Sen. Duckworth Blasts Military Trans Ban: 'When I Was Bleeding To Death' It Didn't Matter Who Saved Me
By Stephen Gossett in News on Aug 24, 2017 10:55PM
Getty Images / Photo: Chip Somodevilla
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) channeled her own harrowing, personal experience on the battlefield in again blasting President Donald Trump's proposed transgender military ban, after reports surfaced that the White House will likely soon formally issue guidance on the president's request.
"When I was bleeding to death in my Black Hawk helicopter after I was shot down, I didn’t care if the American troops risking their lives to help save me were gay, straight, transgender, black, white or brown. All that mattered was they didn't leave me behind," Duckworth said in the a statement on Thursday.
She urged the legislature to act in the event that Trump presses forward with his proposed ban. "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. Anything else is not just discriminatory, it is disruptive to our military and it is counterproductive to our national security. If the President enacts this ban, which would harm our military readiness, the Democratic and Republican Members of Congress who oppose this discrimination must enact legislation that prevents it from taking effect," Duckworth added.
Duckworth served as a U.S. Army helicopter pilot in the Iraq War. She lost both her legs in 2004 when her Black Hawk helicopter was struck with a rocket-propelled grenade.
The Trump administration plans to deliver a memo to the Pentagon in the near future that would give Defense Secretary James Mattis six months to instate the ban, according to the New York Times.
Trump surprise-announced the ban in July on Twitter. Duckworth criticized the move at the time, also. Earlier this month during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Duckworth told the host, "We've had tends of thousands of trans servicemen and women who've served honorably, who've bled and died for this country. To turn away people willing to sacrifice for us is foolish at best."