PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The transition team for President-elect Donald Trump is denying reports from international news organizations that claim the incoming commander-in-chief is preparing an executive order that would call for the terminations of 15,000 service members who are transgender. A spokesperson told Newsweek that no decisions had been made.
Three years ago a York High School student was battling with school administrators who were poised to dead-name her during the graduation ceremony. This is what Trixie Henry told 10 On Your Side in 2022.
“The school just texted my mom that I would not be able to cross the stage with my preferred name and that they would use my legal name,” Henry said.
Henry won the battle by having her name legally changed just in time for graduation. Henry is now a 20-year-old college student who lives in Richmond. She is prepared to go to battle if Trump begins mass terminations.
Opposition to transgender military service members was voiced live on WAVY-TV 10 during the senatorial debate. Republican Hung Cao was critical of a media campaign based on the life of a U.S. Navy sailor who also dresses in drag.
“When you are using a drag queen to recruit for the Navy, that’s not the people we want, said Cao who is a former Naval officer.
Feeling unwanted is a burden Henry bears in liberal-leaning Richmond and on social media.
“It’s really just people using it to push their agenda,” Henry said. “They’re using that division and that hatred to push this agenda that is separating everyone and turning people away from any real problems.”
Policy changes for the military would come, as most branches have failed to meet recruitment goals. Henry fears any elimination of transgender troops could be the opening salvo against the LGBTQ community and other groups.
“I think that the [reported] overturn of these [rights] signifies a deep sentiment within the right towards ideals of regression — towards these long-held beliefs and conservatism about tradition,” Henry said. “I mean, it’s called conservative — they’re trying to conserve something, and I get it. I really do understand that with our rose-colored glasses, these things in the past look so great and the future looks so scary.”
The Human Rights Campaign issued a statement saying in part:
“Banning thousands of qualified transgender service members would make our country less safe, and is nothing more than transphobia masquerading as policy.”