Commentary

Trans military members are LGBTQ Nation’s Newsmakers of the Year

Ever since the 2016 “bathroom bills,” transgender folk have had a spotlight role in the struggle for equality.
Commentary by
Trans military members are LGBTQ Nation’s Newsmakers of the Year
Photo: Shutterstock

LGBTQ Nation’s readers have voted transgender military members as 2017’s Newsmaker of the Year.

Ever since the 2016 “bathroom bills,” transgender folk have had a spotlight role in the struggle for equality. This year, they refused to back down after Trump declared his intention to have them banned from military service. Military commanders agreed, and five unidentified transgender service members filed lawsuits to have the ban declared unconstitutional.

Their suit may not have derailed Trump’s anti-LGBT agenda, but it slowed it down long enough for inertia to kill it. And with last week’s surprise announcement that the administration will not appeal court rulings opposing the ban, it looks like they may have won. Transgender people can now enlist openly.

It’s also proven that transgender people love and serve their country too.

Danica Roem gave our troops a run for the title, but in the end the military members dug in and won the day. Anthony Rapp came in a distant third place.

 

Don't forget to share:
Commentary
Anthony Rapp Danica Roem LGBTQNation Newsmaker Of The Year military ban transgender military ban

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Sarah Michelle Gellar took her 5-year-old to get his nails done & the web went wild for him

Previous article

Eric Trump is now attacking Ellen DeGeneres on Twitter

Next article

More in Commentary