Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation filed a federal lawsuit today (Thursday, Feb., 6) challenging the constitutionality of the Trump administration’s ban on military service by transgender individuals.
The lawsuit — brought in response to the administration’s recent executive order — was filed on behalf of six actively-serving transgender service members, a transgender person seeking to enlist in the military and Gender Justice League, a civil and human rights organization headquartered in Seattle.
Sasha Buchert, cunsel and Nonbinary and Transgender Rights Project director for Lambda Legal, said in a written statement that the ban “not only wrongfully prevents patriotic, talented Americans from serving, it also compromises the safety and security of our country.
Thousands of current service members are transgender, and many have been serving courageously and successfully in the U.S. military. “Once again attacking a vulnerable population based on bias, political opportunism and demonstrably untrue ‘alternative facts,’ President Trump is seeking to deny courageous transgender people the opportunity to serve our country,” Buhert added. “He’s got to get through us first.” Sarah Warbelow, vice president of legal for HRCF, said the ban is “a threat to our national security, wastes years of training and financial investments and is unconstitutional.” She added, “Thousands of transgender servicemembers have already met the military’s rigorous standards and more than proven themselves.