BREAKING: U.S. House of Representatives Votes Down Amendment Ripping Away Critical Health Care for Transgender Service Members & Military Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 13, 2017 - Today, OutServe-SLDN and the American Military Partner Association (AMPA) praised a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives voting down a vicious amendment that would have ripped away medically necessary health care for transgender service members and military dependents. Proposed by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), the amendment would have barred access to transition-related health care - including critically important care such as hormone therapy - for service members and military family members. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 214 to 209.

"Congresswoman Hartzler's attempt to strip healthcare from service members and their families in a time of war was unpatriotic, unconstitutional, and just plain vile, we are pleased to see that the House of Representatives voted down this amendment" said OutServe-SLDN Executive Director Matt Thorn. "It would have been harmful to trans servicemembers, spouses, and families with trans children; it would have undermined our mission readiness by degrading our capabilities as a fighting force. OutServe-SLDN will continue to support and defend our trans brothers and sisters in any and all legal and advocacy matters."

"This was a horrifying, vicious attack on service members and military family members, and our families were beside themselves in fear," said AMPA President Ashley Broadway-Mack. "It would have been beyond unconscionable to rip away the critically important health care of transgender military family members and service members - care that their doctors believe is medically necessary - and would have severely harmed thousands of military families and undermine military readiness. We are incredibly grateful to the members of Congress who stood up and stopped this assault on our military families."

Since October 2016, it has been the policy of the Department of Defense to allow transgender members of the armed forces to serve openly and authentically. Estimates show there are more than 15,500 transgender individuals currently serving in the armed services. In addition to these service members, thousands of service members also have members of their families who are transgender.

OutServe-SLDN (OS-SLDN) is the largest non-profit, legal services, advocacy and policy organization dedicated to bringing about full LGBT equality to America's military and ending all forms of discrimination and harassment of military personnel on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. For more information, visit www.outserve-sldn.org.

The American Military Partner Association (AMPA) is the nation's largest non-profit organization of LGBT military spouses, their families, and allies. With more than 50,000 members and supporters, AMPA is committed to education, advocacy, and support for "modern military families." For more information, visit www.MilitaryPartners.org