Log Cabin Republicans, an LGBT activist group, blasted the decision by President Donald Trump to ban transgender people from serving in the military, The Hill reported.
The GOP group said the president's decision "smacks of politics."
"The United States military already includes transgender individuals who protect our freedom day in and day out," said Log Cabin Republicans President Gregory Angelo.
"As an organization that led the charge against that hateful policy, Log Cabin Republicans remains equally committed to standing up for transgender military personnel who put their lives on the line to keep us free."
Trump announced the ban in a Wednesday tweet saying he would "not accept or allow" transgender people serving in the military.
But Angelo added: "Excommunicating transgender soldiers only weakens our readiness; it doesn't strengthen it.
"The president's statement this morning does a disservice to transgender military personnel and reintroduces the same hurtful stereotypes conjured when openly gay men and women were barred from service during the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' era."
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