8/9/2017

LEGAL/LGBTQ/MILITARY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Two advocacy groups sued President Trump in federal court Wednesday [8-9-17] over his declaration on Twitter last month that the Pentagon would a reinstate a ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military.
So far, the armed services have not implemented a ban or moved to discharge anyone, saying that it is awaiting guidance from the White House through formal channels rather than on Twitter.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia on behalf of five transgender service members who have collectively served for decades in multiple branches of the military.
The lawsuit claims Trump’s ban would violate the equal protection and the due process clauses in the Bill of Rights.
Trump blindsided the Pentagon on July 26 when he wrote on Twitter that the government would not ‘accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. military.’…
A Pentagon spokesman told the Los Angeles Times the day of Trump’s tweets that they were considered ‘guidance rather than an order from the commander-in-chief.’ “

-Lauren Rosenblatt, “Advocacy groups sue Trump over proposed transgender military ban,” The Los Angeles Times online, Aug. 9, 2017 10:16am