A cruel amendment targeting transgender service members was voted down -- just barely -- in Congress Thursday.
The amendment proposed by Republican Missouri Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler would have cut funding for all transition-related health care, including hormone therapy. The amendment -- which would have negatively affected thousands of service members and military families -- only failed by five votes, 214 to 209, in the House of Representatives.
"Congresswoman Hartzler's attempt to strip health care from service members and their families in a time of war was unpatriotic, unconstitutional, and just plain vile, we are pleased to see that the House of Representatives voted down this amendment," OutServe-SLDN executive director Matt Thorn said in a statement. "It would have been harmful to trans servicemembers, spouses, and families with trans children; it would have undermined our mission readiness by degrading our capabilities as a fighting force. OutServe-SLDN will continue to support and defend our trans brothers and sisters in any and all legal and advocacy matters."
Though transgender members of the armed forces have been allowed to serve openly since October, they've been under constant threat since President Trump took office in January. Only two weeks ago, the enlistment of out transgender service members was placed on a six-month hiatus by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.
