Kansas lawmakers are divided in their support, or lack of it, when responding to President Donald Trump's notice on Wednesday regarding transgendered people in the U.S. Military.
Trump announced on twitter that the U.S. military "will not accept or allow" transgender people to serve.
After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
....victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017
Reaction came swiftly and passionately, and sometimes negatively, from Trump’s own party members.
The Associated Press reports that Rep. Kevin Yoder and Rep. Lynn Jenkins both released statements saying that anyone who wants to serve in the military should be allowed to do so.
Rep. Roger Marshall said that he supports Trump's ban because the president made the decision after consulting his generals.
Sen. Pat Roberts said that he wants to hear more from the military.
The AP reports that all of Kansas' congressional members voted earlier this year in favor of an amendment which would prohibit therapies and surgeries for transgender troops. That amendment failed.
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Aileen LeBlanc is news director at KMUW. Follow her on Twitter @Aileen_LeBlanc.
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