03-11-2022, 08:18 PM
A group of 39 House Democrats on 1 JUN introduced a new bill to ensure that transgender dependents of
active duty service members have access to needed health care. Led by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) the
Armed Forces Transgender Dependent Protection Act would prevent the Defense Department from
stationing service members and their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender dependents “in states or
countries that prohibit or otherwise restrict gender affirming healthcare and treatments” for them. “Despite
the progress that we have made in our fight for LGBTQ equality, service members and their transgender
dependents continue to face hurdles that threaten their development,” Panetta said in a statement
announcing the bill.
Republicans in more than 30 states across the country have passed or advanced legislation targeting
transgender Americans, particularly students, in the past several months. Democrats and LGBT advocates
have deemed such legislation as discriminatory and several lawsuits are expected to ensue. Earlier on 1
JUN, the first day of Pride Month, Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis ® signed a law that prohibits transgender
student athletes from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. The Biden administration has
taken steps to show support for LGBT rights. President Biden in January signed an executive order lifting
the ban on transgender service members implemented during the Trump administration.
In late March, the Pentagon released its new rules allowing open service by transgender troops,
essentially reverting to the Obama administration’s open service policy. But the Democratic lawmakers
want to make sure the Pentagon goes a step further and install protections for the dependents of service
members. “Across America, Republican-led states have embarked on the discriminatory mission of
legislatively outlawing medical treatment for trans Americans,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman
Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “Ensuring that transgender children and
spouses of active duty service members can access medically necessary treatment is a question of dignity,
fairness, and civil rights.”
active duty service members have access to needed health care. Led by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) the
Armed Forces Transgender Dependent Protection Act would prevent the Defense Department from
stationing service members and their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender dependents “in states or
countries that prohibit or otherwise restrict gender affirming healthcare and treatments” for them. “Despite
the progress that we have made in our fight for LGBTQ equality, service members and their transgender
dependents continue to face hurdles that threaten their development,” Panetta said in a statement
announcing the bill.
Republicans in more than 30 states across the country have passed or advanced legislation targeting
transgender Americans, particularly students, in the past several months. Democrats and LGBT advocates
have deemed such legislation as discriminatory and several lawsuits are expected to ensue. Earlier on 1
JUN, the first day of Pride Month, Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis ® signed a law that prohibits transgender
student athletes from playing on teams that align with their gender identity. The Biden administration has
taken steps to show support for LGBT rights. President Biden in January signed an executive order lifting
the ban on transgender service members implemented during the Trump administration.
In late March, the Pentagon released its new rules allowing open service by transgender troops,
essentially reverting to the Obama administration’s open service policy. But the Democratic lawmakers
want to make sure the Pentagon goes a step further and install protections for the dependents of service
members. “Across America, Republican-led states have embarked on the discriminatory mission of
legislatively outlawing medical treatment for trans Americans,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman
Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), a co-sponsor of the bill, said in a statement. “Ensuring that transgender children and
spouses of active duty service members can access medically necessary treatment is a question of dignity,
fairness, and civil rights.”