Title:
Committee(s) Assignment:
Expression of opposition to decision of President Donald J. Trump to ban members of transgender community from military service
Committee on Human Relations
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
July 26, 2017
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with various aldermen, a resolution regarding President Trump's proposed ban on transgender people from military service.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The service and sacrifices of the members of our military guarantee the freedoms that each and every American enjoys today; and
WHEREAS, Those who answer the call to military service include persons of every race, color, religion, gender, and gender identity; and
WHEREAS, Under a decision by former Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter to lift a ban on transgender military service, for the past year transgender troops have been serving openly and have been widely praised for their service; and
WHEREAS, Transgender soldiers openly serve in the military forces of eighteen of our allies around the world, including Israel and Great Britain. Our allies have noted that policies allowing the transgender community to serve in the military have benefited all service members by creating a more inclusive and diverse force; and
WHEREAS, A Rand Corporation study commissioned by the Department of Defense estimated that there are fewer than 10,000 members of our armed forces who are transgender, and concluded that allowing members of the transgender community to serve would not impact unit cohesion, operational effectiveness, or readiness; and
WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the willingness of these transgender troops to voluntarily defend the freedoms we all hold dear, President Donald J. Trump decided, on the 69th anniversary of President Truman's order to integrate the mili...
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