President Donald Trump's tweets on banning transgender military members has the Central Florida LGBTQ community voicing its frustration — and support.

  • Trump wants to ban transgender people from military service
  • Central Florida LGBTQ advocates frustrated
  • Orlando-area gay Republican voices support for Trump's ban

On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted a series of statements saying that after consulting with "Generals and military experts," the government "will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military."

He added that having transgender military members adds a "burden" of "tremendous medical costs and disruption."

Although some Orange County Republicans commended the president on his decision, others, including former military members who are transgender, called the ban discrimination.

"Just reading that this morning really just struck home... It tore me up," Windermere Army veteran Micaela Iphys said.

Iphys, a transgender woman, said she's always been proud to have served as a military police officer in the Army.

"So I put on my uniform and I took a picture. I said, 'This is what an American soldier looks like.' It doesn't have anything to do with big muscles or masculinity. It has to do with a devotion to your country and a willingness to serve," she said.

Iphys joined the Army when she was 17 as a gay man while the "don't ask, don't tell" policy was in effect. The policy allowed gays to serve in the military, but not openly. So her ability to express her sexuality, while also serving her country, wasn't an option at that time.

More recent policies under the Obama administration have allowed transgender people to identify themselves.

Iphys is concerned that Trump’s tweet will have negative repercussions on the transgender people hoping to serve in our armed forces.

"It's blatant discrimination," Iphys said.

Some members of the Central Florida LGBTQ community agreed with Trump's tweet that transgender military members may be distracting, or have distractions of their own, that could affect their ability to serve.

Randy Ross is president of the Orange County Trump Republican Club and was the county chairperson for Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

"In any type of conflict, you need to be completely focused on your job at hand, so... if there are concerns regarding if you can make clear or concise decisions, then I'm not sure if the battlefield is a place for them. So I continue to support President Trump in that decision," he said.

Ross also said he agreed with the president's statement that transgender sex-reassignment surgeries come with a price tag that he doesn't think the government should pay for.

However, Iphys said transgender people, regardless of their medical needs, are being targeted by a political system — the same political system they may hope to serve through military service.

"You saw something in me before I even told you that I was trans. So does that change after I tell you that I am trans? I'm the same person," Iphys said.

Meanwhile, Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County, as did the Pentagon, referred all questions to the White House.

"The Air Force will continue to work closely with (the Defense Department) to address the new guidance provided by the Commander-in-Chief on transgender individuals serving the military," Maj. Cathleen Snow said in a statement.