A major US federal appeals court has delivered a significant victory to the Trump administration, reinstating a controversial policy that effectively bans most transgender individuals from serving in the American military.
The ruling from the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturns a previous injunction that had blocked the policy from taking effect. This decision now allows the Pentagon to implement the ban while several underlying lawsuits challenging its constitutionality continue to wind their way through the legal system.
The Heart of the Controversy
Initially announced by former President Donald Trump in a series of 2017 tweets, the policy argues that transgender troops could undermine military effectiveness and unit cohesion. It reverses an Obama-era directive that had allowed them to serve openly.
Under the reinstated rules, currently serving transgender troops can remain, but new recruits diagnosed with gender dysphoria are largely barred from enlisting. The policy also mandates that personnel serve in accordance with their biological sex.
Reactions and Legal Battles
The court's decision has been met with swift condemnation from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organisations. They argue the ban is fundamentally discriminatory and undermines national security by excluding qualified, patriotic Americans from service.
Legal experts suggest this ruling is a pivotal moment but not the final word. The core lawsuits challenging the ban's validity are still active, and the matter is widely expected to eventually reach the US Supreme Court.
This development marks a critical juncture in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights within US institutions and is being closely watched by activists and policymakers on both sides of the Atlantic.
