The US Air Force has officially backtracked on its short-lived ban against using preferred pronouns in professional communications, admitting that the move wasn’t just controversial — it was illegal.
Earlier this year, the Department of the Air Force jumped to follow Donald Trump’s executive order that erased federal recognition of gender identity, restricting official communication to only two sexes. This knee-jerk reaction saw airmen and civilians alike forced to scrub their pronouns from email signatures, memos, and even social media bios.
But in an embarrassing about-face, the Air Force announced last week that it was rescinding that ban. The reason? The policy violated federal law — specifically the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act signed under President Joe Biden, which forbids the Pentagon from forcing or banning the use of pronouns in official correspondence.
A spokesperson for the Air Force admitted the mistake, stating that while the department “moved swiftly” to implement Trump’s order in February, it was later “brought to attention” that the ban clashed with federal law. On April 2, the policy was quietly updated to allow pronoun use once again.
Legal Loopholes, But Little Progress
Let’s be clear — this isn’t exactly a victory lap moment for LGBTQ service members.
While the Air Force’s pronoun ban was scrapped, most of the anti-LGBTQ measures in Trump’s directive remain firmly in place. This includes shutting down employee resource groups that support gender diversity, terminating contracts that promote gender inclusion, and scrubbing public-facing content that affirms gender identity.
The Department of the Air Force has been left in a precarious position — forced to navigate between a political minefield of Trump-era culture wars and existing federal laws that prevent outright discrimination.
For LGBTQ personnel, the flip-flop underscores a grim reality: while basic rights like the freedom to state your pronouns have been momentarily spared, the broader attack on inclusion and equality within the military remains aggressive and deliberate.
Impact on LGBTQ Service Members
This policy drama sends a chilling message to LGBTQ people serving in the US military. Being able to openly state your identity — something as simple as writing “she/her” in an email signature — shouldn’t have to rely on legislative technicalities.
It’s about dignity, respect, and visibility.
By initially banning pronouns, the Air Force not only marginalized LGBTQ service members but signaled a willingness to erase their identities from public view. The reversal of the ban may feel like a win on paper, but the continued dismantling of DEI programs and erasure of gender-inclusive language shows that the battle is far from over.
For the queer community, especially trans and non-binary people in uniform, this fight goes beyond signatures. It’s about creating a military culture where authenticity isn’t treated like a liability.
As the political pendulum swings wildly, LGBTQ troops are once again left holding their breath — caught between compliance, courage, and survival.