Military Academies Begin the Process to Reject Transgender Students

It was an expected change, but still a disappointing one.

Military academies across the United States have begun barring transgender students from enrolling.

The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland is the first to announce an implementation of the new policy, to begin with the 2020 enrollment term.

Anyone who has undergone gender affirmation surgery, received hormone therapy, or has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, will no longer be able to attend the school.

There are very few exceptions, one of which is that if someone who has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria can display “stability in his/her biological sex” for three years, as certified by a doctor, they can enroll.

Transgender folks were previously allowed to enroll in the U.S. Naval Academy without such restrictions, and students who began transitioning partway through their time there were permitted to continue.

“The policy turns off access to some of our best and brightest, and that’s not what our country needs to win future wars,” said B Fram, the communications director for Service Members, Partners and Allies for Respect and Tolerance for All.

It is unclear what will happen to any transgender students who are still in the process of completing their two years in the Naval Academy when the new policy goes into effect.

The Coast Guard Academy and the Air Force Academy are among the other schools that have so far confirmed they will be adhering to the new standards for enrollment — aka discriminating against transgender people, full stop.