Garden State Equality will hold a rally 11 a.m. Saturday in direct protest to President Donald Trump’s announcement to ban transgender servicemembers serving in the United States Military.
The rally, held in conjunction with Women’s March Asbury Park organizers, will kick off in the Paradise parking lot, located 101 Asbury Avenue and traverse to Library Square Park, located at Asbury and Grand avenues.
“There are Transgender troops serving all 
throughout our military,” Garden State Equality Executive Director Christian Fuscarino said [at right with Asbury Park’s Garrett Giberson Jr]. “Instituting a ban only weakens our forces and sends a message to our troops that their service is not valued. The servicemembers of our military are heroes who stand and defend the values of our nation every day. Trump’s decision undermines those values, and is a disservice to our military and to our country. Donald Trump and this outrageous ban must be stopped.”
The unilateral ban would affect New Jersey servicemembers like Jennifer Long, who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and who received the Bronze Star for combat service in Afghanistan.
“The armed forces have trained thousands of transgender service members at substantial cost to perform vital combat missions—forcing them out risks losing that substantial investment and also wrongly threatens the benefits they reasonably expected to earn in exchange for their service.” said Long, who transitioned while still on active duty.
Trump announcement came via three Twitter posting beginning at 8:55 a.m. Wednesday. In it he states:
“After consultation with my Generals 
and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow….
…Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming…..
…victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”
Fuscarino said Garden State Equality will continue to fight against this ban, and against discrimination in all its forms.
Supporters of LGBT rights across the state issued written statements denouncing the ban. Below are those statements provided by Garden State Equality:
“President Trump’s decision to strip rights from active duty military personnel who have been serving honestly and openly for more than a year is simply disgusting,” said Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Phil Murphy said. “Discrimination anywhere, but particularly in our military, is unacceptable no matter the flimsy excuse.”
“Tens of thousands of transgender Americans have bravely and selflessly served our military, risking their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy every day,” said Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. “Like all Americans, they deserve the opportunity to wear the uniform regardless of their gender identity. President Trump’s bigoted decision will make America less safe and inhibit our military readiness. It is clear that President Trump is doubling down on his policies of hatred and it is the responsibility of all Americans – especially the Congress – to stand against this injustice.”
Republican Congressman Tom MacArthur said, “This policy goes too far.”
“The thousands of transgender Americans serving 
in our military are heroes – just as all of our service members are – who risk their lives to keep us safe,” Sen Cory Booker said in a written statement. “Forbidding these brave Americans to serve our country flies in the face of the values the United States was built upon. It also undermines our national security and makes our military forces weaker. Our military should be recruiting the best and brightest, regardless of gender identity. This decision is particularly galling coming from a President who actively avoided military service through five draft deferments and believes that the word ‘sacrifice’ means trying to make money. Mr. President, trans military members have sacrificed far more than you ever have – or will.”
“I support and am grateful for any brave American who wants to put on a uniform and serve our nation,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Banning transgender individuals from serving in our military is discriminatory and does not make us safer. Courage and sacrifice transcend identity — and I strongly urge President Trump to end this ban.”
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