Eight transgender people have volunteered to join the Air Force, the Pentagon announced Tuesday, according to USA Today.
"It's important to recognize that the eight includes applicants who filled out some kind of paperwork at their respective recruiting stations, not necessarily all transgender applicants who have called or walked into recruiting stations, or inquired about joining the service," Air Force spokesperson Capt. Kathleen Atanasoff told USA Today.
Although President Donald Trump announced a new policy in July prohibiting transgender people from serving in the military "in any capacity," federal courts prevented the ban. The Trump administration announced at the end of December that it would no longer challenge transgender enlistment.
"This is a major victory in the litigation and great news for transgender troops, transgender military academy and ROTC students, and transgender people who have been waiting to enlist," Shannon Minter, National Center for Lesbian Rights legal director, told USA Today after the announcement. "There is no reason to exclude transgender people from military service, especially when they have already proved their ability to serve."
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