Lambda Legal issued the following statement in response to an amendment introduced by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) onto the National Defense Authorization Act on Wednesday evening.
The amendment would deny health care coverage for transgender service members and their military dependents. Hartzler earlier tried to ban transgender people from serving altogether in the House Armed Services Committee, and when that failed, she turned to a new amendment that would exclude health care coverage for military service members and their families.
This is just the latest example of GOP extremists' commitment to standing on the side of bullies and bigots. Transgender service members and their families, like all of those serving in the military, make sacrifices for this country each and every day that we should be celebrating and honoring. Instead, Rep. Hartzler, driven by her insatiable desire to harm transgender service members, seeks to deny these brave men and women and their families the health care that they need.
