Family Research Council exposes own lie about cost worries in latest attack on trans soldiers

Don't be fooled. When it comes to Trump's attempt to ban transgender men and women from serving in the military, groups like the Family Research Council will say their support of this ban has to do with caring about costs. But it's actually about bigotry.

It's amazing how FRC continues to push the lie that the amount of money devoted by the military to trans health care is extreme:

Already, as of February 1, the Pentagon has forked over $7,943,906.75 to gender reassignment surgeries, hormones, and psychotherapy. That’s millions of dollars it could have spent equipment, salaries, and training. Instead, we’re blowing through taxpayer dollars so that troubled service members can use the military as their free ticket to elective surgery. Not a penny of that is going to the DOD’s real mission: fighting and winning wars. 

As usual when it spins an anti-LGBTQ narrative, FRC omits certain facts. From PBS News Hour:

According to new data from the Defense Department provided to the House Armed Services Committee ahead of the hearing, the military has spent about $8 million on transgender care since 2016 out of its $50 billion overall health care budget. The Associated Press obtained the data Wednesday.

Also, news came out very recently that in the last month of the fiscal year, federal agencies tend to spend a lot of what's left of their budgets. This includes the military. When they do this, they tend to go on wild spending sprees

$5 Million on Crab and Lobster – As the fiscal year wrapped up, federal agencies celebrated by splurging on luxury food items. The Department of Defense spent $2.3 million on snow crab, Alaskan king crab, and crab legs and claws, plus another $2.3 million on lobster tail. Additionally, agencies spent nearly $300,000 on steak (ribeye, top sirloin, and flank). 

 $491 Million to Redecorate – In the final month of fiscal year 2018, federal agencies signed nearly 10,000 contracts to purchase furniture. Notably, the Department of Defense spent $9,341 on a Wexford leather club chair. 

 More than $300,000 on Booze – For some agencies, the end of the fiscal year seems to be one big party. The Department of Defense and the Department of State purchased beer, wine, and whiskey. Contract recipients included Coors Brewing Company ($76,173); E&J Gallo Winery ($16,510), and more. 

 More Than $800 Million to Load the Gun Locker – Fifteen agencies made last-minute purchases of guns, ammunition, and other weaponry during the final month of the fiscal year. Even non-military agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Office of Personnel Management, the Small Business Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency bought more than $100,000 in guns and ammunition.

Guess what the Family Research Council had to say about this development? Nothing. As far as it is known, not a thing.

If you ask me, I would rather spend $8 million over in a number of years ensuring the health of our transgender military men and women than over $4 million (in one month) on lobster tails and crab. Too bad the Family Research Council doesn't seem to think the same.