FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Lauren Gray, Communications Director
lgray@nclrights.org / (215) 983-3099
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Urges Trump to Reconsider Transgender Military Ban
NCLR says we need government leaders to check this administration’s “attempts to govern through the use of unbridled power and authority and its flagrant civil rights violations”
(San Francisco, CA, August 18, 2017)—Today, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a statement publicly urging President Trump to reconsider his July 26 transgender military ban announcement, which stated his intention to prohibit transgender individuals from serving “in any capacity in the U.S. Military.” Kate Kendell, executive director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), which together with GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) filed a federal lawsuit last week challenging Trump’s attempt to reinstate a transgender military ban, issued the following statement in response:
“Under this administration, it’s more important than ever that other governmental agencies, officials, and leaders serve as a check on the executive branch’s attempts to govern through the use of unbridled power and authority and its flagrant civil rights violations.
President Trump’s attempt to ban transgender servicemembers disrespects the judgment of military leaders, undermines military readiness, and as years of study by military experts has shown, has no rational basis.
NCLR thanks the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for joining the chorus of lawmakers, government officials, and military leadership in standing up for the integrity of our nation’s military by opposing Trump’s transgender military ban.”
The complaint in Doe v. Trump, NCLR and GLAD’s federal challenge to President Trump’s transgender military ban, can be viewed here. The lawsuit rests on claims of equal protection, due process and estoppel, based on the inequity of the reversal of military policy after thousands of service members followed protocol and informed their chain of command that they are transgender. In addition to NCLR and GLAD, the plaintiffs in Doe v. Trump are represented by lawyers from Foley, Hoag LLP and WilmerHale.
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The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. www.NCLRights.org
