Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee

RESOLUTION OF THE MANASSAS AND MANASSAS PARK CITIES DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE CALLING ON VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR TO AFFIRM THAT TRANSGENDER TROOPS MAY SERVE OPENLY IN THE VIRGINIA NATIONAL GUARD, VIRGINIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, AND VIRGINIA DEFENSE FORCE

WHEREAS, on July 26, 2017, President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that the United States Government would implement a ban on transgender people from serving in the United States Armed Forces by reversing existing policy that allowed transgender servicemembers to serve openly;

WHEREAS, the Virginia Governor is the Commander-in-Chief of the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force;

WHEREAS, the Trump Administration’s transgender military ban went into effect on April 12, 2019 and military academies will begin to refuse transgender students in 2020;

WHEREAS, transgender service members have served openly since 2016, bravely defending our nation with distinction while preserving unit cohesion and contributing to military readiness;

WHEREAS, a 2016 study by the RAND Corporation found that allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in the Armed Forces would ‘‘have minimal impact on readiness and health care costs’’ and ‘‘little or no impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness’’;

WHEREAS, thousands of transgender Americans currently serve actively in the Armed Forces and in the Reserves throughout all branches and military occupational specialties;

WHEREAS, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, and three former military Surgeons General each have affirmed the medical efficacy of transition-related care and have expressed opposition to President Trump’s discriminatory ban;

WHEREAS, the claims attempting to justify President Trump’s ban are based on flawed scientific and medical assertions;

WHEREAS, there is a global medical consensus that transition related care is effective, safe, and reliable;

WHEREAS, all five military Chiefs of Staff have testified publicly that the existing policy has had no adverse effect on military readiness;

WHEREAS, at least 18 nations allow transgender people to serve openly and effectively in their armed forces;

WHEREAS, on August 1, 2017, fifty-six retired generals and admirals released a statement affirming, ‘‘This proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions, deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy’’;

WHEREAS, transgender members of the Armed Forces have fought in defense of our freedoms with honor and distinction since our Nation’s founding and have been bestowed with such commendations and awards as the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for their courage and sacrifices;

WHEREAS, President Trump’s ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces targets and stigmatizes an entire class of people;

WHEREAS, President Trump’s ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces would affect all transgender members of the Armed Forces and force them to serve under a policy that stigmatizes and devalues their contributions to our Nation’s defense;

WHEREAS, five states (California, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington) are allowing transgender troops to serve in the National Guard despite the Administration’s order.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Manassas and Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee strongly opposes President Trump’s discriminatory ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces; and strongly urges Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to affirm that transgender troops may serve openly in the Virginia National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force.

Adopted unanimously by the Manassas & Manassas Park Cities Democratic Committee on July 17, 2019