PHILADELPHIA – Amber Hikes, Executive Director for the Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs today released a statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Trump administration to enforce its transgender ban for military service.

“We are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender individuals from joining, and remaining, in military service. This ban is an act of hatred and a flagrant abuse of power by the Trump administration. It is a direct attack on the transgender community and an extension of the current administration’s continued transphobic agenda and assault on the rights and dignity of transgender Americans. As the litigation continues, we can only hope that the judiciary will ultimately strike down this unconstitutional, transphobic policy.

“The Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of LGBT Affairs will not tolerate government-sanctioned bigotry and blatant transphobia. We continue to stand with our trans service members, veterans, and military families to ensure people of trans experience have access to their rights and protections under the law. Our office will continue to work with our residents to resist acts of hatred against those of us who remain the most targeted, discriminated, and marginalized.”