• As Trump's ban plays out in court, America's first openly transgender recruits are joining the military

    As Trump's ban plays out in court, America's first openly transgender recruits are joining the military

    Mar 09, 2018 07:24 PM EST

    The first group of openly trans recruits in U.S. military history are moving forward without the support of their commander-in-chief.

  • Transgender individuals may now openly join the U.S. military

    Transgender individuals may now openly join the U.S. military

    Jan 01, 2018 11:25 PM EST

    ... William Brangham: Now to another policy shift taking effect today, but this one at the federal level. Starting today, transgender individuals may openly join the U.S. military, this despite stiff opposition from President Trump, who tweeted last July that he wouldn't accept or allow transgender individuals to ...

  • Transgender people cleared to join military, for now

    Transgender people cleared to join military, for now

    Dec 30, 2017 07:25 PM EST

    WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has made clear its proposed ban on transgender military recruits is on hold, meaning their enlistment can start Monday. But the future for transgender people in the armed forces remains murky. The Justice Department isn't dropping its court fight to institute the ban on transgender ...

  • D.C. appeals court denies stay of transgender military ban

    D.C. appeals court denies stay of transgender military ban

    Dec 23, 2017 03:42 PM EST

    ... accept or allow" transgender individuals to serve "in any capacity" in the military. That would reverse a 2016 policy change under President Barack Obama allowing transgender people to serve openly. Trump later formally directed the Pentagon to extend indefinitely a ban on transgender individuals joining the military, and he gave ...

  • Pentagon will allow transgender people to enlist in the military starting Jan. 1

    Pentagon will allow transgender people to enlist in the military starting Jan. 1

    Dec 11, 2017 07:28 PM EST

    ... other important areas. Transgender individuals receiving hormone therapy also must be stable on their medication for 18 months. The requirements make it challenging for a transgender recruit to pass. But they mirror concerns President Barack Obama's administration laid out when the Pentagon initially lifted its ban on transgender service ...

  • Second transgender candidate wins spot on Minneapolis City Council

    Second transgender candidate wins spot on Minneapolis City Council

    Nov 09, 2017 12:56 AM EST

    ... due to the instant-runoff voting system Minneapolis uses. Cunningham is a 29-year-old transgender man. His victory follows one by Andrea Jenkins, a transgender woman who easily won a seat on the City Council Tuesday night. It adds to a banner night for transgender people in public office ...

  • D.C. court bars Trump from reversing transgender troops policy

    D.C. court bars Trump from reversing transgender troops policy

    Oct 30, 2017 05:11 PM EST

    ... the policy in place before June 2016, under which transgender individuals were barred from joining the military and service members could be discharged for being transgender. Under President Barack Obama, that policy was changed to allow transgender service members. The Trump administration may appeal Kollar-Kotelly's decision, but for ...

  • Justice Department asks to dismiss lawsuit opposing transgender military ban

    Justice Department asks to dismiss lawsuit opposing transgender military ban

    Oct 05, 2017 04:47 PM EST

    The Justice Department is asking a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's moves to curtail military service by transgender people. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of eight transgender individuals. They include service members in the Air Force, Coast Guard and Army, and students in ...

  • Transgender troops can re-enlist in military for now, Pentagon says

    Transgender troops can re-enlist in military for now, Pentagon says

    Sep 15, 2017 11:23 PM EST

    ... when transgender individuals may serve in the military. The Obama administration in June 2016 changed longstanding policy, and declared that troops could serve openly as transgender individuals. And it set a July 2017 deadline for determining whether transgender people could be allowed to enter the military. Mattis delayed any decision ...

  • Fact-checking Trump’s reasons for a transgender military ban

    Fact-checking Trump’s reasons for a transgender military ban

    Aug 28, 2017 11:59 PM EST

    ... conduct a study with a very distinct mandate. And that included looking at the estimated transgender population in the military, seeing how many of those transgender service members would be likely to seek gender-transition-related treatment, what the costs would be of extending health care coverage to the transgender ...