GLAD Law and NCLR File Challenge to Trump’s Transgender Military Ban

Plaintiffs bring decades of experience across all military branches, contributing among the highest levels of service

WASHINGTON, D.C.— GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) have 提起联邦诉讼 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia challenging President Trump’s January 27, 2025, order banning transgender people from serving in the U.S. military.

The suit, 塔尔博特诉特朗普案, was filed on equal protection grounds on behalf of six active service members and two individuals actively seeking enlistment.

“当你穿上制服时，差异就消失了，重要的是你的工作能力。” 陆军少尉尼古拉斯·塔尔博特说道。 每个人都必须符合相同的目标和严格的资格要求才能服役。报效祖国一直是我的梦想和目标，从我记事起就一直如此。我的跨性别身份丝毫不会影响我对使命的奉献、对部队的忠诚，也不会影响我按照我和每位军人所期望的高标准履行职责的能力。

Plaintiffs serve across all branches of the military and are contributing among the highest levels, including a Major, a Captain, a Sergeant, and a Navy Pilot. They bring decades of experience, training, and education, including a West Point education and several master’s degrees. They have decorated careers, with commendations ranging from Sailor of the Year and Meritorious Service Medals to Joint Service Commendations and a Bronze Star. Some have been a part of decorated military families spanning generations and have served honorably throughout the country and the world on many deployments.

“我一辈子都在军中度过。我出生在一个军事基地，” 丹·丹里奇少尉，美国海军飞行学员。 “我每天都和其他人一样系好靴子。我和其他人一样通过考试。跨性别身份与我的服役无关。重要的是我能完成对我们使命至关重要的任务。”

“我的家族有着悠久的服兵役传统，这也是我唯一从事的职业，” 戈登·埃雷罗，美国陆军上尉“将像我这样的合格士兵分开，会导致整个部队出现关键职位空缺，并可能危及部队凝聚力和信任，而这些对于我们的使命至关重要。跨性别身份本身并不会让我比我并肩作战的其他士兵更好或更差。我们之所以在这里，是因为我们忠于国家，我们充满热情，愿意并且能够有效地服务国家。”

“我人生中有一半以上的时间是在军队度过的，包括在阿富汗的战斗，” 凯特·科尔，陆军一级军士长“解雇像我这样合格的跨性别士兵，意味着一批经验丰富的关键岗位人员的流失，这些人员很难被取代，这会把负担加到我们留下的战友身上。这是完全错误的——这会破坏我们军队的稳定。”

GLAD Law and NCLR led the legal challenge to Trump’s first transgender military ban, issued in 2017. Multiple federal courts found that ban to be unconstitutional, blocking it from taking effect for nearly two years. President Biden reversed the ban in 2021.

“This ban betrays fundamental American values of equal opportunity and judging people on their merit,” said Jennifer Levi, Senior Director of Transgender and Queer Rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law). “It slams the door on qualified patriots who meet every standard and want nothing more than to serve their country, simply to appease a political agenda. That’s not just un-American, it makes our country weaker by pushing away talented service members who put their lives on the line every day for our nation.”

“President Trump’s repeated targeting of transgender service members is a stain on our military,” said Shannon Minter, legal director at NCLR. “Anyone who meets the standards should be able to serve. There are already thousands of transgender service members currently in the military who have met the standards and more than proven themselves.”

In addition to GLAD Law and NCLR, plaintiffs are represented by Joseph Wardenski, Principal Attorney, Wardenski P.C.

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