Watch video of the press conference here

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey joined leaders from Minority Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, SPARTA, the National Women’s Law Center, the Human Rights Campaign, and community advocates to call for the removal of anti-LGBTQ+ language from the National Defense Authorization Act that blocks health care to trans kids of servicemembers.

In his remarks, Senator Markey made clear the stakes: “Trans rights are human rights. Health care is a human right. Today, we must defend both…To every trans American, to every servicemember, their families, friends, and communities: I will not turn my back on you. I am with you. And together, we will keep fighting.”

Senator Markey joined Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and 19 other co-sponsors in introducing an amendment to strike this unnecessary and cruel intrusion on military families’ health care decision-making. If the discriminatory provision survives, it could rip health care from thousands of children of military service members. Such disruptions to care would have a devastating impact on military readiness, as servicemembers grapple with new health care out-of-pocket costs and negative health impacts for their children.

If enacted as drafted, this would be the first anti-LGBTQ+ federal law since the Defense of Marriage Act. Studies have shown that anti-transgender laws and their resulting discrimination increase transgender youth suicidality by 72% and have devastating, compounding effects on military youth who often move from state to state and rely most on the constancy of federal healthcare. 

Minority Veterans of America executive director Lindsay Church said, “If this bill passes in its current form, it would be the first time since the 1990s that an anti-LGBTQ+ bill will become law. If we don’t give this fight every ounce of our hearts, souls, and power, how will we look at our children and tell them that they will have to suffer in the name of political games?”

National Women’s Law Center president and CEO Fatima Goss Graves said, “The lawmakers who pushed for the measure in this bill…they’re the same ones who don’t trust women to make their own health care decisions... And so now they’re trying to tell military families that they’re not trusted to make the decisions that they want to be able to make for their family.”

Human Rights Campaign national press secretary Brandon Wolf said, “Servicemembers and their families make incredible sacrifices for our country. They lay everything on the line – and we entrust them with our nation’s safety, security, and freedom. In return, they are owed our respect…and the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

Modern Military Association of America deputy director Cathy Marcello shared, “Family time is precious to all. Tomorrow, Congress will determine whether thousands of military families will spend the holidays deciding if they must live apart, if they will be forced to leave the military, if they can afford to pay out of pocket for necessary medical care.” 

National LGBTQ+ advocate and legislative researcher Allison Chapman closed with a powerful message for transgender young people: “To the trans kids listening today and seeing politicians debate your right to exist, I want you to know that I will always be here fighting for you. You are loved. You are beautiful. You matter to me and so many others. One thing I have learned is that our joy always shines through no matter how dark the world is.”