Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress finds the following: Women, Black, Native American, and LGBTQIA+ Americans have served in the Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War. In 1948, 16 years before the enactment of the Civil Rights Act ( Public Law 88–352 ; 78 Stat. 241), which desegrated civilian spaces, President Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which allowed Black members of the Armed Forces to serve side-by-side with white members. In 1948, President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act ( Public Law 80–625 ; 62 Stat. 356) into law, officially allowing women to serve as full, permanent members of each Armed Force.
In 1967, President Johnson signed into law Public Law 90–130 , which authorized the promotion of women to the ranks of general and flag officers. In 1972, women were allowed to command units that included men. In 1982, the Department of Defense Instruction 1332.14, Enlisted Administrative Separations , banned homosexual individuals from serving in the Armed Forces. In 1993, President Clinton signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 ( Public Law 103–16 ), which enacted section 654 of title 10, United States Code, Policy concerning homosexuality in the armed forces , commonly known as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell .
In 2011, President Obama signed into law the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010 , allowing homosexual members to openly serve in the Armed Forces. In 2015, the last remaining policy restrictions on women serving in direct combat roles were removed. In 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13988, which rescinded the policy that prohibited transgender individuals from serving in the Armed Forces. In 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14183, falsely stating that people who are transgender cannot satisfy the rigorous standards necessary for military service and that their identity conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life.
It should be the policy of the United States that every member of the Armed Forces has the right to serve, advance, and be evaluated based on only individual merit, fitness, capability, and performance, in an environment free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
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- Pub. L. 88-352
- EO 9981
- Pub. L. 80-625
- 62 Stat. 356
- Pub. L. 90-130
- Pub. L. 103-16
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Sec. 2
Findings
Pub. L.Pub. L. 88-352
Exec. Ord.EO 9981
Pub. L.Pub. L. 80-625
Stat.62 Stat. 356
Pub. L.Pub. L. 90-130
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