Latest news with #militaryban
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Work inspired by military's LGBT ban to be lit up in Scunthorpe
A piece of art representing the ban on LGBT people serving in the military will be lit up tonight to mark 25 years of the policy being artist Annabel McCourt's neon artwork, Per Ardua, will be switched on by Pride group Rainbow Youth at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre in was illegal in the armed forces until McCourt, 49, who is gay and grew up surrounded by the sounds of "A10 Tank Busters punctuating my childhood bedroom", said those factors had shaped and influenced her work. "Per Ardua" is a reference to the RAF motto "Per ardua ad astra", which translates as "Through adversity to the stars".Ms McCourt crossed out "ad astra" in her work, in a reference to the stars being unattainable for LGBT personnel before the ban was spiral design represents a "constant loop of adversity", the artist said. The LGBT ban was repealed after a campaign led by a group of veterans called the Rank 2023, Rishi Sunak, who was prime minister at the time, apologised for the historical treatment of LGBT veterans who were sacked or forced out of the military for being gay. Ms McCourt said she grew up with an interest in aeroplanes along with "the conflict felt as a queer kid growing up in Bomber County".She added: "I remember entering an armed forces recruitment office in my teenage years. It was a terrifying experience for fear of being 'found out'. "Thankfully, I eventually discovered my calling in the arts." Per Ardua will run alongside Ms McCourt's I'm Sorry exhibition until 5 July, featuring large-scale interactive installations combining sound, neon, industrial materials, film and photography."I've spent my life gathering and collecting strange bits of rust, neon, ready-mades and arcade machines thinking I'm completely mad, but when you see it all come together, it makes sense," she said. Per Ardua will be switched on at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre at 18:00 to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
CNA
21-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
US Army to change transgender soldiers' records to birth sex
WASHINGTON: The US Army will alter the records of transgender soldiers to show only their sex at birth, according to internal guidance seen by Reuters released on Wednesday (May 21) that details a series of steps it will take as it pushes them out of the service. "Commanders will take immediate measures to update personnel records and administrative systems to reflect biological sex for all individuals," the 14-page memo stated. The Army considered a person's sex to be "unchanging during a person's life," it said, echoing a February 26 Pentagon memo. The Army document illustrates how President Donald Trump's administration intends to treat thousands of transgender troops after the Supreme Court's ruling this month cleared the way for the Pentagon to implement a ban on their service. Reuters first reported on May 8 the Pentagon's plans to start kicking out transgender troops who do not elect to leave on their own by June 6. On May 12, it detailed plans to halt gender-affirming healthcare for transgender troops. The Army could not immediately be reached for comment. The Army's latest memo detailed other steps beyond the records change to reflect the soldier's sex at birth, alterations it said would be carried out by the Army's Human Resources Command. The Army document said that pronoun use when referring to individuals "must reflect their biological sex." "In keeping with good order and discipline, salutations (e.g., addressing a senior officer as "sir" or "ma'am")," the document stated. It also stated that access to "intimate spaces" will be determined by an individual's biological sex. "Commanders will ensure all such shared intimate spaces will be clearly designated for either male, female, or family use," the document stated. There are 4,240 US active-duty and National Guard transgender troops, officials have said. Transgender rights advocates have given higher estimates. 'The directives coming out are vindictive and aggressive. At the same time, they are being issued in a chaotic way that undoubtedly is harming military readiness," said Jennifer Levi, a senior director at the pro-LGBTQ legal group GLAD Law. Trump signed an executive order in January, after returning to the presidency, that reversed a policy implemented under his predecessor Joe Biden that had allowed transgender troops to serve openly. A Gallup poll published in February found that 58% of Americans favoured allowing openly transgender individuals to serve in the military, but the support had declined from 71% in 2019.
CNN
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
‘Today I'm not OK:' Trans Master Sergeant grieves forced military discharge
After a nearly two decade career in the military, Nick Wright says he will now be forced to discharge after the Supreme Court said that the Trump administration can begin immediately enforcing a ban on transgender service members in the military.
CNN
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
‘Today I'm not OK:' Trans Master Sergeant grieves forced military discharge
After a nearly two decade career in the military, Nick Wright says he will now be forced to discharge after the Supreme Court said that the Trump administration can begin immediately enforcing a ban on transgender service members in the military.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Military family faces upheaval as DOD moves forward with transgender ban
The Brief A transgender Air Force member in Germany looks to move to Duluth with their family, after the ban on transgender military service members. The Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump's Executive Order on "Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness," clearing the way for the ban. Legal challenges still play out. (FOX 9) - A Supreme Court ruling clears the way for the Trump Administration's ban on transgender military service members, as legal challenges continue. A transgender Air Force member in Germany and their family are trying to relocate to Duluth, Minnesota, as they face uncertainty. What we know In a memo sent out by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Thursday, it says in part: Service by individuals with a current diagnosis or history of or exhibiting symptoms consistent with gender dysphoria is not in the best interest of the military services. The Pentagon is allowing limited exemptions to the ban. That includes those who haven't transitioned yet, and prove over three years they are stable in biological sex, and if they support a specific warfighting need. The DOD is allowing voluntary separation by June 6 for active members and July 7 for reserves. What they're saying Lindell and Stacey Walley are looking to move their family to Duluth. Stacey tells FOX 9 her partner Lindell has served in the military for 17 years. Lindell has been stationed in Germany for the past four and a half years with Stacey and their three kids. Lindell is three years away from retiring with lifetime benefits for her service. "My partner is a two-time combat veteran, and we worked really hard to get this close to retirement, and we wanted to fight tooth and nail until the end," said Stacey Walley, Lindell Walley's partner. The backstory Stacey tells FOX 9 Lindell came out to her as trans in 2021. She says in order to transition in the military, Lindell had to receive a gender dysphoria diagnosis to start treatment. Stacey adds that's how the military can dig for current service members with a diagnosis of or a history of gender dysphoria. Stacey says Lindell took the jump to transition last year. "It was definitely a lot of whiplash for us to go from being accepted and everything being good and well, life going on as normal, normal military life, to essentially being outcast. By the military by the same people that we, you know, as a family have given the last 17 years to," said Stacey Walley. What's next Lindell will continue to serve until told otherwise, while her family plans to move to Minnesota. But again, legal challenges still continue.
