Washington, DC [US]: Ana C Reyes, a US federal judge known for her progressive activism, has blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to ban transgender individuals from serving in the military.
Reyes, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, has faced criticism from conservative voices due to her history of involvement with Democratic campaigns and liberal causes. Fox News reported that Reyes volunteered for Biden’s 2020 campaign, providing legal assistance on election law matters, and has donated over USD 38,000 to Democratic campaigns since 2008.
The Uruguayan-born judge, who is the first openly gay federal judge in Washington, DC, has actively supported asylum seekers and refugees throughout her legal career. During her acceptance speech for the 2017 Woman Lawyer of the Year Award, Reyes called it a privilege to advocate for the rights of refugees in the United States.
Her involvement with progressive organizations includes past contributions to Defeat By Tweet, a Democratic-aligned super PAC that raised funds for liberal groups in swing states in response to Trump’s Twitter posts. Reyes also worked with the Feminist Majority Foundation, an organization promoting women’s equality and reproductive rights.
Despite her background, Reyes has previously criticized the Biden administration. In April last year, she called out the Justice Department for failing to produce witnesses in court related to Republican efforts to impeach Biden. She also condemned the leak of Trump’s tax records, calling it an “attack on constitutional democracy.”
In her latest ruling, Reyes questioned whether Trump’s executive order was effectively a “transgender ban” and challenged the notion that being transgender is merely an “ideology.” In her 79-page ruling, she referenced Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton to emphasize the contributions of transgender individuals to American society.
“Women were ‘included in the sequel’ when passage of the Nineteenth Amendment granted them the right to vote in 1920,” Reyes wrote, adding, “That right is one of the many that thousands of transgender persons serve to protect.”
The ruling has reignited debates over military policies and LGBTQ+ rights, with Reyes’ decision seen as a significant legal victory for transgender service members.