Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama was the first African-American president of the United States. He previously served as a U.S. senator from Illinois from 2005 to 2008 and an Illinois state senator from 1997 to 2004.
Two Trans Soldiers to Retire With Rare Distrinction
Two transgender soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri are set to retire with a rare distinction — they transitioned fully while on active duty and will be honorably discharged with full pensions.“Open transgender service in the military is becoming more commonplace and accepted, but the number of those who are honorably discharged into full retirement and transitioned while on active duty remains low,” explains a press release from Missouri LGBTQ+ rights group PROMO.Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who served under President Barack Obama, lifted the ban on open service by trans troops in 2016, but Donald Trump reinstated it during his presidency, with it going into effect in 2019.
President Joe Biden lifted the ban shortly after taking office in 2021.“We were forced to ask ourselves whether we wanted to deny who we were and serve, in the hopes that one day it would change, or whether we should wait to serve entirely until it did change,” Army Staff Sgt.
Alleria Stanley, a trans woman stationed at Fort Leonard Wood who will retire February 28, said in the press release.Stanley and Army Sgt.
First Class Kinzie Maxfield, also a trans woman, both participated in Fort Leonard Wood’s Retiree Appreciation Day celebration last Thursday.
