Judge Rules Transgenders Can Enlist In Military

A federal judge on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s request to further delay the ability of transgender people to enlist in the military.
News 25 Reporter Veronica Bayona hit the streets and got locals reactions on the decision.

“It makes us less of a second class citizen, and it gives us equal rights to defend our country like every other citizen of the United States.”
– Molly Kester President, Mississippi Rainbow Center

Molly Kester, a transgender woman in St. Martin, who served in the Air Force for 20 years, is breathing a sigh of relief after yesterday’s decision.

“I think it’s a good step, I think it’s a necessary step, I think it was going to happen and it look like the military leadership has also realized that it’s going to go through the court and they are going to lose the fight. It’s a small step in the right direction, but it’s a good step.”
– Molly Kester President, Mississippi Rainbow Center

Come January first transgender will be able to once again enlist in the military.

“From my opinion I do think they should be able to enlist and everything, because if they’re putting their lives to protect our country, who am I to say they can’t?”
– Kevin Brun Mississippi State University Student

But not everyone shares this same view. We spoke to one military veteran who did want to share his opinion, but preferred to remain anonymous.

“What has made us the greatest military in the world is that we are willing to fight arm in arm, we are brothers.
And when you bring somebody into that, when they’re a question of their sexuality, i think it brings down your moral, and we can’t afford that as a nation, if we do that we are not going to be the greatest military in the world.”
– Anonymous Gulfport Resident Served In Military For 20 Years

Many resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast agreed that allowing transgendered people into the military was the wrong decision but decided they did not want their opinions to be televised.
“The most important thing is don’t judge us until you know us, you know get to know a transgendered person, ask questions, find out the truth of it all before you pass judgment on it.”
– Molly Kester President, Mississippi Rainbow Center

For News 25, I’m Veronica Bayona