“We don’t want barriers unrelated to a person’s qualification to serve preventing us from recruiting or retaining the soldier, sailor, airman or marine who can best accomplish the mission. We have to have access to 100% of America’s population.” And with that, the U.S. military ended its transgender ban.

+ “I knew I was needed after 9/11. I know I’m needed now.” The LA Times on a proud member of the military as a man, and maybe once again as a woman.

+ According to the latest figures, about 1.4 million American adults identify as transgender.