The decision of US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to ban transgender people from the US military has stirred some controversies. Trump took to Twitter to announce in a series of tweets that he wanted to reverse a policy approved by the Defense Department under his predecessor, former President Barack Obama. The policy under review allows transgender man or woman to openly serve in the military.
In three consecutive tweets on Wednesday, Trump said: "After consultation with my General and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused and decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you".
While the LGBTQ community is not happy about Trump's announcement, technology company executives took to twitter to express their view point on the ban. Here are some of the world's biggest technology company executives and how they feel about the president's decision:
We are indebted to all who serve. Discrimination against anyone holds everyone back. #LetThemServe
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 26, 2017
I am grateful to the transgender members of the military for their service. # LetThemServe.
— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) July 26, 2017
#equalityforall pic.twitter.com/0odEdQ2aUR
— Marc Benioff (@Benioff) July 26, 2017
We @SurveyMonkey believe inclusivity drives success and stand with transgender individuals #transrightsarehumanrights
— zander lurie (@zlurie) July 26, 2017
We honor and respect all who serve, including the transgender members of our military. #LetThemServe
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) July 26, 2017
Meanwhile, the LGBTQ community and civil rights groups were not pleased by the ban. The American Civil Liberties Union senior staff attorney for the LGBT and HIV Project Joshua Block said, "The President is trying to score cheap political points on the backs of military personnel who have put their lives on the line for their country".
Michigan's fifth district representative and vice chair of the congressional LGBT caucus Dan Kildee said, "Anyone who is willing to put on the uniform of the United States and risk their life in service to our country should be celebrated as patriots, regardless of their gender identity. This short-sighted and discriminatory policy will make America less safe".
