ASBURY PARK, NJ — Earlier this week, the Trump Administration issued an executive order attempting to ban transgender people from serving in the military. Garden State Equality, New Jersey’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy, education, and wellness organization, condemns this discriminatory action from his first term, and reaffirms its commitment to showing up for transgender servicemembers and their families.
In repeating this egregious action from his first term, Trump is once again seeking to deprive our courageous servicemembers from the national respect and gratitude they have earned through their sacrifices. Unlike the trans military ban of his first administration, however, this one makes no pretense that this is about readiness, unit cohesion, or healthcare costs. This ban, instead, argues the very fact of being transgender “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life,” and that it “is not consistent with the humility and selflessness required of a service member.”
“The issue of whether we negatively impact readiness has more than once been proven false; the draw to service and patriotism are the underlying reasons for nearly all who enlist,” said Sergeant Major Jennifer Marie Long (she/her), who served in the U.S. Army from 1982 to 2012, and is from Kearny, New Jersey. During her career, she was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, provided security at the Holland Tunnel the day after September 11, and served alongside now-Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
“We all have the right to defend freedom, to experience lived equality,” continued Sgt. Maj. Long. “All who entered military service did so of their own free will; they raised their hand and gave an oath to defend our country. They swore to live by a code of honor, a foundation from which this nation was built upon. Their gender identity does not contradict that. I am a patriot, I am a transgender veteran, and I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
“Serving our country is a brave and selfless commitment. Any American willing to risk their life to defend our nation should be given the opportunity to do so, regardless of how they identify,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
“This ban is an affront to our fundamental American values — of equality, and the right to live a life free of discrimination,” said Senator Cory Booker. “We should be grateful to every person who is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country and I will stand with transgender servicemembers against this hateful ban. This action only serves to vilify transgender people and sow deeper the political divide in our country. But it also makes America less safe by pushing talented, qualified individuals away from public service.”
“Denying transgender people the right to serve in the military undermines their dignity, disregards their capabilities, and goes against the values of equality and inclusion that our country stands for,” said Damien Alan Lopez (he/they), Director of Training and Trans Resiliency at Garden State Equality. “Barring skilled and qualified individuals from serving simply because of their gender identity is both discriminatory and wasteful, sending a harmful message that authenticity and service are incompatible. A truly strong and effective military values diversity, and excluding transgender people only weakens its mission and integrity.”