The Center condemns President Trump’s executive order targeting the transgender military community, including active-duty servicemembers currently serving openly.
Although it is unclear at this time how far-reaching this order will be, this order is a cruel attempt to erase transgender people and a rejection of their dignity, patriotism, and loyalty to service for this country. The Center is committed to sharing accurate information in a timely fashion to our community.
Trans people have always served in our military, and there are thousands of trans people who are equally qualified and currently serve our nation. This order not only marginalizes transgender military personnel, but also reduces the effectiveness of our military by undermining the trust, unity, and close bonds between servicemembers that make our military strong. The Trump administration’s assertion that a person identifying with a gender that is different from their sex assigned at birth makes them unfit for service is heartbreaking and harmful. This assertion disrespects and disregards the sacrifice of thousands of trans veterans and active-duty servicemembers.
At The San Diego LGBT Community Center, we have seen that anti-trans military policies have far-reaching negative impacts on our trans and nonbinary community—many of whom rely on the military for housing and healthcare. Trans individuals already face significant barriers to stable, well-paying employment due to discrimination, and jeopardizing their military service will displace thousands more from their jobs and homes, causing negative ripple effects in our local economy that is a military stronghold.
The Center is committed to supporting our trans and nonbinary community members with resources through our Project TRANS program, including case management, support and discussion groups, referrals, and connecting individuals with knowledgeable, gender-affirming health care providers and mental health services. The Center also advocates for the rights of transgender military servicemembers, offering referrals and support for those affected by discriminatory policies. We work to raise awareness about the importance of diversity in the military through our annual LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor Ceremony.
To our trans and nonbinary servicemembers and veterans – you are valid, you exist, and you are the experts on who you are. We are grateful for your service to our nation. Your livelihood and your identity are worth protecting, and we will continue to advocate for your right to serve openly and authentically.