Quigley Statement on Trump’s Ban on Transgender Military Members

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to ban transgender Americans from serving in the U.S. Military:

"Excluding transgender Americans from military service is reprehensible. Transgender servicemembers have been serving openly and effectively for over a decade. Today's attacks are not based in science or reason. Instead, they are repeating the same mistakes from 20 years ago when Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell targeted gay and lesbian servicemembers. We repealed that discriminatory policy fifteen years ago, and I am committed to repealing this new ban too.  

"Today's ban on transgender servicemembers and his dismantling of diversity programs in the military only confirms what we already knew: Donald Trump is ready to throw all marginalized communities under the bus to appease his base. At the same time that he attacks current servicemembers and the Tuskegee Airmen, he supports the January 6 insurrectionists and white supremacist leaders who attacked our democracy. These extremist policies do not reflect most Americans' values and they should not be the military's values.

“Transgender Americans in the military have volunteered to serve our nation with the knowledge they may have to give their last full measure of devotion. It is unacceptable and offensive to refuse them solely on the basis of their gender. Trump's decisions are weakening our military readiness while his foreign policy decisions threaten our national security. None of this is making America stronger or safer."