HRC, GLAD condemn Trump’s latest attack on trans military servicepeople

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and LGBT Legal Defenders and Advocates (GLAD) came out swiftly and strongly condemning the Trump-Pence administration’s announcement late yesterday that it’s once again attempting to ban transgender troops from military service.

According to a New York Times report today, “The policy recommendation that President Trump approved flatly states that ‘transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition are disqualified from military service.’ But it also largely gives the Pentagon the ability to make exceptions where it sees fit.”

And thanks to the federal cases filed by GLAD and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, “The plan has no immediate effect, as four federal courts have already issued nationwide preliminary injunctions stopping his ban from moving forward. This plan singles out transgender servicemembers and would result in the loss of highly qualified and trained troops,” according to a GLAD press release today.

“GLAD won’t stop fighting for the honor and dignity of our plaintiffs, and all transgender Americans who courageously sign up to put their lives on the line to serve their country,” said Jennifer Levi, transgender rights project director at GLAD.

“There is simply no way to spin it, the Trump-Pence Administration is going all in on its discriminatory, unconstitutional and despicable ban on transgender troops,” said HRC President Chad Griffin in a March 23 press release. “Donald Trump and Mike Pence are pushing their extreme anti-transgender prejudices onto the military over the overwhelming objections of bipartisan officials, national security leaders and the American public. We will never stop fighting this discriminatory policy until every current and future transgender service member is treated equally and respected fully for their bravery.”