Press Contact:
Elliot Levy
Press Contact
202-800-7409
Release Date: Monday, August 7, 2017
New York – Following reports that the Trump administration is taking steps to implement President Trump’s Twitter-proposed ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military,Bend the Arc Jewish Action CEO, Stosh Cotler, issued the following statement:
“The reported efforts by the Trump administration to purge the U.S. military of transgender individuals are sickening and severely misguided. They are an affront to both Jewish and American values, which tell us to honor those who serve and value each person’s worth, not use our diversity to sow hatred and division.
Every single day, an estimated 15,000 transgender Americans serve their country honorably through their military service. With dozens of current and former military officers speaking out against President Trump’s proposed ban, this policy clearly has nothing to do with “military readiness” and everything to do with targeting transgender Americans to score political points with his base. Politicians of both parties, and the majority of the American people, are opposed to such a ban.
This proposal puts ideology and politics ahead of our country’s interests and the needs and safety of our servicemembers. We remain united with our transgender friends in and out of uniform against the disgusting, discriminatory agenda of the Trump administration, and will hold accountable those who aid this purge or stand silent in the face of it.”
