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| ACLU sues Donald Trump over transgender military ban | ACLU sues Donald Trump over transgender military ban |
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| The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the Trump administration over the President's ban on transgender people serving in the military. | |
| The ACLU claims the ban, which Donald Trump announced via Twitter last month, is unconstitutional and based on "uninformed speculation, myths and stereotypes, and a desire to harm transgender people". | |
| “Men and women who are transgender with the courage and capacity to serve deserve more from their commander-in-chief," ACLU attorney Joshua Block said in a statement. | “Men and women who are transgender with the courage and capacity to serve deserve more from their commander-in-chief," ACLU attorney Joshua Block said in a statement. |
| Mr Trump's tweets initially sparked outcry and confusion, as it appeared the Pentagon had not been briefed on his decision. The announcement appeared to roll back an Obama-era decision to allow current transgender service members to serve openly, and permit new transgender recruits to enlist. | |
| Mr Trump codified his decision last week, directing the Pentagon to bar all transgender individuals from joining the military indefinitely. White House officials would not say whether those currently enlisted could continue to serve. | |
| Now, the ACLU has filed a suit claiming that the policy discriminates on sex and transgender status, and violates constitutional rights to equal protection and substantive due process. | |
| The suit is one of two legal complaints filed against Mr Trump's ban. The Lambda Legal and OutServe-Service Members Legal Defense Network also filed suit on Monday, claiming the ban is "unsupported by any compelling, important, or even rational justification". | |
| That suit was filed on behalf one transgender person currently serving in the military, and two who want to enlist. The ACLU sued on behalf of five transgender members of the military. One of the members served in the US military for 9 years, including a tour in Afghanistan, according to the ACLU. Another was previously named "Airman of the Year". | |
| More follows... | More follows... |