GLAAD STATEMENT ON COURT RULING AGAINST TRUMP ORDER TARGETING TRANS SERVICE MEMBERS

(New York, NY – March 19, 2025) – On Tuesday night, a federal court granted a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of the executive order issued by President Trump directed at transgender service members as it continues to be litigated in court.

The move marks the latest blow to Trump’s discriminatory executive orders targeting marginalized communities. His orders attempting to end birthright citizenship, to erase transgender people administratively under federal law, to ban lifesaving health care for transgender youth under 19, and to ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs have all additionally been struck down by federal courts so far.

GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her) issued the following statement:

“Transgender service members have been serving openly and honorably for many years. Politicizing their service is out of step with the views of the American people, compromises military readiness, and will make America less safe. With this ruling, the courts now follow countless military leaders who spoke out against this dangerous move.”

The preliminary injunction was issued in the legal challenge Talbott v. Trump brought forward by LGBTQ legal groups GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

In the opinion, U.S. District Court Judge Ana Reyes stated that “thousands of transgender servicemembers have sacrificed—some risking their lives—to ensure for others the very equal protection rights the Military Ban seeks to deny them.” Judge Reyes held that banning transgender service members from the military violates the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution because it is discrimination based on transgender status and sex; and because “it is soaked in animus.”Judge Reyes continued: “Its language is unabashedly demeaning, its policy stigmatizes transgender persons as inherently unfit, and its conclusions bear no relation to fact.”

Research shows that Trump’s previous ban on trans service had a negative impact on military readiness, unit cohesion, and national security. 56 generals, admirals, and other leaders from every service branch condemned Trump’s previous attempt to bar open service, noting it would “degrade readiness even more than the failed ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy.”

In his first days and weeks in office, Trump signed five executive orders specifically targeting transgender people’s identities, health care, education, and transgender people actively and capably serving in the military as well as three more orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion with threats to defund educational institutions and nonprofit organizations. 10% of all Trump executive orders signed so far have targeted LGBTQ Americans and all others from marginalized backgrounds, at every American’s expense.

For additional background and military experts’ responses to the specific order targeted at transgender service members, see GLAAD’s previous statement and facts for reporters here.