Long-time media personality and U.S. Marine Corp. / Navy veteran Montel Williams got emotional when addressing to Donald Trump's banning of transgender soldiers on Thursday, July 27. Williams was approached by a TMZ reporter to get his thoughts on the President asserting that the military mustn't be "burdened" by the medical costs recognizing trans service members' gender might entail, and he duly questioned the audacity of such a position, asking, "What gives this President, or anybody, the right to say who has a right to bleed to defend our Democracy?"
Williams wasn't shy about pointing out how hypocritical he sees such reasoning as it's coming from a man. Many among the general population may not know it, Williams said, but more of their tax dollars go towards helping keep erections up than they do towards ensuring healthcare for the transgendered. While Williams cites the cost of erectile dysfunction drugs being $98 million, the Military Times places the number at $84 million annually, which would still be 10 times the cost of transition-related medical care for trans servicemembers. Without factoring the tab for reservists or retirees and families, the Rand study estimates that treatment for trans soldiers would cost between $2.4 million and $8.4 million per year. Such an expense would constitute a 0.13% hike in spending, which most would vie barely dents the $6.2 billion budget healthcare budget.
"I'm not saying we don't have a right to [erectile dysfunction] drugs. But, an E.D. drug is really a choice," Williams said, as his voice began to crack. "Living inside of a body that's not yours? How dare we!"