Local transgender community reacts after President's decision to ban all transgender people from the military

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In a series of tweets President Donald Trump said it would be US policy not to allow transgender people to serve in the military under any capacity. The president cited supposedly high medical costs associated with transgender therapies.

But recent studies have shown the costs would be negligible and transgender activist Zoyer Zyndel said it is just outright discrimination.

"There is no reason for this ban, other than bigotry and prejudice which perpetuates the feeling across the nation."

Condemnation of the move has come from Republicans and Democrats. Republican senator Lindsay Graham said the issue should be decided in hearings, not by tweets.

In a statement California Senator Kamala Harris, a Democrat, said, "The President's decision to force transgender individuals out of the military is discriminatory, wrong, and un-American."

Action News Legal Analyst Tony Capozzi said the presidential ban is not likely to survive a legal challenge.

"I think it's clear it's a violation of the constitution, everyone is to be treated equally, the equal protection clause applies to everyone and to me this clearly violates the equal protection clause of the United States Constitution. Just give it time, it will be thrown out."

Zyndel sees the President's action as a diversion.

"It distracts us from the focus, and it is the distraction against what we should be focusing on for everybody is better health care."

While it appears the action against transgender people came out of the blue, it has been revealed the President was pressured by conservatives in Congress who threatened to cut funding for his border wall unless they could be guaranteed the military would not spend any money on transgender medical treatments.

There are currently estimated to be up to 6,000 transgender people in the military.

The Presidents ban is expected to face immediate court challenges.