Two advocacy groups have sued President Trump in federal court Wednesday over his declaration on Twitter last month that the Pentagon would reinstate a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military. However, the armed services have not implemented a ban or moved to discharge anyone, saying that it is awaiting guidance from the White House through formal channels rather than on Twitter.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia on behalf of five transgender service members who have collectively served for decades in multiple branches of the military. The lawsuit claims Trump’s ban would violate the equal protection and the due process clauses in the Bill of Rights.
Shannon Minter, lesbian rights center’s legal director, said in a statement Wednesday that Trump’s tweets caused a “tidal wave of harms” for transgender service members serving openly, and that many were “scrambling to deal with what it means for their future and their families.” The proposed ban was met with considerable bipartisan disagreement from Congress, including Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and former presidential candidate. Large technology corporations, including Google, Apple and Facebook, and some high-profile celebrities, including Caitlyn Jenner, also publicly denounced the ban.
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