Urge Congress to Protect Transgender Servicemembers in Our Armed Forces

In August 2017, President Trump issued a directive banning transgender individuals from serving in the United States military. The Reform Movement condemned this policy change in an open letter to President Trump. While legal battles have been launched to fight against the ban, the most tenable and sustainable solution is a legislative fix.

In September 2017, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced S. 1820, a bill that would reverse the effects of President Trump's discriminatory ban. An identical bill, H.R. 4041, was introduced shortly after in the House, led by Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA), Charlie Dent (R-PA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Adam Smith (D-WA), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). This legislation would directly address the effects of President Trump's directive by protecting servicemembers on account of their gender identity.

Urge Congress to support this bipartisan legislation to protect transgender service members on account of their gender identity and reverse the effects of President Trump's transgender military ban.

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Background:

S. 1820/H.R. 4041 would protect transgender servicemembers, ensuring that no servicemember can be terminated or denied the services they need on account of their gender identity. This legislation would reverse the effects of President Trump's directive, as well as alleviate any uncertainty generated by the Trump administration's actions about the future of transgender servicemembers in the military.

Jewish Values:

Our Jewish faith is rooted in the intrinsic value of the holiness in all people. As we read in Genesis, every living person is created b'tzelem Elohim, or "in the image of God.” Every human being, regardless of their gender identity, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Using gender identity as a qualifier for service in our armed forces directly contradicts this principle, and represents an outdated and divisive ideology.

Urgency of Now Campaign:

As part of the RAC’s efforts to respond to the Urgency of Now, we are calling on Reform Jews to join us in a sacred covenant to create the world we want. In addition to advocacy on the federal level to ensure LGBTQ rights and equality, the Reform Movement is deeply engaged in a campaign to stand with transgender and gender non-conforming students to demand that welcoming and inclusive policies are in place in our schools. In coalition with local LGBTQ organizations, we are engaging in advocacy at the school district level and are looking to leaders all over the country to drive this effort. To get involved with this campaign, email Noah Fitzgerel.

More Information:

You can email your elected officials through our form above, or you can call the Capital Switchboard at 202.224.3121 and ask to speak directly with their offices.

For more information on this issue, visit the RAC's page on LGBTQ equality or contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Noah Fitzgerel.

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Urge Congress to Protect Transgender Servicemembers in Our Armed Forces