Gen. Stanley McChrystal presides over historic farewell for five trans troops

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Gen. Stanley McChrystal presides over historic farewell for five transgender troops forced into retirement

https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-service-members-retirement 🔗

Christopher Wiggins (10 Jan 2025)

On Thursday, the Human Rights Campaign dedicated its headquarters in Washington, D.C., to transgender military members and veterans, where people gathered to reckon with what advocates are calling one of the most consequential civil rights reversals in modern U.S. history.

At the organization's Equality Forum, the day began with a policy panel titled Serving With Pride: The Future of LGBTQ+ Veterans' Benefits & Recognition. It concluded with a retirement ceremony honoring five transgender service members whose distinguished careers were abruptly cut short by the Trump administration's renewed transgender military ban.

Retired Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith, the master of ceremonies, stepped forward and formally called the room to order. Her opening words framed the moment not as routine, but as reckoning.

"This ceremony is unprecedented — not because your careers fell short in any way, but because you shined so brightly in a military that cast you aside as unworthy," Smith told the room.

Congressman Mark Takano of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, apologized to the retirees on behalf of the federal government. "I am sorry this administration has chosen to target you for no reason other than cruelty," he said.

[Dances With Trees]

As a former corporal in the United States Marine Corps, I stand and salute the five veterans recognized today. And the hundreds, thousands? whose names will never be said out loud by a ranking officer. Thank you. Not merely for your service, but for your courage.

[Lori Dee ✅]

Congressman Mark Takano of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus,

needs to apologize to all the veterans who have been discriminated against under this Administration, and change the VA policies to what was promised to us back in 2016.