President Joe Biden is on a roll.
Today, he continued to fulfill the promises he made to the American People during the 2020 Campaign and signed an Executive Order to lift Donald Trump's ban on excluding Transgender Individuals from serving in the military.
According to reporting by the Washington Post, the White House released a statement which read:
“(President Biden) believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service and that America’s strength is found in its diversity. This question of how to enable all qualified Americans to serve in the military is easily answered by recognizing our core values. America is stronger, at home and around the world, when it is inclusive. The military is no exception.”
The Arizona Democratic Party released a statement championing the Biden Executive Order. It stated:
"Arizona Democrats have long believed that our military should reflect our country’s diversity and if you're qualified to serve, you should be allowed to do so regardless of gender, race, or sexual orientation. We applaud the Biden Administration’s reversal of this draconian ban.”
Perhaps this announcement will send a wake-up call to those reactionaries in the Arizona State Legislature who attempted to advance discriminatory legislation against child transgender athletes in public schools that discrimination against the LGBTQ Community will no longer be tolerated.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman wrote on this topic as a guest columnist for AZ Central on January 19, 2021.
Excerpts of what Superintendent Hoffman relayed are:
"All of us need to roll up our sleeves and get to work right away when the legislative session begins. But we can’t do that if our Legislature insists on distracting us with bills attacking transgender students who just want to be fully included in school life alongside their peers."
"Our vision is that a strong public education system is one that works for all of Arizona’s students. This must include LGBTQ students who we know feel the impacts of these bills that send the message that this already vulnerable group of students are unwelcome in our communities..."
"...LGBTQ students have the same right to play sports as anybody else. That right must not be taken away due to inaccurate claims that trans students-athletes hold an unfair advantage in sports..."
"...Excluding trans people from any space or activity is harmful. That opportunity shouldn’t be denied to anyone — particularly students who are already under so much pressure and stress."
"Any transgender student who is willing to put in the time and energy to practice, get to know and trust their teammates, and follow the guidance of their coach should have the same opportunity to participate in sports as any other student..."
This is 2021.
Members of the LGBTQ community deserve to be treated with respect and the same equal justice and consideration as everyone else.
They should be allowed, as Superintendent Hoffman asserts, to participate in school athletic events.
They should be allowed, as President Biden decreed, to serve their country in the military.
They should be allowed to live in happiness and dignity in all communities.
This should not be a controversial topic for anyone.
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