Battle Mountain, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement after media reports indicated the Trump Administration will send guidance to the Department of Defense implementing a ban on transgender Americans serving in the U.S. military:
“In Nevada, our first openly transgender national guardsman, Sgt. Sam Hunt, is a testament to the bravery, commitment, and diversity that our Armed Forces represent. The President’s order to ban transgender troops brings discrimination directly into the chain of command, undermining our military readiness. He has rightly said our Armed Forces are a proud example of patriotism and diversity, ‘united by shared values and shared duty.’ I agree. As I am sure the 15,000 transgender Americans that currently serve, and the 134,000 veterans who have honorably served do as well. Unfortunately, we have a President that ignores the American values of inclusion and respect, and has failed the test of the commander in chief. Discrimination has no place in our Armed Forces. It’s wrong and I will not stand for it.”
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