ACLU Sues Trump Over Transgender Service Member Ban

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Monday challenging President Trump’s ban on transgender service members, The Hill reported. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the ACLU of Maryland and represents five current transgender members of the armed forces. The suit argues that the ban violates the constitutional rights of transgender individuals by singling them out for unequal and discriminatory treatment. It also argues that, in addition to being based on uniformed speculation, the ban is based in a desire to harm transgender people. Groups Lambda Legal and OutServe-SLDN also filed a federal lawsuit Monday, challenging the constitutionality of the ban. The lawsuits come after Trump signed a directive to the Defense and Homeland Security departments on Friday, reinstating the prohibition on transgender individuals from serving in the military.