California Joins Lawsuit Against Trump's Trans Military Ban

A U.S. District Court has cleared the way for California to join the plaintiffs of Stockman v. Trump, which challenges the president's ban on trans service members.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra was given the green-light to join Equality California and seven other individual plaintiffs involved in Stockman v. Trump.

"Our state is home to more than 130,000 active duty military personnel, in addition to more than 56,000 members of the National Guard and Reserves," Becerra said in a statement. "We are ready to get to work to defend the rights of transgender service members and those who seek to enlist in our armed forces. In California, we stand together against discrimination and inequality. We look forward to joining as a co-plaintiff in this critically important lawsuit to defend the rights of Californians against President Trump's prejudicial and discriminatory agenda."

Becerra's main argument against the ban is that it will "Impede the California National Guard's ability to recruit and retain members that would protect the State's natural resources in times of need; Force California to violate anti-discrimination laws and discriminate against its own residents in staffing the California National Guard; Threaten the State's ability to safeguard public institutions of higher learning from discrimination in ROTC programs."

Trump announced the trans ban on Twitter in late July and signed a memo pushing forth its implementation the next month. Stockman v. Trump was brought against the Trump administration in September by Equality California; the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Gay and Lesbian Allies and Defenders are co-counsel. A federal judge temporarily blocked the ban on October 30, saying cases against it are likely to succeed. A hearing on Stockman v. Trump will take place December 11.