Trans To The Barricades!!!

"[Service by troops who identify as a gender other than their biological one] conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honourable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life [and is harmful to military readiness, requiring a revised policy to address the matter]."

U.S. President Donald J. Trump

"The law is very clear that the government can't base policies on disapproval of particular groups of people."

"That's animus, and animus-based laws are presumed to be invalid and unconstitutional."

Shannon Minter, legal director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)

It took no time at all after the Presidential inauguration ceremonies, for President Trump to begin signing executive orders in alteration of many initiatives undertaken by the previous Biden administration. One of which was a return to his previous presidential order negating the military service of transgender people in the United States military. Most recently an executive order whose purpose was to direct incoming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to look to revising the policy on transgender groups in the Pentagon. Inevitably leading to a ban on military service for transgenders in the United States.

This was, of course, an entirely expected move, much mentioned as a promise during President Trump's election campaign. In addition to which troops who had left the military of their own volition rather than accepting mandatory COVID 19 vaccinations (including those who had been drummed out of the military for the same reason), are to be reinstated. 

Advocacy groups anticipated the order and they lost no time in reacting, by opposing the order and launching lawsuits. The first of which w as set to be filed the day following the order. Legal teams had for years fought the Republican ban on transgender troops, dating from the first Trump administration. The Supreme Court at that time allowed the ban to take effect, irrespective of the fact that it was  still being brought before the courts. And when Joe Biden took the presidency, he scrapped the order.

Transgender people in the U.S. say they’re worried about what’s to come after President Donald Trump signed an executive order saying his government only recognizes two sexes that are assigned at birth. Still from video/CBC

The National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLAD Law are now filing a challenge to the executive order in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, while also challenging the executive order citing equal protection. No official data exists on transgender personnel serving in the U.S. military, but there is an informal number of some fifteen thousand.

The new executive order differs from the 2017 Trump administration ban, in that it not only bans all future transgender personnel from serving, but as well has the potential to target all current transgender troops, according to Shannon Minter of the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

"[We do not comment on pending or ongoing litigation but we] will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives."

Pentagon statement