Scroll To Top

Transgender Military Ban

Although the "don't ask, don't tell" policy has been repealed, that policy change still leaves transgender members of the military without protection. A serviceman or woman can still be discharged simply for being transgender. Here we track the latest news on efforts to repeal the ban on transgender Americans from serving openly in the military.

Troops
Transgender

BIDEN LIFTS TRUMP'S TRANS MILITARY BAN

"President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service," says a White House fact sheet.

trans military
Transgender

House Passes Amendment to Reverse Trans Military Ban; Senate Is Next

Only two transgender service members have been considered for waivers, out of 197 who've been outed since Trump's policy went into effect. 

Veteran
News

LGBTQ People Share Stories in Celebration of Veterans Day

Veterans share struggles from the DADT era and in today's fight for trans rights.

Nicolas Talbott
Voices

Reversing Trump’s Transgender Military Ban Will Make Us Stronger

Two years after Donald Trump announced the ban, trans Americans remain committed to serving their country.

Judd Deere
Politics

Trump's Gay Press Secretary Lies, Makes Excuses for His Boss

In an interview with Buzzfeed, White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere defends Trump's refusal to support the Equality Act and his decision to ban trans people from the military.

carlos maza youtube
Politics

Trump Defends Trans Military Ban: 'They Take Massive Amounts of Drugs'

But British commentator Piers Morgan notes that costs are "miniscule" compared to Viagra bills for the U.S. military.

Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker
Transgender

The Harrowing Experience of Fighting for Gender-Affirming Health Care

Tanya Asapansa-Johnson Walker talks about the immense barriers she's faced in the health care system. 

ban
Transgender

Joe Biden to End Trump's Dangerous, Bigoted Trans Military Ban

Biden is kicking off his first full week as president by keeping a campaign promise to repeal Trump's discriminatory ban on transgender soldiers. 

Kayleigh
Politics

Press Secretary Claims Trump Is Pro-LGBTQ+, Punts Trans Ban Question

White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tried to gaslight her way out of a question about the president's ban on trans service members.

Trans military
Transgender

Pentagon-Funded Study Contradicts Trump's Argument for Trans Ban

The study finds broad support among military members for their transgender peers.

Protesters
Politics

House OK's Defense Funding Bill That Would Undo Trans Military Ban

The bill, which must be reconciled with the Senate's version, also would make it easier for LGB veterans to upgrade their discharge status.

BLACK TRANS LIVES MATTER
Voices

Sen. Cory Booker: A Crisis of Silence Is Killing Trans Women of Color

Sen. Cory Booker shares why we all must end our silence around the epidemic of violence trans people of color face. 

National Guard troops
Transgender

Five States Say They'll Let Trans Troops Serve in National Guard

Governors of five western states say they'll defy Donald Trump's transgender military ban.

Andrew Calvert
Transgender

Army Chaplain: Trans People 'Mentally Unfit' for Military Service

Chaplain Andrew Calvert is under investigation for his remarks objecting to the lifting of the trans military ban.

military
Voices

Ending Trans Military Ban Is First Step in Our Community's Healing

It will take years, decades possibly, to recover from the Trump catastrophe, but the recovery begins now.

protest
Voices

This Trans Veteran's Message for 9/11: Turn Fear Into Action

The world is as scary as it was 19 years ago, but channel your anxiety into battling racism and Trump's reign of terror.

Navy jets
Transgender

Transgender Navy Officer Wins Waiver to Serve Openly

Activist groups welcomed the waiver but emphasized that all trans military personnel deserve the right to serve.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo
News

New York Grants State Benefits to LGBTQ Veterans

Rhode Island passed a similar law last week.

Dozens of protesters gather in Times Square near a military recruitment center to show their anger at President Donald Trump's decision to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military
Voices

We’re Fighting a New 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell' All Over Again

It's been eight years since DADT was repealed, but we're still battling for equality in the military.

Jackie Speier
Transgender

House Votes to Reverse Trans Military Ban

The House passed an antidiscrimination amendment sponsored by Rep. Jackie Speier (pictured), but the measure will have a tough time getting through the Senate.