Democrat Joe Kennedy to bring transgender soldier to Trump’s State of the Union address

Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy will bring a transgender soldier as his guest to Trump’s State of the Union this week.

The up-and-coming US congressman, aged just 37, has been picked to deliver the rebuttal to the President’s State of the Union address this week, raising him to national prominence.

A strong LGBT ally who serves as Chair of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, Rep. Kennedy will use his prominent role to challenge the President’s anti-LGBT actions.

To underline his point, the lawmaker has invited a transgender soldier, Staff Sgt. Patricia King, to be his guest to the State of the Union address, which is set to take place on Tuesday evening.

Staff Sgt. King, a veteran of 19 years, has spoken out against Trump’s hastily-implemented ban on transgender troops, which was announced last summer with no consultation with military chiefs.

Speaking to the Boston Globe, Kennedy hinted that he will mention her in his speech before the nation.

(Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for RFK Ripple Of Hope)

He said: “I want her to be there as a real person, and the face of an inhumane policy.

“I don’t believe that [the ban] is reflective of our country at its best, or of the values Americans hold.”

Staff Sgt. King added: I have served for almost 19 years.. and all of a sudden, it is all hanging in the balance.

“There are much easier ways to get surgery covered than enlisting in the military, [facing] the possibility of deployment, and dealing with the stigma of being a transgender service member.

• Dec 01

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