Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara Pledges Support for Transgender Troops

SACRAMENTO, California, Jan. 23 -- The California Department of Insurance issued the following statement by Commissioner Ricardo Lara pledging support for transgender troops following the Supreme Court's action on pending lawsuits:

Commissioner Lara is the first openly gay person elected to statewide office in California's history.

"We will never stop fighting to protect the rights of the estimated 4,000 transgender Americans who proudly serve in our armed forces and our many transgender veterans.

"Diversity in our armed forces strengthens national security, from the inclusion of women, Japanese Americans and African Americans over the past century to the acceptance of LGBTQ service members today.

"Transgender troops are no different from other Americans in their desire and capacity to serve our Nation, no matter what the Trump Administration says.

"As California's Insurance Commissioner, I stand ready to assist any of our service members who would suffer discrimination or discharge as a result of this injustice."

The California Department of Insurance, established in 1868, is the largest consumer protection agency in California. Insurers collect $310 billion in premiums annually in California. Since 2011 the California Department of Insurance received more than 1,000,000 calls from consumers and helped recover over $469 million in claims and premiums. Please visit the Department of Insurance website at www.insurance.ca.gov. Non-media inquiries should be directed to the Consumer Hotline at 800.927.4357. Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf (TDD), please dial 800.482.4833.