It's been a tough week for the transgender community. The Texas Senate passed a so-called bathroom bill regulating public restroom use for transgender Texans. The next day, President Trump tweeted that he'd like to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
....victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Though the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told military leaders there would to current policy for now, Nicole Lynn Perry says the president's statement is "very disheartening."
A transgender woman and Marine veteran, Perry served for five years in active duty and left in order to transition.
"I had an inkling at the time that I was [transgender], but I didn't know what it was," she said. It wasn't until 2012 that she could put a name to what she was feeling.
In this Friday Conversation, Perry also discusses:
- Why she enlisted
- Coming to terms with her identity
- Her experience in the Marines as a transgender person
