WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement decrying President Trump’s newly announced ban on transgender individuals serving in the military:
“Discrimination doesn’t make America safer. We should gratefully accept the contributions of all patriots who want to serve our nation. Today’s Twitter announcement is a disgraceful attack on the thousands of transgender Americans who have served our nation with honor and dignity, and sends a troubling message to those who want to serve in the future – you’re not welcome.
“Our military is here to protect our nation, and all of those who serve do so with courage, dignity and selflessness. President Trump’s Twitter announcement reflects none of those characteristics and is instead a statement of intolerance and backward thinking.
“President Trump and Vice President Pence should reverse this decision immediately. And if they don’t, well, the Senate will be taking up the defense authorization soon.”
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