Merkley, Balint look to block funding for Trump transgender orders
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) are seeking to block funding for President Trump’s executive orders that affect the transgender community via a new bill.
The “No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act,” which both Merkley and Balint introduced in their respective chambers on Wednesday, aims “to repeal certain executive orders targeting LGBTQI+ individuals,” according to the text of the Senate version.
The bill also calls for federal funds to not “be used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out” specific executive orders from Trump including one he signed shortly after returning to the presidency to recognize male and female as the only two sexes and another order with an aim to stop transgender people from serving openly in the military.
“Freedom is the right to safely live as your authentic self without fear of harassment, discrimination, or violence,” Merkley said in a Thursday press release. “President Trump and Republicans are attacking our LGBTQ+ neighbors, friends, and family members by rubberstamping discrimination in every aspect of daily life.”
Balint, who is the first openly gay person to be elected to Congress from Vermont, said in the press release that the president “cannot take away our rights or our health care just with the stroke of a pen.”
“I’m standing with Senator Merkley and my colleagues to show the Trump administration that their hate and dehumanizing rhetoric targeting queer Americans doesn't intimidate us. We won’t back down when it comes to protecting our rights,” she added.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.