9th Circuit Court Blocks President Trump from Implementing Transgender Military Ban

Calvin Freiburger : Jul 20, 2018
Lifesitenews.com

Defense Secretary James Mattis was quoted as saying troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria carry "impacts of healthcare costs, readiness, and unit cohesion," and as such present "considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality."

(Washington, DC)—[Lifesitenews.com] On Wednesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit rejected the Trump administration's request to lift an injunction on its proposed ban on transgender soldiers in the military. (Photo: A Marine stands post/credit: Marine Sgt. Luke Hoogendam/via Defense.gov)

Letting the administration implement the ban while it was under dispute would intrude on the "ordinary processes of administration and judicial review" and therefore "upend, rather than preserve, the status quo," the panel wrote. "Therefore, we deny the motion for a stay of the December 11, 2017 preliminary injunction."

The Trump administration revealed the finalized version of the policy in March. It disqualifies from service "transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria," specifically those who "may require substantial medical treatment, including medications and surgery," except in "certain limited circumstances."

The policy was crafted after "extensive study by senior uniformed and civilian leaders, including combat veterans," according to the White House and detailed by a memo from Defense Secretary James Mattis. The secretary has told lawmakers he is "prepared to defend" the ban as the "best military advice" he could obtain, but will "not intrude" on the court battle over its enforcement.

Mattis concluded that troops diagnosed with gender dysphoria carry "impacts of healthcare costs, readiness, and unit cohesion," and as such present "considerable risk to military effectiveness and lethality"...

Click here to continue reading.