Federal Court Blocks Trans Military Ban

U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes issued a nationwide preliminary injunction in Talbott v. Trump that challenged Trump’s transgender military ban executive order brought by LGBTQ legal groups GLAD Law & NCLR. In her ruling Judge Reyes noted that “thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed—some risking their lives—to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them.” Judge Reyes held the ban violates equal protection both because it discriminates based on transgender status & sex & because “it is soaked in animus.” As Judge Reyes further held, “Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit & its conclusions bear no relation to fact.” Shannon Minter NCLR Legal Director stated, "The court acted quickly to shield our troops from the harmful effects of this irrational ban. It would have ended careers of dedicated transgender servicemembers & created personnel gaps, leaving others to fill critical roles. The ban's harmful impact & rushed implementation show that it was motivated by prejudice. Our plaintiffs include lifelong military personnel who served in combat in Afghanistan, come from multi-generation military families, & have received honors like the Bronze Star. This ban is unjustifiable & attacks brave servicemembers, recruits & families who sacrifice so much for our country." Jennifer Levi GLAD Law Senior Director of Transgender & Queer Rights concluded, “The Court's unambiguous factual findings lay bare how this ban specifically targets & undermines our courageous service members who have committed themselves to defending our nation. Given the Court's clear-eyed assessment, we are confident this ruling will stand strong on appeal.”

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