Transgender People and the Military

Current U.S. Department of Defense regulations bar transgender persons from military service. In July 2015, the Pentagon announced the military will work on a policy  that allows transgender soldiers to serve openly. 

For decades, transgender men and women have been barred from openly serving in the military, despite the fact that recent studies show that about one-fifth of all transgender adults are veterans, making transgender people approximately twice as likely as others to serve in the military. Requiring these brave Americans to continue to serve in silence is a profound injustice. The ACLU is committed to eliminating this outdated, unfair, and discriminatory ban.

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For non-LGBT issues, please contact your local ACLU affiliate.