2016 – U.S. MILITARY TRANSGENDER BAN LIFTED

Transgender individuals were banned from serving in the U.S. military from 1960 until June 30, 2016. People were free to serve their country no matter how they identified until the ban was reinstated by President Donald Trump in 2018. In 2021, under President Joe Biden, the ban was once again lifted. From the president’s statement, anyone, no matter what gender or identity, was able to enlist and serve the United States. “As long as they serve and protect us, I don’t care what gender [members of the U.S. military] are,” sophomore Valerie Whitaker said.