‘We deserve a lot better,’ U.S. Navy Lt. says as Trump ramps up transgender military purge [Video]

After 17 years of serving their country in the U.S. Navy, Lt. Rae Timberlake faced a stark choice — leave the military, or be kicked out.

After some soul searching, Timberlake opted for the former, in the hopes that, at the very least, they will get severance pay and an honourable discharge.

Timberlake is one of about 1,000 transgender service members who have signed up so far for what the Republican administration is calling “voluntary separation” — the first phase of its transgender military purge. 

“This is not a voluntary separation,” Timberlake told As It Happens host Nil Kӧksal. “This is coercion.”

Ultimatum with a deadline

U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to ban transgender people from the military have been stymied by court challenges.

But on Tuesday of last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the administration can enforce its ban while those legal challenges proceed. 

Two days later, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum with a deadline.