the rule, but his effort was defeated by an 8-2 party-line vote.

“’Medical treatments are between doctors and patients,’ Polis said before the vote. ‘There’s not an appropriate issue for somebody to prevent a particular kind of medical treatment from being given. The Hartzler amendment undermines readiness by arbitrarily limiting medical care for transgender service members.’”

According to the AP, “House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Republicans should be ashamed. ‘This cowardly Republican amendment targeting transgender men and women in uniform effectively bans these patriotic Americans from serving their country,’ the California Democrat said.”

Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX) who is chair of the Rules Committee, said gender reassignment surgery “is seen as elected surgery,” said the Blade.

Watch www.gayly.com for updates on action taken on this vicious attack on trans service members, and all service members’ transgender dependents.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly – July 13, 2017 @ 1 p.m.