Illinois National Guard employee sues Trump over restroom ban

LeAnne Withrow, inspired by her father and grandfather, pursued a military career and served in the Illinois National Guard from 2010 to 2023, earning multiple accolades for her dedication. Currently a civilian employee with the Guard, she continues to be recognized for exceptional service, but a policy from the Trump administration is now limiting her access to basic restroom facilities.

Withrow, who is transgender, publicly came out around ten years ago. Until recently, she used womens restrooms at Camp Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, as well as at 12 other Guard sites she visits for her role as lead military and family readiness specialist. However, the situation changed after Donald Trump signed an executive order titled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, which directs federal agencies to bar transgender and intersex individuals from single-sex spaces consistent with their gender identity.

In response, Withrow filed a class-action lawsuit in November against the Trump administration in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. She argues that the restroom policy violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which forbids sex discrimination in the workplace. The Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) affirmed that sex discrimination includes discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation.

The lawsuit names several administration officials as defendants, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. Withrow is represented by Democracy Forward, the ACLU, the ACLU of D.C., and the ACLU of Illinois. She turned to the courts after receiving no resolution from complaints submitted to the Army National Guard Bureau Equal Opportunity Office and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Withrow explained her motivation to The Advocate: Its a question of human dignity, its a question of equal treatment under the law. I think its important to fight for whats right, even if it becomes more difficult. She emphasized that her military service was driven by a desire to give back to her community and country, not for personal gain.

Despite scoring in the 99th percentile on the military aptitude test, Withrow initially joined as a cook, valuing service over prestige. She later transitioned to public affairs and became a military photojournalist, eventually rising to staff sergeant and chief public affairs officer. Her career included deployments to South Korea, Jordan, Alaska, and assignments at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago and Guantanamo Bay in 2016. She also contributed to flood relief in 2019 and COVID-related operations during the pandemic.

Her military achievements earned her numerous awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Achievement Medal, and the Illinois National Guard Abraham Lincoln Medal of Freedom. Now, in the State Family Programs Office, she supports service members, veterans, and their families by managing multiple field offices, creating training programs, and handling complex cases.

Withrows challenge stems from the Trump-era restroom restrictions. Since coming out in 2016, she experienced periods of uncertainty due to policy changes, including a temporary reinstatement of the trans military ban under Trump and its later reversal under President Biden. The current policy limits her to a single-user restroom at work, and most Guard facilities she visits lack such accommodations. To comply, she often skips meals and limits water intake, resulting in dehydration and significant daily stress.

She describes the difficulty of navigating her job under these restrictions: It wears on you. Imagine being a manager at a local McDonalds and learning the CEO personally dislikes people like you. It makes you feel like youre walking on eggshells. Despite these challenges, she remains focused on her mission to support soldiers and their families, though bathroom logistics now complicate her workday.

Withrow is optimistic about the lawsuit, believing in the strength of the law and her legal team. I sort of, in the back of my mind, always believe that the good guy is going to win, she says. I think were the good guy in this, and the law is on our side.

Author: Maya Henderson