The Womxn Project Education Fund condemns anti-trans provisions in U.S. Defense spending bill
“Oppression always begins with the smallest minorities to normalize the dangerous impulse that some citizens are not equal to other citizens."
From a Womxn Project Education Fund press release and independent journalism from Steve Ahlquist:
The Womxn Project Education Fund (TWPEF) strongly condemns the inclusion of anti-transgender provisions in the recently proposed United States Department of Defense (DoD) spending bill. These provisions represent a direct attack on the rights and dignity of transgender Americans, undermining the principles of equality, inclusion, and respect that America should hold as fundamental.
The bill includes measures aimed at restricting healthcare access for transgender service members’ families. These provisions are discriminatory and not informed by current medical practice. They will create an undue burden on these military families simply because some Americans are bigoted toward trans Americans.
“This legislation is a dangerous step backward for civil rights and a clear attempt to politicize our military,” said Jocelyn Foye, Executive Director of TWPEF. “Oppression always begins with the smallest minorities to normalize the dangerous impulse that some citizens are not equal to other citizens. TWPEF stands with our trans community to shield them from these same forces, which are here at work in Rhode Island.
The same purulent forces that drove this hateful policy have signaled that they will seek to restrict the rights of other groups they have decided are not worthy of equal rights.
This legislation also sends a chilling message to transgender Americans beyond the military. By targeting one of the nation’s largest and most visible institutions, the bill reinforces a broader climate of hostility and discrimination against transgender people.
“Discriminatory measures like these have no place in a defense bill or in any legislation in this country," concluded Foye.
The size of this military bill is lost in the outrage of most Americans over this travesty. Almost $900 Billion, vastly more than China and Russia combined.
Asked about his support for the bill, United States Representative Seth Magaziner (D-RI) said, “While I am frustrated that House Republicans inserted language restricting health care for children of service members into the defense bill, I could not in good faith vote against the bill as it also includes significant pay increases for servicemembers at a time when the military is facing challenges meeting recruiting goals.”
When I asked United States Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) about his support for the bill, his spokesperson, Ben Craig, responded, “He’s strongly opposed, voted against in committee, and pushed to get it out. Despite Reed’s opposition, the provision is in the bill.”
For more, see the reporting of Erin Reed here: