Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand visited The LOFT: LGBT Community Center to discuss her amendment to grant anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to transgender service members. In the wake of the Supreme Court of the United States’ historic decision to ban discrimination against gay and transgender employees, Senator Gillibrand is fighting to ensure that these same protections are also extended to uniformed military members.
“Two weeks ago the Supreme Court made clear that no one should be fired simply because of who they are or who they love. The ruling was an incredible victory for our LGBTQ community and a major step forward for our country,” said Senator Gillibrand. “However, those protections against workplace discrimination do not extend to uniformed members of our military. Transgender service members deserve better. Today’s visit to The Loft: LGBT Community Center affirmed all the reasons why we must fight for transgender service members. I will do everything in my power to amend this year’s National Defense Authorization Act to grant anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to transgender service members.”
“We are grateful to Senator Gillibrand for her tireless efforts to achieve true equality,” said Judy Troilo, Executive Director of The Loft: LGBT Community Center. “In partnership with Senator Susan Collins, Senator Gillibrand’s proposed National Defense Authorization Act Amendment is a necessary measure to ensure protections for our TGNCNB (transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary) community members, who bravely serve our country.”
“After a Supreme Court ruling protecting LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in the workplace, it is our duty to extend this human right to people in all fields of work,” said Congresswoman Nita Lowey, (NY-17). “We must reverse the Trump Administration’s heinous ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and ensure that transgender people who want to serve can do so with dignity. It is critical to include these basic workplace protections in the NDAA.”
Wednesday, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced an amendment to this year’s National Defense Authorization Act that would grant anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people that would extend to transgender service members. Senators Gillibrand and Collins have led the effort to protect transgender service members from discrimination. As ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, Gillibrand has repeatedly pressed U.S. military leaders on trans service members’ ability to serve.
The LOFT: LGBT Community Center advocates for the rights of all LGBTQ people and provides a safe space in which everyone is respected, supported, and valued.