“We urge Americans from every stripe to call and tell the Trump-Pence Administration to stop playing politics with our nation’s Armed Forces. Our trans service members deserve a Commander-in-Chief who values their commitment, their honor, their courage to this country, and their willingness to risk their lives in its defense of its freedoms. It is time for this administration’s attempt at a transgender service member ban be abandoned. We will continue our legal challenges should the Trump-Pence Administration continue down this road of discrimination and distraction.”
“We are at a critical juncture in the White House’s shameful attempt to implement a transgender military ban, and it’s essential that fair-minded Americans call and tell Donald Trump and Mike Pence to stop putting their politics ahead of our troops,” said Ashley Broadway-Mack, President of the American Military Partner Association. “Our transgender service members and their families deserve better than to be targeted and singled out by this administration for blatant, unconstitutional discrimination. It’s time this White House abandon this unconscionable transgender military ban and start honoring and supporting ALL of our nation’s brave service members.”
“What we know at Gender Justice League is what every court who has ruled on this ban has said; the transgender military ban is wrong and unconstitutional,” said Danni Askini, Executive Director of Gender Justice League, “We have members who are hard working service members and veterans who all deserve to be judged on their ability to do their jobs, not on their gender. We are calling on the Trump Administration to drop this cynical attack and do their job to support Americans willing to serve their country.”
Making clear the bipartisan opposition to the ban, the ad features quotes from Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ).
HRC, the American Military Partner Association, and Gender Justice League are co-organizational plaintiffs, along with nine individuals, in Karnoski v. Trump — a case brought by Lambda Legal and Outserve-SLDN, challenging the ban in court. Six separate federal courts have issued rulings blocking implementation of the ban. Barring further court action, the administration cannot implement this ban.
