Sara Jacobs: “as you all know, President Trump has already kicked out transgender troops from the military, despite the fact that they…”

“as you all know, President Trump has already kicked out transgender troops from the military, despite the fact that they are willing and able to serve and despite the fact that it will cost billions of dollars and decades to recruit and train their replacements. This proposed ban on medical care is unnecessary and redundant for our servicemembers because we know the goal here isn't actually about policy. It is a symbolic punishment. It is to send a false political message that trans healthcare is illegitimate, even though those of us who live in reality know that trans healthcare is safe, effective, and medically necessary. It is supported by every major medical association in the U.S., representing more than 1.3 million U.S. doctors. Let's be clear by what we mean by gender-affirming care. We don't only mean surgery. Sometimes it is just using the correct pronouns. Sometimes it is mental health care. Sometimes it is hormone therapy. Yes, sometimes it is surgery. This ban would also take away mental health care from the trans children of our servicemembers. We know that trans youth face significant mental health challenges, not because they are trans to be clear, but because of the external factors they face like: social isolation, discrimination, lack of affirmation, the stress of not getting the care they need, and having to hear colleagues of mine say horrible things about them on the House floor.”