Denver, CO -- One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Coloradans and their families released the following statement from Executive Director Daniel Ramos on the transgender military ban implementation memo:

“This is a slap in the face for the brave service members currently serving our country and those who want to serve. Transgender service members will painfully and unnecessarily face discharges and transgender recruits will be denied enlistment opportunities. Our veterans and military deserve better and we will continue to fight against this vicious, unconstitutional attack on dignity and equality. Transgender people are our family and friends, our neighbors and colleagues. They are veterans who have served with honor, and active duty service members who continue to sacrifice to protect our freedoms. No American, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be prohibited from the privilege and honor of serving their country.”

The Associated Press reports on a memo from the Department of Defense that was obtained by reporters on Tuesday, outlining how the ban will be put into effect. Under its guidelines, the military will discharge or deny enlistment to anyone who will not serve in the gender to which they were assigned at birth, or who are undergoing hormone therapy or other gender-affirming procedures. The ban’s implementation would mean the discharge of an estimated 13,700 transgender service members, the largest single layoff of trans people in history. And it would come despite testimony from service chiefs that “they had seen no discipline, morale or unit readiness problems with transgender troops serving openly in the military.”