DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement as the Department of Defense began implementing President Trump’s ban on transgender Americans serving in the military:

“Despite the vocal opposition of dozens of former and current military leaders with decades of experience, President Trump will begin implementing his discriminatory, unnecessary ban on transgender Americans serving in our military.

“This decision will only weaken our military, endanger our national security, and hurt the brave transgender Americans currently serving or hoping to serve their country. We should be celebrating the patriotism and courage of our servicemembers, not attacking them because of their identity.

“This President once promised he would be an ally of the LGBTQ community. But time and again his policies, actions, and words have shown that he believes LGBTQ people are second-class citizens.

“Discrimination is not a national security strategy, and prejudice is not patriotism. I’m encouraged that the new House Democratic majority recently took a stand against hate and voted to reject President Trump’s arbitrary ban. Democrats will continue to fight alongside transgender Americans and the entire LGBTQ community.”