Paul, Weiss Files Amicus Brief Opposing Ban on Transgender Military Service Members

Paul, Weiss filed an amicus brief on behalf of nine veterans’ organizations in support of the lawsuit filed by GLAD (GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) on behalf of five anonymous transgender service members seeking to block the Trump administration’s proposed ban on transgender individuals from serving openly in the military. 

The brief, filed in the D.C. Circuit and referred to as the “United Military Voices Brief,” features excerpts from conversations with numerous active duty and veteran service members. It argues that the proposed ban is fundamentally inconsistent with the experiences of veterans and with the military’s shared values of respect, honor and selflessness. It also addressed the issues of unit cohesion and military readiness, advocating that both are enhanced, not threatened, by diversity of membership. Amici filing the brief include organizations whose members have served in every branch of the military and fought in every American conflict since World War II.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partners Andrew Ehrlich and Craig Benson and associates George Kroup, Eric Felleman, David Giller, William Freeland, Naomi Yang, Nicholas Butto, Rachel Corrigan and Eva Gao.

» click here to read the United Military Voices brief