"I'm not surprised by the hate": Transgender Army pilot falsely tied to plane crash speaks out
SalonA transgender Black Hawk pilot for the Virginia Army National Guard spoke out on Saturday after she was falsely accused of being behind the controls of a helicopter that collided with an American Airlines flight on Wednesday. Rumors swirled about Jo Ellis following the crash near Washington, D.C., and a campaign of hate was amplified when President Donald Trump attributed the crash to DEI policies. Asked about whether President Donald Trump’s comments on DEI and the crash were partially responsible for the frenzy, Ellis said they were triggering an anti-trans backlash. “I've heard anecdotes from many in the trans community saying they have been targeted since the comments of the president,” Ellis, who has served in the military for 15 years, said. “This is really putting people's lives at risk.” Ellis also spoke out against an order from the White House putting her and other transgender service members at risk of losing their jobs, telling Smerconish she “believe in a meritocracy.” “I have met all the standards to serve.
History of this topic
'Vilified as boogeyman': Disinformation ensnares US trans pilot
Raw Story
Who is Jo Ellis, transgender soldier falsely linked to Washington, DC, plane crash?
Firstpost
A trans National Guard pilot was falsely accused of flying the helicopter in the fatal plane collision
CNN
A trans National Guard pilot was falsely accused of flying the helicopter in the fatal plane collision
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