MILITARY
Transgender Service Members Hail Biden’s Victory
Military troops, veterans look forward to inclusive policies in the new administration
BY MATT TRACY
SPART*A, a group of transgender
service members
and veterans, is celebrating
President-Elect Joe
Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential
election and breathing a
sigh of relief following the defeat
of an incumbent president whose
broad anti-LGBTQ agenda has
included a ban on transgender
troops.
The organization welcomed
Biden’s acknowledgement of transgender
individuals in his victory
speech on November 7 and its
leaders and rank-and-fi le members
stressed that they anticipate
working with the incoming administration
to reinstate inclusive policies
in the military.
This comes as Trump — who
has yet to concede the election —
turned to Twitter on November
11 to announce the termination
of Defense Secretary Mark Espier,
who publicly broke with the
administration over the summer
when he opposed sending military
troops to quell protests targeting
racial injustice.
“SPARTANs are ready to serve
fully, unencumbered by unnecessary
and harmful policies that
➤ TRANS TROOPS, continued on p.5
New York Bursts Out in Celebration on November 7
PHOTOS BY DONNA ACETO
With the announcement
on November
7 that Joe Biden
had been elected
the 46th president of the United
States, across urban America — in
President-Elect Joe Biden visits with troops stationed in Afghanistan in 2011 during his tenure as vice
president.
unfairly exclude Americans who
are capable, willing, and ready to
serve our Nation,” SPART*A president
Emma Shinn said in a written
statement. “President-Elect Biden’s
and Vice President-Elect Harris’
commitment to strength through
diversity demonstrates that we
must continue to make the United
States a place where everyone can
work together.”
Ben Fram, who serves as
SPART*A’s vice president, voiced
New York from Times Square to the
West Village, Philadelphia, Washington,
Atlanta, Chicago, and San
Francisco, among many cities —
jubilant Democrats poured into
the streets in celebration.
They cheered the election of Barack
Obama’s vice president to the
nation’s highest offi ce and the ascension
of the fi rst woman, with
roots in both the Black and the
Asian-American communities, to
the vice presidency.
But they were also warning Donald
Trump that he must respect
the will of the voters, something he
has so far refused to do.
REUTERS/ OMAR SOBHANI
confi dence that the Biden era will
represent “a dramatic reversal
from being told by our Commander
in-Chief that transgender service
members are an unacceptable
burden on the military.”
“We are thrilled that transgender
Americans will again be able to
openly serve and defend the country
they love and the ideals they
cherish,” Fram added.
SPART*A also provided reaction
from unnamed transgender
service members who, for now, are
forced to hide their gender identity
under the current administration.
One member of the US Navy said
they are able to “breathe a little
easier” after Biden’s victory, while
an unnamed member of the Army
said they can “fi nally feel hope
again” and will be “fi nally serving
a country that supports me again.”
An offi cer in the Navy was also
quoted as saying that they will no
longer need to worry that their 17
years of service will be overlooked
because of their gender identity.
The president-elect is expected
to move swiftly to erase the ban
following his inauguration on
January 20. Biden’s campaign
website describes Trump’s policy
as “discriminatory and detrimental
to our national security” and
stresses that “every American who
is qualifi ed to serve in our military
should be able to do so — regardless
of sexual orientation or gender
identity and without having to hide
who they are.”
“Biden will direct the US Department
of Defense to allow transgender
service members to serve
openly, receive needed medical
treatment, and be free from discrimination,”
the campaign pledge
states.
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