White House newsletter includes link to anti-transgender article

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

The Trump White House has an official email newsletter called “West Wing Reads” that says, “Each day we round up the best stories the West Wing is reading and share them with you.”

On Wednesday, July 26, the same day that President Trump tweeted that he was banning transgender people from serving in the U. S. Military, the daily email included a link to an article titled “I Was Once Transgender. Why I Think Trump Made the Right Decision for the Military”.

The article was written by Walt Heyer, the founder of a website that “raises public awareness about those who regret gender change and the tragic consequences suffered as a result.” The article was published on TheDailySignalwebsite

Among other dubious claims, Heyer cites the cost of medical care for the military transgender population as being $3 to $4 billion over the next 10 years.

That figure was grossly exaggerated in a lengthy statement by Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, who said, “We were advised in a Republican conference meeting that the projected 10-year cost will be $3-4 billion that could be used to actually defend our homeland and liberty. That projected cost is before the military becomes known as the place to have an all-expenses paid sex change surgery, including meals and housing.”

Gohmert’s statement was bemoaning the House’s failure to pass a ban on trans military healthcare in a close vote July 13. (See The Gayly’s coverage of that issue.) 

In President Trump’s tweet on July 26, he cited the “tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

In fact, a Rand Corporation projection found that medical care for trans service members cost  $2.4 to $8.4 million per year.

If the President is getting his information from articles like Heyer’s, and statements from far right-wing members of the House like Gohmert, it’s no wonder that he made the wrong decision on transgender service members.

On Sunday, Reuters publish an opinion poll that showed the majority of the country disapproves of Trump’s ban on trans military members. The poll said 58 percent of adults agreed with the statement, “Transgender people should be allowed to serve in the military.” 27% disagreed.

The President should be getting his facts from valid scientific research like the Rand study, not from misguided and inaccurate anti-transgender propaganda.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly – July 31, 2017 @ 11:25 a.m. CDT.