Countries that allow transgender members in the military

Should Donald Trump follow through on his pledge to bartransgenderpeople from working in the U.S. military "in any capacity," 18 countries will still allow openly transgenderindividuals to be members of their armed forces.

Those countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Swedenand the United Kingdom.

Here is a snapshot of some of those countries and their policies:

Canada

Canada ended its ban on LGBTpersonnel in the military in 1992. Transgender soldiers such as Cpl. Vincent Lamarre, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, now openly serve in the Canadian Armed Forces. And since Bill C-16, which makes it a crime to discriminate on the basis of gender identity and expression, was passed in the Senate in June, the military says it is updating its policies towardtransgenderindividuals to ensure soldiers like Lamarreare accepted within its ranks.

Members of the Canadian Forces have also previously urged the U.S. military to follow Canada's transgenderpolicy.

Australia

The Australian Defence Force removed its ban on gay and lesbian service members in 1992, but only lifted its policy barring transgenderindividualsin 2010. Since then, military personnel such as Maj.Donna Hardingof the Australian Army Nursing Corps have been able to openly serve. Australia's military has also published a diversity handbook on how to improve inclusion for personnel who are transitioning between genders while serving.

Israel

Since 1993, Israel has allowed openly LGBTpeople to serve in the Israel Defence Forces. Israeli transgendersoldiers such as ShacharErez, the firsttransgenderofficer in the IDF, have been international advocates for transgenderrights for military personnel. Ereztravelled to Canada in April 2017 and met with senior Canadian Forces officials to discuss Canada's policies on transgenderissues in the military.

The Netherlands

The Dutch military became the first to allowLGBTindividuals to serve in 1974and it was also the first to set up anLGBTmilitary support organization. The Royal Netherlands Army embraces a "Do Tell" policy, routinely organizes floats in pride eventsandremainsamong the most inclusive militaries fortransgendersoldiers, according toThe Hague Centre for Strategic Studies.

United Kingdom

Since 2000, openlyLGBTpersonnel have been allowed toserve in theUnited Kingdom military. For this year's London Pride Week, all British Army units flew the rainbow flag and about 200 personnel from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force also marched in the London Pride parade. According to the British Army website,anLGBT Forum for service members also "exists to provide support to the LGBT community in particular those who may need encouragement and support to come out or in some cases to go through gender reassignment."

New Zealand

New Zealand's military was ranked the most inclusive in theworld according to a 2014report on LGBT military personnel from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. In 2012, the New Zealand Defence Force created OverWatch, a program designed to provide support to LGBTpersonnel such as Sgt. Lucy Jordan of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, as well as to their commanders, colleagues,families and friends.

Sweden

The Swedish Armed Forces are regarded as some of the most progressive in terms LGBTinclusion. Since Swedish parliamentarianspassed the Discrimination Act in 2008, Swedish Armed Forcespersonnel such as Maj.Alexandra Larsson, who istransgender, have been legally protectedagainst discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression.

Germany

Germany only legalized same-sex marriage at the end of June, but it has allowed LGBTpeople to serve in its military for years. In 1990, it first allowed gay people to serve in the German armed forces, known as theBundeswehr, and removed a ban on LGBTservice members becoming officers in 2000.