GLAAD CEO: “It’s morally wrong, it’s unpatriotic, and make no mistake – it’s not just discriminatory, it is damaging. It compromises readiness, good order, and discipline in our armed forces.”

Palm Center: Fifty-Six Retired Generals and Admirals Warn That President Trump’s Transgender Military Ban, If Implemented, Would Degrade Military Readiness

NEW YORK – GLAAD, the world’s largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, today issued the following statement denouncing President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender Americans openly serving in our nation’s armed services. Trump’s directive will be implemented on Friday, April 12.

“This is a dark day for our nation’s military and the more than 13,000 brave transgender service members who are putting their lives on the line to protect the freedoms we hold so dear. It’s morally wrong, it’s unpatriotic, and make no mistake – it’s not just discriminatory, it is damaging. It compromises readiness, good order, and discipline in our armed forces.” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD.

Ellis continued, “This systematic erasure by President Trump and his administration is a national disgrace, and we will not be silent, nor will we forget. Equality and acceptance are only made possible when we speak up and fight back. We will continue to do just that, no matter who is in the White House. And we will reverse this discriminatory attack on our military.”

GLAAD has asked all LGBTQ Americans and allies to show support for the trans community by changing their profile photos on social media to the imagine of the trans pride flag. So far, celebrities like Laverne Cox, Peppermint, Asia Kate Dillon, and Ben Stiller and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm have all participated so far in this campaign.

Currently, more than 13,000 transgender service members would experience a direct impact on the ban, and more than fifty-six retired generals and admirals have opposed the Trump Administration’s directive. More information about how and who this ban effects can be found here.  

Not only has GLAAD condemned the administration’s attempt to prevent transgender Americans from serving the United States, but GLAAD also supported the production and publicity of TransMilitary, a documentary which tells the stories about the brave trans soldiers currently our country. GLAAD presented a copy of the documentary to every member of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Military Personnel ahead of the subcommittee’s hearing on the topic on February 27. TransMilitary is now available on iTunes and Amazon.

The Trump Administration’s ban on transgender service members are a part of the more than 100 attacks the administration has made against LGBTQ Americans in policy or rhetoric since 2017. To see the entire list of attacks on Trump’s attacks on LGBTQ Americans and for more information on GLAAD’s Trump Accountability Project, go to www.glaad.org/trump. 

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