SR 8: urging the governor to take action to protect transgender members of the hawaiʻi national guard from discriminatory federal policy and permit qualified transgender service members to continue their service.

SENATE RESOLUTION

urging the governor to take action to protect transgender members of the hawaiʻi national guard from discriminatory federal policy and permit qualified transgender service members to continue their service.

     WHEREAS, the Trump administration has imposed a sweeping and unnecessary ban on transgender service members in the United States military through Executive Order 14163, titled "Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness"; and

     WHEREAS, under the ban, individuals with a history of gender dysphoria or who have undergone medical transitions are barred from military service; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to discharging service members, the executive order paused all gender-affirming medical procedures and hormone therapies for active-duty members; and

     WHEREAS, despite numerous challenges from civil rights groups, the Supreme Court has allowed the ban to remain in effect; and

     WHEREAS, this policy undermines force readiness, destabilizes unit cohesion, and fuels longstanding waste, fraud, and abuse within the Department of Defense by expending time and resources purging qualified personnel; and

     WHEREAS, the ban is inherently discriminatory and inconsistent with Hawaiʻi's values and needs; and

     WHEREAS, the State must take action to protect Hawaiʻi's valued transgender service members from the Trump administration's discriminatory policies; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that this body urges the Governor to take action to protect transgender members of the Hawaiʻi National Guard from discriminatory federal policy and permit qualified transgender service members to continue their service; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Adjutant General of the Hawaiʻi National Guard.

Report Title: 

Transgender Service Members; Hawaiʻi National Guard