SPARTA Pride

SPARTA stands at a critical moment. The reinstated ban on open transgender military service has created unprecedented urgency. Transgender service members now face separation and the hardships that follow without adequate resources.

SPARTA Pride is the nation’s only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to serving transgender and gender-diverse military service members, veterans, and military families. SPARTA provides peer support, mentoring, emergency grants, education, and advocacy for the entire transgender military and veteran community, their families, and allies.

We focus on developing community and building resiliency for transgender service members who were unfairly separated from military service because of their gender identity, as well as military members who are not serving openly. SPARTA advocates for the rights of future service members to serve openly and equally, as well as to restore earned benefits to trans service members forced out due to unfair policies.

Transgender Service Members answered the call. Will you? 

Donate to SPARTA Pride today. 

OUR HISTORY

SPARTA Pride comes from a long line of marginalized demographics in US military history. The LGBTQIA+ community has always served in the US military. The only force denying their service has been political roadblocks.

With the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2011, members of the LGB community could finally serve openly in the US military. Transgender service members, however, were still not afforded that right and continued serving in the shadows. 

SPARTA Pride was established in 2013 as an offshoot of a larger LGBTQ+ military and veteran nonprofit organization. Our mission was simple: reverse the medical ban on transgender service members and advocate for open transgender military service.

In June 2016, the Department of Defense announced that “no otherwise qualified service member may be involuntarily separated, discharged, or denied reenlistment or continuation of service, solely on the basis of their gender identity.” This landmark decision opened the door for transgender service members to serve openly and authentically. While the announcement was widely celebrated and enabled many transgender troops to live and serve as themselves, that progress was short-lived.

In 2017, the incoming administration issued unclear guidance on transgender military service, culminating in a tweet announcing a ban on transgender troops. This sudden reversal created widespread confusion and uncertainty, leading to months of legal challenges. Many SPARTA members mobilized in opposition, with some joining lawsuits against the administration to defend their right to serve.

In early 2021, the Biden administration lifted the ban on transgender military service, once again allowing transgender troops to serve openly. Throughout this period, SPARTA played a critical role advocating for current and future service members, establishing itself as a trusted subject-matter expert and a leading voice on transgender military service—work that positioned the organization at the forefront of advocacy leading up to the 2025 Transgender Military Ban.

In January, 2025, a new Executive Order targeted transgender service members, requiring their removal from service. Despite legal opposition, the Supreme Court ruled that separations could continue, even as active lawsuits challenge this unjust policy. Now, thousands of transgender service members are being forcibly removed from military service, many without retirement pay or other earned benefits. 

OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

SPARTA continues to meet these challenges as we always have: with resolve, steadfastness, and commitment. To meet the immediate financial, professional, and emotional needs of our community, we offer the following programs and services:

• Microgrants of up to $1,500 each to qualified community members experiencing financial hardship due to transgender military ban and lack of veteran healthcare access.
• Sharing relevant employment opportunities and job-seeking resources.
• Weekly virtual peer-to-peer support gatherings to create community and share resources.
• Collaborating with other nonprofit organizations to support and advocate for transgender service members and veterans, provide connections to pro-bono legal assistance where needed, and create resource networks for our community. 
• Continued storytelling from our community to combat the false narratives that transgender troops aren’t fit to serve.
• Meeting with coalition partners, lawmakers, and policymakers to advocate for open transgender military service, protect healthcare access for veterans and dependents, and enshrine open trans service into law.
• Advocacy training to foster grassroots efforts nationwide.
• Leading the way as the only nonprofit serving the transgender military and veteran community, establishing us as subject matter experts in this field.
  

Stand with us. Donate today to support the transgender military and veteran community.