Resolution 2019-30751 RESOLUTION NO. 2019-30751
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
DISCRIMINATORY BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND URGING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO NOT
REINSTATE THE BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND TO MAINTAIN AN INCLUSIVE POLICY ALLOWING
QUALIFIED TRANSGENDER AMERICANS TO ENLIST AND SERVE IN THE
ARMED FORCES; AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach ("City") Human Rights Ordinance, codified in
Chapter 62 of the City Code, declares that "there is no greater danger to the health, morals
safety and welfare of the city and its inhabitants than the existence of prejudice against one
another and antagonistic to each other because of actual or perceived differences of race, color,
national origin, religion, sex,, intersexuality, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital and
familial status, age, disability, ancestry, height, weight, domestic partner status, labor
organization membership, familial situation, or political affiliation"; and
WHEREAS, the Human Rights Ordinance also declares that "prejudice, intolerance,
bigotry and discrimination and disorder occasioned thereby threaten the rights and proper
privileges of its inhabitants and menace the very institutions, foundations and bedrock of a free,
democratic society"; and
WHEREAS, in view of this policy, the City's Human Rights Ordinance prohibits
discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, and public services, on the
basis of the classification categories identified above; and
WHEREAS, the City is a longstanding municipal leader in ensuring the civil rights of its
diverse and cosmopolitan population; and
WHEREAS, since, the U.S. Department of Defense announced in June 2016 that
transgender people can openly serve, thousands of transgender Americans currently serve
actively in the Armed Forces and in the Reserves, throughout all branches and military
occupational specialties; and
WHEREAS, on July 26, 2017, President Trump announced in a series of tweets that he
would reverse the Department of Defense's policy on transgender service members, stating that
"the United States Governmentwill not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any
capacity in the U.S. Military."; and
WHEREAS, on August 1, 2017, fifty-six retired generals and admirals released a
statement affirming, "this proposed ban, if implemented, would cause significant disruptions,
deprive the military of mission-critical talent, and compromise the integrity of transgender troops
who would be forced to live a lie, as well as non-transgender peers who would be forced to
choose between reporting their comrades or disobeying policy"; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Defense report from 2018 falsely asserts there is
"considerable scientific uncertainty" regarding the efficacy of transition-related care; and
WHEREAS, a 2016 study by the RAND Corporation, which was commissioned by the
U.S. Department of Defense, found that allowing transgender Americans to serve openly in the
Armed Forces would "have minimal impact on readiness and health care costs" and "little or no
impact on unit cohesion, operational effectiveness or readiness"; and
WHEREAS, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association,
the American Psychiatric Association, and three former military Surgeons General each have
affirmed the medical efficacy of transition-related care and have expressed opposition to
• President Trump's discriminatory ban; and
WHEREAS , there is a global medical consensus that such care is effective, safe, and
reliable; and
WHEREAS, at least 18 nations allow transgender people to serve openly and effectively
in their armed forces; and
WHEREAS, all five military Chiefs of Staff have testified publicly that the existing policy
has had no adverse effect on military readiness; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Defense has failed to provide evidence the existing
policy has impaired morale, unit readiness, or unit cohesion; and
WHEREAS, President Trump's ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces
targets and stigmatizes a whole class of people; and
WHEREAS, President Trump's ban on transgender members of the Armed Forces
would affect all transgender members of the Armed Forces and force them to serve under a
policy that stigmatizes and devalues their contributions to our Nation's defense.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City
Commission hereby oppose President Trump's discriminatory ban on transgender members of
the Armed Forces and urge the U.S. Department of Defense to not reinstate the ban on
transgender members of the Armed Forces and to maintain an inclusive policy allowing qualified
transgender Americans to enlist and serve in the Armed Forces, and, direct the City Clerk to
transmit this resolution and the comments set forth herein to the U.S. Department of Defense.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this /3 day of March, 2019.
ATTEST: /�,�/
Dan Gelber, Mayor
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Rafael E. Granado, CityY2.7/I
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(Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora)
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APPROVED AS TO
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City Attorney rpm p Date
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
March 27, 2019
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Patrick M. Shanahan
Acting Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon.
Washington, DC 20301-1000.
Dear Secretary Shanahan,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2019-30751:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
. FLORIDA, OPPOSING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DISCRIMINATORY BAN ON TRANSGENDER
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND URGING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
TO NOT REINSTATE THE BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES
AND TO MAINTAIN AN INCLUSIVE POLICY ALLOWING QUALIFIED TRANSGENDER
AMERICANS TO ENLIST AND SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES; AND DIRECTING THE
CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH
HEREIN TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. .
• (Sponsored by Commissioner Michael Gongora) •
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City Commission of
the City of Miami Beach on March 13, 2019.
Respectfll •
j,il
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Michael Gongora
Resolutions -C7 AF
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, City Attorney
DATE: March 13, 2019
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, OPPOSING PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
DISCRIMINATORY BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND URGING THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO NOT
REINSTATE THE BAN ON TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND TO MAINTAIN AN INCLUSIVE POLICY ALLOWING
QUALIFIED TRANSGENDERAMERICANS.TO ENLIST AND SERVE IN THE
ARMED FORCES;AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT THIS
RESOLUTION AND THE COMMENTS SET FORTH HEREIN TO THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
ANALYSIS
Pursuant to the request of Commissioner Michael Gongora, the attached Resolution is
submitted for consideration by the City Commission.
Legislative Tracking
Office of the City Attorney
Sponsor
Commissioner Michael Gongora
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
D Resolution
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