The U.S. House of Representatives voted 238-185 on March 29 to pass a resolution condemning President Donald J. Trump's ban on transgender persons serving in the military.
The House debated the resolution for about an hour, according to Washington Blade. The measure was introduced by Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III ( D-MA ).
The bill, H.Res.124, states that, "[The House of Representatives ( 1 ) strongly opposes President Trump's discriminatory ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces; ( 2 ) rejects the flawed scientific and medical claims upon which it is based; and ( 3 ) strongly urges the Department of Defense to not reinstate President Trump's ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces and to maintain an inclusive policy allowing qualified transgender Americans to enlist and serve in the Armed Forces."
The ban takes effect April 26, after months of litigation questioning its legality. The policy stemmed from a seemingly random announcement from Trump via Twitter in the summer of 2017.
All 13 of the Democrats in the Illinois Congressional delegation voted in favor of the resolution; all five Republicans voted against them. Five Republican House members voted in favor of the bill.
"Transgender Americans have served in the military with honor and distinction," said U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley ( IL-5 ), in a March 29 statement. "They have fought, bled and died for our country and deserve nothing less from their Commander in Chief than his unreserved support. Today, House Democrats sent a clear message to the trans communitywe see you, we support you, and we stand with you."
Washington Blade's article is at www.washingtonblade.com/2019/03/28/house-votes-to-rebuke-trumps-trans-military-ban/ .