Lawsuit opposes Trump’s ban on transgender military service
Two LGBT-rights organizations have filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging President Donald Trump’s tweets declaring he wants a ban on transgender people serving in the military.
The suit was filed Aug. 9 in U.S. District Court in Washington on behalf of five transgender service members with nearly 60 years of combined military service. They are unidentified but serve in the Air Force, the Coast Guard and the Army.
Transgender people have been allowed to serve openly in the military since June 2016. Trump, in a series of tweets on July 26, announced that he planned to end that policy.
The lawsuit, filed by GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, says such a ban is unconstitutional, denying transgender service members equal protection and due process. AP
Rotor blades fell off German military chopper as it crashed
Germany’s Defense Ministry says the main rotor blades fell off one of its military helicopters as it plunged to the ground in northern Mali last month, killing both crewmembers, but said it was too early to blame the blades for causing the accident.
The Tiger helicopter was taking part in U.N. peacekeeping activities. Germany suspended flights with similar helicopters pending the crash investigation.
Defense Ministry spokesman Jens Flosdorff says Wednesday “we believe the aircraft unexpectedly entered into a steep descent and then hit the ground after ten seconds.”
Flosdorff said “the main rotor blades came off the helicopter during this falling phase” but added: “I’d warn against hasty conclusions in one direction or the other.”
Germany is in touch with countries, including France and Spain, whose militaries use the helicopter. AP