Frankie Perez in his Air National Guard uniform. (Photo courtesy Frankie Perez)

For the last seven months, Frankie Perez has been collecting paperwork, scheduling appointments, and taking every necessary step to return to the Air National Guard.

Perez, 38, had previously served four years on active duty before leaving in 2015. He served six more years as a reservist, and his ultimate goal was always to return to active duty.

Perez is scheduled to take his physical examination this month as part of his return to service. However, the looming uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military puts a cloud over his future.

“I started all of this before Trump got back into the White House and before all of this happened,” Perez said. “I mean, I knew he was running. I knew what this could mean, and here we are.”

Perez’s concerns are not unique. Like many transgender people across the nation, he faces an uncertain future because of Trump’s escalating actions that target the transgender community.

Along with the military ban, Trump has also passed several other anti-transgender actions, including blocking federal support for gender-affirming medical care for patients under 19 and restricting restroom access in federal agencies.

“I was wondering if my recruiter was going to send me a text to say ‘don’t go,’ but she hasn’t,” Perez said. “From a legal standpoint, I’ve reached out to somebody who’s in the military who’s actually a lawyer. I may want to fight back if I get a hard no.”

The State Department is no longer issuing U.S. passports with “X” gender markers, and the White House has mandated that pronouns be removed from email signatures.

RockAthena Brittain, a trans individual, believes that Trump’s actions are influencing public perception and legal discourse in a way that paints transgender people as dangerous criminals.

In his most recent move, Trump signed an executive order banning trans people from participating in sports that align with their gender identity.

“Where do we go if we have no place in public or private life?” she said. “It sounds like death to me.”

Fear and unease have swept through the trans community in Nevada, according to local LGBTQ+ serving organizations. Many are also troubled by the lack of response from Democratic officials to the growing attacks on trans rights.

Brittain, who challenged Rep. Susie Lee in the 2024 Democratic primary, expressed her frustration with Democratic leadership for not taking stronger action in defense of the trans community.

“Obviously, I’m disgusted with MAGA,” she said. “But I’m also disturbed by members of my own party turning their backs on us and pretending it’s fine for trans people to be collateral damage.”

‘People are Really Scared’

AJ Huth, director of public affairs and civic engagement for the LGBTQ Center in Las Vegas, said they have received a constant stream of calls and emails from the community since Trump took office.

“People are really scared,” Huth said. “There is this extra vigilance we all have now.”

Andre Wade, Nevada director for Silver State Equality, noted that the actions against the trans community are consistent with the ultra-conservative agenda outlined in Project 2025.

“It’s spelled out in Project 2025,” Wade said, referencing the ultra-conservative blueprint used by Trump to draft his orders.

Wade described the actions as an attempt to erase trans and gender-diverse people at the federal level.

“These orders define who the Trump administration thinks are rightful Americans,” Wade said. “But they put America at greater risk.”

Even though many of Trump’s orders have been legally challenged, Wade warns that the damage will persist regardless of whether they are fully enforced.

The continued focus on transgender people and their exclusion from key aspects of society, Wade says, will have a negative impact on their mental health and sense of safety.

Huth, while expressing concern, pointed out that LGBTQ+ individuals have been politically targeted for decades and are equipped to handle adversity.

“We’ve made a lot of progress and we know how to fight,” Huth said. “We know how to keep ourselves safe.”

‘One Day at a Time’

Perez’s journey to rejoin the Air National Guard, despite the uncertainty, reflects a broader struggle faced by the trans community under Trump’s administration. However, Perez is determined to serve, particularly to help Nevadans during emergencies.

In early 2024, Perez decided to take steps toward returning to active duty, despite the barriers erected by Trump’s policies.

For Perez, returning to service is not just about personal achievement, but about serving his community. His commitment to the Guard has remained steady, and despite the obstacles, he remains resolute in his desire to return to duty.

“I’ve always hoped to return,” Perez said. “And I’m determined to do it.”

Nevada is recognized for its progressive policies, such as those signed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo in 2023, that protect trans individuals from discrimination. However, the current national climate leaves Nevada’s protections uncertain in the face of federal actions by the Trump administration.

For now, Perez, along with others in the trans community, continues to live day by day, trying to remain hopeful amid mounting challenges.

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