Appeals Court Rules Transgender Military Ban Unconstitutional

Approximately one thousand honorably serving transgender military members have been involuntarily discharged during Trump’s second term.

On June , 1, 2026 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 that Hegseth’s policy to discharge people who are currently serving was motivated by animus against transgender people, violating their constitutional rights.

How did the transgender military ban get back to the appeals court?

When the troop ban reached reached the Supreme Court emergency docket on March 6, 2025, the court in a divided ruling kept Trump’s transgender ban in effect while lower courts ruled on it. Three judges who are unbeholden to Trump, Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson — noted dissents but provided no reasoning.

The appeals court panel’s 2-1 decision partially upholds a March 2025 ruling by U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C. Reyes who concluded in a scathing ruling that Trump’s executive order to exclude transgender troops from military service likey violated their constitutional rights.

The administration appealed after Reyes issued a preliminary injunction that was requested by attorneys for several transgender people who are active-duty service members and others seeking to join the military. The appeals court’s majority decided that the injunction applies to the plaintiffs currently serving in the military but not those trying to enlist, the AP reports.

Sec. Def. Pete Hegseth in accordance to Trump’s Executive Order issued a memo targeting approximately one thousand transgender military members for involuntary discharge.

Related: Hegseth moves US Military dangerously towards Christian Nationalism

Republicans force Vote to Erase Transgender Students

LGBTQ Pride is celebrated every June in honor of the Stonewall riot.

H.R. 2616: PROTECT Kids Act would force transgender students to publicly out themselves to their school and their parents. The bill would require public elementary and middle schools that receive funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to obtain parental consent before changing a minor’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.

On April 29, lawmakers voted 216-210 along party lines to advance a rule allowing consideration of the bill, along with several other measures, including an agriculture funding package, budget proposals, a Clean Air Act amendment, and legislation addressing misidentified American-Jewish service members buried overseas.

The rule allows consideration of the PROTECT Kids Act under a closed process, with one hour of debate, meaning no amendments can be offered before an up-or-down vote. A final vote is expected in the coming weeks, Metro Weekly reports.

H.R. 2617 Say No to Indoctrination Act: would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prevent the use of funds under such Act to teach or advance concepts related to “gender ideology”,and for other purposes.

This bill would require public schools to follow trump’s toxic anti transgender executive orders or risk losing federal funding.

HR 2617 has a 60% chance of being enacted according to Gov.track.

How you can help protect the angels.

Download the 5calls app to your phone and select “Oppose Attacks on LGBTQ+ Students” and make the call.