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Transgender military service

Transgender people have performed military service throughout history. Many countries allow transgender people to serve openly in the military, including:

  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bolivia
  • Canada
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Israel
  • Netherland
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Spain
  • Sweden

United States

For information about the US Selective Service requirements for military-age trans and gender diverse people, see military registration and service for transgender people

In the United States, the Department of Defense issued an official count in 2018 of ~14,700 currently serving servicemembers. This included 8,980 active-duty and 5,727 selected reserve who were out as trans.

In addition, many transgender servicemembers have served honorably throughout history. According to a 2014 report by the Williams Institute:

An estimated 150,000 transgender individuals have served in the U.S. armed forces, or are currently on active duty. In addition, an estimated 134,000 transgender individuals are veterans or are retired from Guard or Reserve service.

Transgender Military Service in the United States (2014)

Below are just a few of the many notable transgender veterans who served the United States:

  • Calpernia Addams
  • Jessica Bair
  • Mary Elizabeth Clark
  • Charlotte Clymer
  • Joanne Conte
  • Sage Fox
  • Phyllis Frye
  • Jennifer Gale
  • Deborah Hartin
  • Monica Helms
  • Christine Jorgensen
  • Yasmin Lee
  • Christine McGinn
  • Shane Ortega
  • Jennifer Pritzker
  • Sabrina Ramet
  • Renée Richards
  • Angelica Ross
  • Lauren Scott
  • Sheri Swokowski

Thousands more transgender people are currently on active or reserve duty, including many who serve openly. Many transgender people ages 18 through 25 are required to register with the US Selective Service System in the event of a military draft. A 2013 study found that transgender people are more likely to serve in the US military than other citizens.

The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) found that transgender Americans serve in the military at a high rate; 20 percent of NTDS respondents had served in the armed forces as compared to 10 percent of the U.S. general population.

Still Serving in Silence: Transgender Service Members and Veterans in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (2013). [PDF]

Their status was challenged beginning in 2017, when Donald Trump indicated he would reverse an Obama Administration decision that allowed trans people to serve openly. Many of the Trump Administration’s actions against trans servicemembers were reversed during the Biden Administration.

Health services for US veterans

In 2024 The US Department of Veterans Affairs ruled that the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act would not cover gender-affirmation surgery for veterans until an impact analysis of the PACT Act was completed. To learn more about trans healthcare during and after military service in the United States, visit the LGBTQ+ Veterans section at the VA.

References

Gates GJ, Herman JL (May 2014). Transgender Military Service in the United States. Williams Institute. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-military-service-us/ (PDF)

Belkin, Aaron; Mazur, Diane H (June 2019). Department of Defense Issues First-Ever Official Count of Active Duty Transgender Service Members. Palm Center (PDF) https://www.palmcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/14700-Transgender-Troops-.pdf

Kheel, Rebecca (February 26, 2024). VA Won’t Cover Gender-Affirmation Surgery for Transgender Veterans Until It Reviews PACT Act Effects. Military News https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/02/26/va-wont-cover-gender-affirmation-surgery-transgender-veterans-until-it-reviews-pact-act-effects.html

Resources

US Department of Veterans Affairs (patientcare.va.gov)

  • LGBTQ+ Veterans
  • Transgender Women & Transfeminine Veterans (PDF)
  • Transgender Men & Transmasculine Veterans (PDF)

TAVA: Transgender American Veterans Association (transveteran.org)

  • Advocates for health services for transgender veterans.

Modern Military Association of America (modernmilitary.org)

  • Legal group that advocates for authentic transgender service and supports the LGBTQ military and veteran communities
  • formerly OutServe-SLDN (outserve-sldn.org) [archive]
  • formerly OutServe (outserve.org) [archive]
  • formerly Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (sldn.org) [archive]
  • formerly American Military Partner Association (militarypartners.org) [archive]
  • formerly Campaign for Military Partners (militarypartners.org) [archive]
  • formerly Servicemembers United (servicemembersunited.org) [archive]

SPART*A (spartapride.org)

  • Advocates for actively serving transgender military members, veterans, and their families.

Tawani Foundation (tawanifoundation.org)