'We expected this to happen': Activist not surprised by Trump transgender military ban

AVancouver activist who worked with the U.S. military is disturbed but not surprised by President Donald Trump's declaration that transgender people are not welcome in the armed forces.

The announcement hit close to home forMorganeOger, thechair of the Trans Alliance Society of British Columbia.

"I was horrified but we expected this to happen,"Ogertold On the Coast'sTanyaFletcher.

"It's a really bad sign of what's to come," she said.

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In a series of tweets Wednesday morning, the U.S. president said the military "cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption" oftransgendermembers.

When the ban on transgender people in the military was ended byformerPresident Barack Obama in 2016, Oger said, "lots of transgender people put up their hand and said 'hi, I'm transgender, I'd love to be helped by my employer.'

"And now they have their jobs on the line."

Ogerpreviously lived and worked in the United States with acompany under contract with the U.S. Navy.

She said the culture in the U.S. Navy was professional and respectful during her employment there, although there was a lot of "hyper-masculine banter."

"I wouldn't say that I had any reason to think trans people would be unwelcome in the workforce where I was," Oger said.

Canadian military signals support

"But I did know better than to open my mouth and tell anybody I had gender identity issues at the time, because that would really be the end of me there."

In contrast, Oger said, transgenderacquaintances in the Canadian militaryfeel well looked-after.

On Wednesday the Canadian Forces tweeted about its welcoming approach to transgenderrecruitment.

• Canada promotes recruitment oftransgendertroops as Donald Trump imposes military ban

Ogerrejects Trump'sclaim that the medical costs fortransgendermilitary members is unsupportable.

She believes the real reason is a continuation of Trump's strategy to gain support by scapegoating foreigners and outsiders.

"We see this in Canada as well," she said.