A President Who Keeps His Promises

We have big news. President Joe Biden moved quickly and delivered on his promise to end the ban on transgender people serving openly in the military.

We knew that when President Biden was elected that transgender people would have a friend and ally in the White House. The new president has made clear his agenda for ensuring that transgender Americans are treated fairly and with respect, and that we are able to live our lives without fear of discrimination.

We are proud to have worked on this effort and we will continue to work with the Biden Administration - and Congress - until trans people can live free from discrimination in all areas of our lives.

Today’s action is one step forward and ensures that anyone who is willing and able to serve has that opportunity. And it ends one of the last instances of the federal government actually being the discriminator.

This victory is a decade in the making. We’ve been working hard to end this discrimination since Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed in 2011.

We worked with Congress on strategizing to lift the ban. We mobilized constituents to engage their legislators. Our sibling organization, the NCTE Action Fund, even succeeded in adding this to the Democratic party platform. Together we closely advised the Biden campaign and transition team. Every step of the way, we partnered with leaders like SPART*A, TAVA, and many others.

During the presidential campaign, President Biden participated in the NCTE Action Fund's Transform the White House project, where he made clear his commitment to transgender Americans: “The idea that someone can tell you that you can’t be who you are in your heart and soul is just wrong,” he said.

With President Biden, we know that our community will be seen and heard, we will not be erased, and we can begin to address the significant issues that transgender people face every day.

This is the start of a new era for the estimated 15,000 transgender Americans who serve in the US military. But it also marks a brighter future for all of us committed to ending discrimination.