
Soldiers know inclusiveness creates a better fighting force. Donald Trump should listen to them.
A soldier’s effectiveness — not identity — is what matters. On Aug. 25, President Trump signed a memo banning transgender people from enlisting in the military. He justified his decision by citing concerns about military effectiveness, the disruption of unit cohesion and the cost of medical treatment. Yes, it is step backward in terms of civil rights, as LGBTQ activists have pointed out. But both transgender veterans and military leaders have challenged Trump’s rationale for