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Fact check: Ashley st clair posted this tweet, a buddy on discord posted this comment with the link below: "This can't be real life... RIGHT!?" https://x.com/stclairashley/status/1890554279749951687
1. Summary of the results
The context appears to be related to transgender military service policies in the United States. As of February 10, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo that prohibits individuals with gender dysphoria from joining the military and bans gender transition-related medical procedures for service members [1]. This represents a significant policy shift from previous administrations, particularly the Biden administration which had allowed transgender individuals to serve openly [2].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
Several important contextual points need to be considered:
- Historically, there have been an estimated 9,000 to 14,000 transgender individuals serving in the U.S. armed forces [2]
- Many transgender service members, including individuals like Bree Fram and Cathrine Schmid, have reported positive experiences and acceptance within their units [3]
- Globally, over 30 countries allow transgender individuals to serve openly in their military forces as of 2022 [4]
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The tweet's author, Ashley St. Clair, brings specific biases to this discussion:
- She is a known conservative political commentator who works for The Babylon Bee and frequently speaks out against what she terms "wokeness" [5]
- She has a history of making controversial statements about social issues, including sports-related matters that have drawn criticism [6]
- As a Trump supporter and conservative media figure [5], she likely approaches this issue from an ideological perspective rather than a military readiness or national security standpoint
The exclamatory nature of the question "This can't be real life... RIGHT!?" suggests an attempt to provoke an emotional response rather than foster meaningful discussion about military policy. This is particularly noteworthy given that transgender military service has been extensively studied and implemented successfully in numerous countries [4].