“Kicked Out for Serving”: A Trans Navy Commander Faces the Fallout of Trump’s Ban

 

Commander Emily Shilling, a decorated U.S. Navy officer with nearly 20 years of service and over 60 combat missions to her name, is now at the heart of a legal battle challenging the Trump administration’s ban on transgender individuals in the military. This week, her future — and that of thousands of others — was thrown into uncertainty after the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in favor of allowing the policy to proceed, effectively removing protections that had allowed transgender troops to continue serving.

 

Though the decision is not final, it permits the administration to enforce the ban while legal challenges continue in lower courts. The Defense Department estimates that 4,240 service members — about 0.2 percent of the armed forces — have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, while advocacy groups put the broader number of trans individuals in service closer to 15,000. Many of them now face dismissal, halted careers, and unresolved futures.

 

“I’m being kicked out,” Shilling told Women Rule. “I will follow what I’m being told. But it’s also my duty to challenge anything that I feel is an unlawful order… So I am performing my duty. I am challenging something that I believe to be an unlawful order, and we’ll let the courts decide.”

 

The policy, originally introduced during Trump’s first term and reinstated by executive order on his inauguration day, argues that gender dysphoria is incompatible with military service. That stance has been widely condemned by civil rights groups and challenged in court. For those like Shilling, the decision not only disrupts their careers but casts doubt on their ability to serve with dignity and equality.

 

Shilling said the ruling offers no clarity. “We were hoping that the Supreme Court would… make a decision that was kind of final. That way we can all just move on with our lives… Instead, we got kind of a non-answer, and we got the protections that we did have stripped away from us.” She described how the ban has already derailed careers, including those of colleagues who lost command opportunities, leaving their futures irreparably damaged.

 

Despite the legal uncertainty, Shilling remains committed to the fight. “This fight right now is purely legal,” she said, expressing hope that future administrations or Congress might restore rights and codify protections into law. In the meantime, her life remains in limbo. “Do I have a job? Do I not? Am I going to continue with the Navy? Am I not? It’s a hard place to live in.”

 

While Shilling acknowledges her own relative financial stability thanks to her partner — also a senior military officer — she worries for other trans service members without that safety net. “They’re going to be hurting like so many Americans are right now,” she said.

 

Asked about the broader impact of the policy on young transgender people considering military service, Shilling didn’t hesitate. “It’s devastating,” she said. “Are they going to want to work or serve for an organization that doesn’t reflect those values?” Once an enthusiastic recruiter for the Navy, she now finds herself unable to recommend military service in good conscience.

 

Shilling resisted speculating on Trump’s motives but pointed to a larger pattern. “There’s always some population that is vilified… And every single time, we have been shown that it’s just not the case.” She recalled the panic surrounding the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and how, in time, the military proved resilient. “It’s going to be the same thing with trans individuals. It’s just going to take time for the world to catch up.”

 

For Shilling, transitioning was transformative — personally and professionally. “Before I came out, I was a 36-year-old white man… and I didn’t think racism existed. I didn’t think sexism existed. I didn’t see any of them because I never experienced them,” she explained. Coming out as transgender exposed her to discrimination firsthand and helped her become a more empathetic and effective leader. “I’m now showing up to work completely authentic… and that is true leadership.”

 

Reflecting on her nearly two decades of service, Shilling’s love for the military remains undiminished. “People always say, ‘Thank you for your service,’ and all I can ever say back is, ‘No, thank you to the service for letting me serve.’” But now, she watches with heartbreak as that opportunity is taken away. “It was the honor of a lifetime to serve in the U.S. Navy, and I just hope that they live up to the sacrifice that we’ve made.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Politico  2025-05-13

 

 

There are no trans women, only men with a fantasy of being something they are not

11 minutes ago, Social Media said:

“Kicked Out for Serving”:

Emily can move to Oz, join the Trannies in woke Australia. 🏳️‍🌈

 

Sorry, there is a New Sherrif in Town-No More Woke/DEI "BS!"

So, can they stay in the service, if the stop cross dressing and imagining they are a different sex ?  While on duty any way.

Seems a mental illness to me so mentally ill people should not service in the military. 

 

3 hours ago, proton said:

There are no trans women, only men with a fantasy of being something they are not

 

You don't get out much do you ?
While they only make up .06% of the population, there is a chunk of them that are female to male.

Trans woman = woman.    Haahhhahahhahahahhahahhahahahhahahahhahahahahhahaha.  No it doesn't.  

 

I'm a trans elephant.     It's a billion-year transition.    You can NOT tell me I'm not!!!!!   Or I'll sue!!!  Hey, do an article on me!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I swear we need a Snowflake meter (0-100).  Hello, Sir, I see you are a Snowflake 85.  I will go slow and.....well, what pronouns should I use?

 

Snowflake 0.  Good.  Listen my guy, we gotta......

 

Snowflake 100.   I can't.   

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

She recalled the panic surrounding the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and how, in time, the military proved resilient. “It’s going to be the same thing with trans individuals. It’s just going to take time for the world to catch up.”

 

The issue is that gay people don't impose on others.

Surely if he wants to stay he can stop petending to be a woman?

Meanwhile, there may be a suitably qualified female military aviator being denied the rank and position occupied by this transgender person.

 

Or.....are the military subscribing to meritocracy, and this allows them to have the better (male) pilot in the air while also ticking the two DEI boxes of women and transgenderism.  Genius! 

 

 

On 5/13/2025 at 7:49 AM, SLOWHAND225 said:

 

 

You don't get out much do you ?
While they only make up .06% of the population, there is a chunk of them that are female to male.

 

Impossible, gender cannot be changed

why can't he transfer to the kitchen... thats where women belong.

 

On 5/13/2025 at 4:22 AM, Dan747 said:

Sorry, there is a New Sherrif in Town-No More Woke/DEI "BS!"

Just more and more Trump BS.

 

This commander puts his/her life on the line for the country.

 

Trump used the poor excuse of bone spurs to weasel his way out of serving his country.

 

Who do I support?

 

It would never be Trump.

On 5/13/2025 at 7:47 AM, bkk6060 said:

Seems a mental illness to me so mentally ill people should not service in the military. 

And would that also include mentally ill people serving as president?

1 hour ago, billd766 said:

And would that also include mentally ill people serving as president?

Biden is no longer president. 

1 minute ago, mogandave said:

Biden is no longer president. 

Now it is Trump,

Weren't transgender miltiary recruits responsible for some of the worst confidentiality breaches in recent US military history?

 

I don't think you can trust them. Like the double speak with this guy, I love the military, thank you for letting me servec, etc, but sues the military.

 

Forked tongue speak many lies.

On 5/13/2025 at 4:07 AM, Social Media said:

Commander Emily Shilling

 

His original name of Nate Theful Shilling was always going to be ominous. 

60 combat missions in 20 years = 3 per year. F-16 flights are usually under 2 hours because of high fuel burn rate. 

Annual pay for 6 hours flying = $150,000 + Lifetime pension & medical. 

Fire all these losers.

 

11 hours ago, proton said:

 

Impossible, gender cannot be changed

 

I didn't say it could, the point went right over your head

6 hours ago, Cameroni said:

Weren't transgender miltiary recruits responsible for some of the worst confidentiality breaches in recent US military history?

 

I don't think you can trust them. Like the double speak with this guy, I love the military, thank you for letting me servec, etc, but sues the military.

 

Forked tongue speak many lies.

Its a mental illness so .......................

On 5/13/2025 at 8:15 AM, JonnyF said:

Surely if he wants to stay he can stop petending to be a woman?

Psychiatric help first.

10 hours ago, Airalee said:

Because you’re a moron.  Has nothing to do with being a white male.

If you have nothing better to do than insult a poster, then why bother to post?

 

It is better to say nothing and let people think you are stupid, than insult posters and prove how stupid you really are.

Couple of questions. 

 

I wonder if she/he can still use the traditional male-oriented relief tube in her fighter jet?

 

And, as her partner is a female -- is she/he now really a lesbian? Or, is residual male hormone still calling the shots toward sexual attractiveness -- so she/he is actually still sexually straight?

 

Nevermind. This whole transgender BS, with which pronouns to use; which bathroom to use; can George now really be on the girls Olympic team -- is mind boggling. Can't we just return to normalcy, at least in outward appearances?

26 minutes ago, JimGant said:

Couple of questions. 

 

I wonder if she/he can still use the traditional male-oriented relief tube in her fighter jet?

 

And, as her partner is a female -- is she/he now really a lesbian? Or, is residual male hormone still calling the shots toward sexual attractiveness -- so she/he is actually still sexually straight?

 

Nevermind. This whole transgender BS, with which pronouns to use; which bathroom to use; can George now really be on the girls Olympic team -- is mind boggling. Can't we just return to normalcy, at least in outward appearances?

It was not a problem for 20 years, why is it an issue now. This Maga effort to bar transgender people from the military which only 0.2% of the force is nothing but cruel politics and divert attention from the lack of good policies for the people. 

5 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

It was not a problem for 20 years, why is it an issue now

Actually, it was in the closet for most of those 20 years. And, there's no proof that having one's junk removed -- at taxpayer expense -- actually converts a male to someone now pyschologically sound enough to be a full contributor to military service. But, maybe I'm wrong.... Still, there's no need to use taxpayer dollars for this experiment. Let those already "converted" remain in the military; but draw the line at further recruitment, as any minimal void caused can easily be filled with normal recruits.

On 5/15/2025 at 7:42 PM, proton said:

 

Impossible, gender cannot be changed

I didn't say it could, at all.

His a bloke, so what the problem.

just stop pretending you are female.