Donald Trump ‘s executive order that banning transgender people from serving in the military has been blocked by a federal judge. U.S.
District Judge Ana Reyes , who was appointed by President Biden , ruled that the executive order is likely unconstitutional as it violates the prohibition on sex discrimination. CNN reports that Reyes wrote that the ban “is soaked in animus and dripping with pretext. Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit, and its conclusions bear no relation to fact.
” She added, “Defendants have not provided a legitimate reason for banning all transgender troops.” Trump ‘s executive order was signed on January 27 and the military announced on February 11 that it would not longer allow transgender people to join. The military later announced plans to expel transgender service members.
Reuters reports that of the 1.3 million active-duty personnel, officials claim the number of transgender service members is in the low thousands. Transgender rights advocates say the number is around 15,000 people.
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