Equality Caucus Responds to Adoption of Anti-LGBTQ+ Amendments to NDAA

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement in response to the anti-equality amendments voted on during this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill debate.

"Extreme MAGA Republicans continued their relentless attacks on LGBTQ+ people today by using the National Defense Authorization Act to push their anti-equality agenda," said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02). "They showed their complete disregard for our LGBTQ+ servicemembers by adopting amendments that strip medically-necessary care from transgender servicemembers and their families, censor LGBTQ+ servicemembers by prohibiting the display of Pride flags, and ban books that include transgender people or discuss gender identity. These riders cannot stand, and my colleagues and I will use every tool to get them removed during conference."

The following amendments were adopted by the House of Representatives for inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act this year:

Rosendale #194 would ban coverage of gender-affirming care—specifically gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapy—for servicemembers.

Norman #30 would prohibit the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) from covering or providing referrals for gender-affirming care—including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries—for servicemembers' dependent children. The amendment would further prohibit servicemembers from being reassigned to a different duty station via EFMP in order to provide their dependents with gender-affirming care.

Norman #1464 would prohibit pride flags from being displayed in any work place, common access area, or public area of the Department of Defense.

Boebert #1386 would, among other provisions, prohibit funds for the Department of Defense Education Activity from being used to purchase or maintain school library books that include transgender characters or touch on topics related to gender identity.

It specifically prohibits books that "espouse radical gender ideology." Although the term "radical gender ideology" is not defined in the amendment, Republicans have used it to refer to a broad set of policies, books, or curricula that recognize that transgender people exist.