Why doesn't President Donald Trump want transgender people serving in our nation's armed forces?

Because he just doesn't, and for Trump, that's often sufficient reason. Because it doesn't seem right to him. Or because he believes there are those who think that transgender troops will somehow lessen unit cohesion -- or something like that. Or because he knows his anti-transgender stance will please his base voters.

Trump, of course, is the first person to be elected president without having had either prior political or military experience. It's showing once again. At least to anyone who is thinking clearly. Though not to Trump himself, who always trusts his gut, first and foremost.

When Trump issued an order banning most transgender personnel from serving, it came from out of the blue. No one had asked for it. No one had suggested that there was any kind of a problem that needed fixing.

A transgender soldier, or sailor, or airman, or Marine should be judged as is any other member of our nation's armed forces: on his or her abilities, dedication, readiness, willingness to do the job. What matters isn't gender identity, but preparedness.

After Trump issued his needless proclamation, there were several court orders putting its implementation on hold. But as the matter was working its way through the legal system in the normal fashion, eventually wending its way to the highest court in the land, the president stepped forward to ask the Supreme Court to put the case on the fast track. Probably because that's what his gut told him to do.

Some will doubtless argue that Trump, as commander in chief of our nation's armed forces, has broad latitude in determining who can, and cannot, serve. But that goes only so far.

One way to look at it: Depends on what the definition of "sex" is. Though there is no federal law explicitly banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, there are laws, with plenty of legal decisions following them, barring discrimination on the basis of sex.

A lawyer looking to make the case that gender identity has nothing to do with sex is going to be walking an awfully difficult path, trying to thread a needle with an already fraying bit of fiber.

Supreme Court rules state that in order for a case to jump the line for review, it must be of "imperative public importance" and of enough significance "to require immediate determination in this court."

Nothing therein concerning a president's gut feeling about the matter at hand.

With no good reason to fast-track this case, it should be allowed to work its way through the lower courts like any other.

And as it does, transgender members of our all-volunteer military forces -- like everyone else in uniform -- should be thanked for their service, not treated as though they are in some way dishonorable.