The US Air Force on Thursday said members of transgender services, who served between 2015 and 2018, would be denied the opportunity to retire early and instead would be separated from the military without benefits.
Trans units have the option of accepting lump sum payments offered to junior service members or being removed from the service.
An Air Force spokesperson told The Associated Press: “Service members with honorable services from 15-18 years were allowed to apply for policy exceptions, but the policy exceptions were not approved.”
About 12 Trans Airmen were “early notified” that they were able to retire early before the decision was reversed, the spokesman said.
In response to the news, Human Rights Campaign Chief of Staff Jay Brown said, “This is unprotectable. After denying the ability to serve transgender soldiers already in their country, the Trump administration is now stripping them of the retirement benefits they have earned after years of honorary service.”
Brown continues, “This has nothing to do with military preparation. It’s cruel for cruelty.”
The HRC and Lambda Legal represent the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, Shilling v. United States, challenge the Trump Vance administration’s military service ban by trans people.
The Air Force, refusing to retire from the military, has made its first appearance in Washington Blade, LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights and Gay News.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
