When the Supreme Court of the United States announced its decision to allow Trump’s ban on transgender troops continue even as court challenges to the ban made their way through the courts, Senator Tammy Duckworth wasted no time in condemning their decision. Senator Duckworth knows of what she speaks, having been severely injured when the helicopter she was copiloting was hit by an RPG during the Iraq War. She released the following statement on Tuesday:
When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter on that dusty field in Iraq, I didn't care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white, male or female. All that mattered was they didn't leave me behind. If you are willing to risk your life for our country and you can do the job, you should be able to serve—no matter your gender identity or sexual orientation.
Today’s decision is disheartening not only because it will help the Trump Administration discriminate against an ever-shrinking portion of our population who are willing to serve in uniform, but also because it enables the Administration to further disrupt to our military and weaken our national security.
I hope the Court takes up this case and loudly and clearly tells the Administration that this sort of discrimination has no place in our military, and I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress will send the same message and show our servicemembers that we have their backs.
We already know Senator Duckworth’s low opinion of Cadet Bonespurs (a nickname she came up with for Russian asset 1), but it’s nice to know that she unswervingly supports those of us in the LGBT community. You go, Tammy!
(I didn’t see this posted elsewhere on DK, so I took the opportunity to do so here.)
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Top Comments (January 23, 2019):
From Tara the Antisocial Social Worker:
In Hunter's diary Can Trump just 'show up' to give a State of the Union? Nope, FoundingFatherDAR invokes our second-worst president with a memorable pictorial comment.
(I suspect this will show up in tomorrow night’s picture quilt. -Ed.)
From: Eyesbright:
This comment from BOHICA is short but says so much! From HoundDog's diary Trump tells Speaker Pelosi he will deliver his SOTU speech in the House: NP says ‘No!’
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Lilyvt’s poetic commentary regarding Joni Ernst’s divorce, from Runyonr’s recommended post on that topic.
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This evocative comment from Fatherflot in MTmofo’s recommended post on Pelosi’s cancellation of the SOTU.
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This comment by anastasia p in Marissa Higgins’ recommended post on the racist and misogynistic culture at Covington Catholic High.
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This comment by Anna Lemma in Mark Sumner’s front page post on the Trump Tower Moscow plans.
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Top Photos (January 22, 2019):
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