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The ban on new trans personnel joining the US 
military ended today.
While it was put in place by President Trump, it wasn't the first of its kind. The ban on trans participation in the military has a complex history in the US.
Here's what you should know
military ended today.While it was put in place by President Trump, it wasn't the first of its kind. The ban on trans participation in the military has a complex history in the US.
Here's what you should know
In 1963, trans people were officially prohibited from the US military â medical experts at the time deemed trans peopleâs mental state to be "unfit" for service
Fast-forward to 2016 and the @BarackObama administration repealed the ban, allowing trans people to join the US military
Just one year later, President Donald Trump tweeted it would be reinstated â citing the "medical costs and disruptionâ of trans personnel
So what were the actual costs? Let's have a look 
First, some background:
~1,300,000: Number of active personnel serving in the US military
~14,700: Trans personnel in active service & reserves
~2,200: Personnel who may be seeking or have had transition-related medical care
Sources: @ThePalmCenter, @DeptofDefense
~1,300,000: Number of active personnel serving in the US military ~14,700: Trans personnel in active service & reserves ~2,200: Personnel who may be seeking or have had transition-related medical careSources: @ThePalmCenter, @DeptofDefense
In 2019, the @DeptofDefense estimated costs of transition-related care at about $3m per year over three years for service members â less than 0.0001% of the DoDâs annual healthcare budget
The US @DeptVetAffairs estimates the annual cost of comprehensive medical care and transition costs for trans veterans, if they were to provide this, would be around $6m per year over a three-year period â less than 0.01% of their annual healthcare budget
What impact did the ban have on the US military overall?
A report by @ThePalmCenter, a non-partisan LGBT+ military policy research institute, examined the impact.
They claimed it affected military readiness by diminishing the countryâs ability to fight and win wars
A report by @ThePalmCenter, a non-partisan LGBT+ military policy research institute, examined the impact.
They claimed it affected military readiness by diminishing the countryâs ability to fight and win wars
According to the authors, the ban "compromised recruitment, reputation, retention, morale, medical care, and good order"
Last year, we talked with @nic_talbott, a trans man who had dreamt of enlisting in the army since he was a teenager
Just days after assuming office, President Joe Biden used an executive order to revoke the ban on new trans personnel joining the US military
Today - exactly 100 days into his presidency - is the first day it comes into effect
Today - exactly 100 days into his presidency - is the first day it comes into effect
Where does that leave us today?
While the ban has now been lifted, activists have
said that Congress should put the policy into law to ensure it remains in place irrespective of who is in the White House
While the ban has now been lifted, activists have
said that Congress should put the policy into law to ensure it remains in place irrespective of who is in the White House
