When The Advocate first met Second Lieutenant Nicolas Talbott in Washington, D.C., at a pivotal moment in his fight to serve in themilitary, he had traveled from Ohio to attend a hearing in Talbott v. Trump, a case bearing his name that is challenging the administration’s ban on transgender service members. GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights are representing 32 plaintiffs, including Talbott. At the time, anxiety weighed heavily on him—his future, and the futures of thousands of trans troops, hung in the balance.
Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.
Days later, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes delivered a sweeping rebuke of the policy, calling it “soaked in animus and dripping with pretext.” When The Advocate spoke with Talbott again one week after the hearing, the difference in his demeanor was undeniable. The weight of uncertainty had been replaced with cautious joy and determination.
Related: Another judge blocks the Pentagon from implementing Trump's transgender military ban
“It’s hard to describe what it’s like to fight for something for so long and finally feel like someone in power understands,” he said. “I’m relieved, but I also know this isn’t over.”
A fight nearly a decade in the making
For Talbott, 31, this fight has been personal for nearly a decade. Growing up in Lisbon, Ohio, he knew he was meant to serve. As a kid, he played Army on the playground with two friends, both named Andrew.
“One of the Andrews turned to me one day and said, ‘Nikki, I think you’d be a lot happier if you were a boy. If I ever become a soldier and shoot an enemy, I’ll find a way to give you the boy parts you need,” Talbott recalled. Even then, he knew something was different about him.
Related: DOJ appeals block on Pentagon’s transgender military ban
As he got older, Talbott began to notice a disconnect between how he felt on the inside and how others perceived him.
“It became very obvious that I was different from my peers,” he said. “Something was going on with me that just wasn’t quite the same experience my friends were having. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but as I got older, it became undeniable.”
At 12, he encountered the word “transgender” for the first time, and by 15, he came out to his mother. By 18, he had started his transition, and despite the barriers in place, he never lost sight of his dream to serve in the military. Over time, Talbott found confidence in his identity, even in spaces where acceptance wasn’t always guaranteed.
In 2015, when under President Barack Obama, the ban on transgender troops was lifted, Talbott believed his time had come. He joined ROTC, trained relentlessly, and pursued his commission. But then, in 2017, everything changed. The Trump administration reinstated the ban, derailing his progress. Still, he refused to back down.
Lt. Nic Talbott and his dog, Lilly.Courtesy Nic Talbott
Denied, but never deterred
Talbott didn’t accept being shut out. He joined in legal action, becoming involved in Stockman v. Trump, an earlier challenge to the ban. That lawsuit, filed in 2017, sought to overturn the Trump administration’s prohibition on transgender people serving openly in the military. While the case was still ongoing, President Joe Biden reversed the ban upon taking office in 2021, restoring the right of transgender service members to enlist and serve openly. Talbott saw this as a moment of vindication—proof that his fight was not in vain. However, when Trump retook office in January and reinstated the ban through executive order, he again found himself at the center of the battle. This time, he became a lead plaintiff in Talbott v. Trump.
Related: Federal judge blocks Trump's transgender military ban
His legal battle coincided with a wave of executive orders signed by Trump immediately after his second inauguration, including measures dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, targeting gender-affirming care, and reinstating bans on transgender military service.
“I found out after the case was filed that it was Talbott v. Trump this time,” he said with a laugh. “I feel privileged that I can safely do this, that I can put my name and my face on this fight. If I can use that privilege to help my community, then that’s what I’ll do.”
The Trump administration’s policy wrongly described transgender identities as “a false gender identity,” claimed that trans service members lacked the “honor, truthfulness, and discipline” required for military service, and suggested that their presence would weaken unit cohesion.
Related: What you need to know about Donald Trump's attempt to ban transgender people from the military
Talbott’s career proves just how wrong those assertions are. As a leader in his unit, he is entrusted with his soldiers’ training, welfare, and preparedness. He has excelled in every phase of his military career, from being named Honor Graduate in basic training to earning his commission as an officer. His discipline and commitment are evident in his service, and the years of relentless effort he put into overcoming systemic barriers.
Related: Trump administration admits to judge it doesn’t know how many troops are trans—or why it’s banning them
Despite the political roadblocks, Talbott remained committed to proving he belonged in the military. He trained constantly, preparing for the moment he could finally enlist. “The military has always felt like home to me,” he said. “I thrive in this environment—where there’s structure, camaraderie, and a sense of purpose bigger than yourself.” That moment came in March 2024 when he took his enlistment oath after nearly a decade of waiting. By July, he was at basic training, where he didn’t just survive—he excelled. He was rewarded for how he embodied the Army’s values of leadership, duty, and selfless service. By January, he earned his officer status in the Army Reserve.
Lt. Nic Talbott and his sister.Courtesy Nic Talbott
A leader and a trailblazer
Now a second lieutenant, Talbott serves as a platoon leader in a military police unit, overseeing training, mission planning, and ensuring his soldiers are prepared for any operation. His leadership skills will be tested even further in August 2025 when he begins the Military Police Basic Officer Leadership Course. The program will enhance his tactical and leadership abilities, preparing him for expanded responsibilities.
Related: Judge reinstates nationwide stop to Trump’s trans military ban
Upon completing the course in December, Talbott plans to transition into active duty. “I’ve worked too hard for this to be temporary,” he said. “I want to be as involved as possible, and moving to active duty is the next step.”
For Talbott, this isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. “I’ve come too far to quit now,” he said. “I worked for this. I fought for this. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Breaking down barriers in uniform
Talbott has also made a point of being open about his identity and had made sure that his fellow soldiers feel comfortable asking him questions about being transgender.
“I try to make myself known for being approachable and open to questions—including the ones people might be too afraid to ask,” he said. “That’s how we break down misconceptions.”
“I’ve done everything they said I couldn’t do,” he said. “And I’ll keep proving them wrong.”
And his medical care is as simple as it gets. “I self-administer a hormone shot once every two weeks. That’s it.” It’s a routine, minor part of his life—nothing like the exaggerated myths used to justify banning people like him from serving.
Related: Pentagon says it will start kicking transgender people out of military this month
Fitness is also a key part of Talbott’s routine. “I want to be functionally fit,” he said. “And if I can look good at the same time, hey, that’s a great little bonus.”
His training includes daily runs, weightlifting, and endurance workouts to keep him combat-ready. His passion for fitness comes from his family—his mother is an ultra-marathoner, and his uncle trained Olympic athletes.
“Fitness has always been part of my life. It’s not just about meeting standards—it’s about being prepared for anything.”
Lt. Nic Talbott and friends.Courtesy Nic Talbott
Life beyond the uniform
Outside of his military career, he enjoys hiking, trivia nights, and tinkering with cars. He has a deep love for his 15-year-old Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix, Lilly—his self-proclaimed “little gremlin”—who is his constant companion on outdoor adventures.
Talbott’s love for cars is more than just a passing interest; it’s a hands-on hobby that allows him to unwind.
“I love absolute junk vehicles from Facebook Marketplace. I’ll buy whatever beater I can get my hands on just so I can get in my garage and tinker around with it, becoming a YouTube-certified mechanic,” he said with a laugh. “It’s a great source of stress as well as stress relief.”
He’s also a self-proclaimed nerd passionate about Star Wars and forensic genealogy—a topic he wrote his master’s thesis on.
“I could talk for hours about cold cases and DNA analysis,” he admitted.
Continuing the fight
Talbott has a message for those who think they’ve never met a transgender person.
“I think most people have met a trans person and don’t even realize it,” he said. “I’ve had so many conversations where people will comment, and I’ll say, ‘Actually, you’re talking to a trans person right now.’ We’re just people. We have jobs, families, hobbies—being trans is just one part of who we are, not the entirety of our existence.”
A 2022 Pew Research Center survey found that about 44 percent of U.S. adults say they know someone who is trans. In 2017, 37 percent said they did.
Related: Federal judge forces Trump administration to disclose all plans to implement trans military ban
Reyes’ ruling is a significant victory, but the battle isn’t over. The Justice Department has filed an appeal, and the case could continue for months if not years. Although the DC Circuit Court issued a brief administrative stay of Reyes' preliminary injunction, a federal judge in Washington state separately enjoined the Trump administration from enacting the ban. For now, Talbott and thousands of other transgender service members can serve openly without fear of being forced out.
For Talbott, the reality that his name will be forever attached to this fight is not lost on him. “It’s a different type of weight to carry, knowing that my name will be attached to this fight forever. But I also think that a hundred years from now, people are going to look back on this and say, ‘Why was this ever even an issue?’”
For now, he remains on the front lines of that fight, proving, every single day, what should have been obvious all along: He belongs.
Lt. Nic Talbott and his dog, Lilly.Courtesy Nic Talbott
Lt. Nic Talbott and his sister.Courtesy Nic Talbott
Lt. Nic Talbott and friends.Courtesy Nic Talbott
