News (USA)

Federal court blocks Trump’s transgender military ban

Donald Trump
Photo: Michael Vadon on Wikimedia Commons

A federal court has blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military while a case against it works its way through the legal system.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote on Monday that the transgender military members who have filed suit are likely to win their case, and barred the Trump administration from changing policy in the meantime, the Associated Press reports.

Trump announced the ban on Twitter, claiming he did so after consulting with military leaders. Democrats have asked for receipts, as the claim has so far remained unproven. In fact, there is proof of the opposite.

It has, however, proven unpopular, both among the American public, as well as with politicians and military personnel. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has denounced the ban.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly denied the plaintiff’s motion to block the ban on funds for gender reassignment surgery, however, reports The Hill.

“Today’s preliminary injunction is an important step in the ongoing efforts to protect transgender service members from the dangerous and discriminatory policies of Donald Trump and Mike Pence,” said Sarah Warbelow, HRC’s Legal Director.

“Donald Trump’s erratic tweets and half-baked orders disrespect the bravery of the countless transgender people who have fought, and in many cases died, for their country. The immediate harm to our national defense and to the thousands of transgender people serving and wishing to serve their country must be stopped — and we are grateful that a federal judge has blocked this administration from discharging any qualified individuals because of their gender identity while these cases continue to make their way through the courts.”

“This is the first decision striking down President Trump’s ban, but it won’t be the last. The federal courts are recognizing what everyone already knows to be true: President Trump’s impulsive decision to ban on transgender people from serving in the military service was blatantly unconstitutional,” said Joshua Block, senior staff attorney with the ACLU’s LGBT & HIV Project.

“As all of these cases move forward, we will continue to work to ensure that transgender service members are treated with the equal treatment they deserve.”

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