Army appears to make trans service ban official with social media post

The U.S. Army has made it official: It “will no longer allow transgender individuals to join the military and will stop performing or facilitating procedures associated with gender transition for service members,” according to a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“Effective immediately, all new accessions for individuals with a history of gender dysphoria are paused, and all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition for Service members are paused,” the Army’s post continues.

It also states, “Individuals with gender dysphoria have volunteered to serve our country and will be treated with dignity and respect,” so it’s not clear if trans people currently serving will be discharged. There’s no record of similar posts by other branches of the military, but it won’t be surprising if they come.

Donald Trump has ordered a ban on trans service members, as he did in his first term, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently issued a rather confusing memo about the ban’s implementation; the Army tweet quotes from that. The memo said that trans troops currently receiving medical care for gender dysphoria or transition will continue to receive treatment “consistent with the standard of care.” At the same time, the memo enforces policies that strip trans service members of recognition, including requiring them to be housed according to their sex assigned at birth rather than their gender identity.

Trending stories

Gerald Garth is determined to keep people of color happy and healthy through trying times

SFAF's Dr. Tyler TerMeer says he'll continue to fight for health care for all

Discover why chic Costa Navarino is Europe's luxury getaway

Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award alongside industry giants like Vogue, People, and Variety

How 'fruity' went from a slur to reclaimed gay slang

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Pride journey Walla Walla: An LGBTQ+ wine, food, and adventure getaway

Davey Wavey's new gay show includes plenty of steamy scenes from sexy adult entertainers

Amanda Seyfried says she only exists to make the gays happy

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Exclusive: Mike Maimone honors late husband Howard Bragman in new single “On My Way”

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Luxury and community in South of France at Cinq & Sept

Here's why this Mediterranean Virgin Voyages cruise belongs on your bucket list

Trump is coming for your poppers: Major producer closes amid FDA crackdown

Lexi Love goes public with HIV status after Trump wipes resources from federal website

15 Queer soccer legends who have played in the NWSL

Gay icons collide in ​'Freakier Friday​' trailer

Tamar Braxton spills on new cooking show, sends message to LGBTQ+ fans

Gay horror comedy ‘The Parenting’ is light scares but heavy on heart — and dick jokes

Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources

Nathan Lane had 'slight flirtation' with Gene Hackman in 'The Birdcage'

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Antoni goes abroad — and finds there's 'No Taste Like Home'

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

Under President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter lifted an earlier ban on trans service members in 2016. It was a Defense Department policy, not written into law. Trump announced a new ban via tweet in 2017, and after several lawsuits, it went into effect in 2019. Trans troops weren’t discharged, as they were considered grandfathered in, but no new trans recruits were accepted. President Joe Biden lifted the ban soon after he took office in 2021.

Trump and his allies have claimed that trans identity is inconsistent with military service and that health care for trans troops is too costly and harms military readiness — none of which is true. Not all trans service members undergo surgery while in the military, for instance, and if they do, the recovery period is shorter than that for many other procedures. The cost of gender-affirming health care is also less than that of numerous other drugs or procedures.

The legal battle over the trans ban is already under way. In U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, multiple transgender service members have filed suit against Trump, Hegseth, and other top military officials, seeking to block any ban on transgender military service. Plaintiffs, represented by organizations such as GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights, have asked the court for a temporary restraining order to prevent the administration from implementing the executive order while the lawsuit proceeds.

The lawsuit argues that Trump’s directive violates the Fifth Amendment’s equal protection guarantees, asserting that transgender service members are being singled out for discriminatory treatment. The plaintiffs warn that they face irreparable harm without court intervention, including losing their military careers and essential medical care.