Civil and Human Rights Coalition Condemns Trump’s Barring of Transgender Military Service

WASHINGTON – Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after President Donald Trump issued a memorandum to effectively ban transgender people from serving in the United States Armed Forces:

“Just days after President Trump addressed our troops at Fort Myer about the strength of our force, this announcement only seeks to undermine military readiness.  He has yet again attacked those brave, patriotic individuals who are serving, and seek to serve, in our military, simply because they are transgender. There is no reason for this move beyond bigotry and politics.

We agreed with the president when he said on Monday, ‘The men and women of our military operate as one team, with one shared mission, and one shared sense of purpose.’  We are hopeful that the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security will exercise the authority granted to them by the president and stand up for the rights of all, including patriotic transgender Americans,  who are willing to serve and to protect the security of our country. ”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.