FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 5, 2018
Contact: David Carl (505) 288-2465
Albuquerque, NM – This week, Attorney General Hector Balderas signified his strong support for the rights of transgender Americans to serve in the U.S. Military, by joining more than a dozen attorneys general from around the nation in filing a brief opposing President Trump’s stated plan to re-institute an unconstitutional ban on open service in the military by transgender Americans.
“It is despicable that the Trump administration would pursue the reinstatement of this discriminatory and unconstitutional ban,” said Attorney General Hector Balderas. “It is in both
the best interest of the United States Military, and in the best interest of democracy to allow our brave transgender New Mexicans to openly serve in the armed forces, without fear of
discrimination or persecution.”
Approximately 150,000 veterans, active-duty service members, and members of the National Guard or Reserves identify as transgender, and transgender individuals volunteer to serve and protect our country through the Armed Forces at approximately twice the rate of other adults in the general population.
Joining Attorney General Balderas in the filing of this Amicus Brief are the attorneys general from California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and the District of Columbia.
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