Joe Kennedy introduces resolution rejecting Trump’s transgender military ban

Rep. Joe Kennedy (D-Mass.) introduced a House resolution Monday challenging President Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.

“No one willing to serve in our armed services and sacrifice for this country should be subjected to intolerance and bigotry from their commander-in-chief,” Kennedy, the chair of the Congressional Transgender Equality Task Force, said.

{mosads}“But beyond the message sent to our servicemembers, the President’s tweets sent a hateful, harmful message to every single transgender man, woman and child in this nation. Today, my colleagues and I are not only rejecting this misguided policy, but telling every transgender American that they are seen, they are heard, and they will not be erased or discounted by their government.”

Some 111 cosponsors have signed on to the resolution, according to Kennedy’s office.

The Supreme Court ruled in January that the Trump administration could temporarily enforce its restrictions on transgender people serving in the military.

The 5-4 decision left one injunction by a federal district court in Maryland against the rule in place. Pentagon officials have said they cannot fully implement the new policy until that injunction is resolved.

Transgender troops have been serving openly since June 2016, when the Obama administration lifted the previous ban on their service.

Trump tweeted in 2017 that he would “not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” an order that was immediately challenged.

In March, then-Defense Secretary James Mattis released an update to the policy that would allow transgender people to do so in their biological sex.

Earlier this month, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), who is running for president in 2020, introduced legislation to allow transgender people to serve in the military. 

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) introduced a companion bill in the House which was cosponsored by Kennedy.