Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73not60
§986 Policy Regarding Identification of Gender or Personal Pronouns in Official Correspondence
Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— General Military Law › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 49— MISCELLANEOUS PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES › § 986
Summary
The Secretary of Defense cannot force or forbid a service member or a Department of Defense civilian employee to state their gender or personal pronouns in official DoD communications.
Full Legal Text
Title 10, §986
Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The Secretary of Defense may not require or prohibit a member of the armed forces or a civilian employee of the Department of Defense to identify the gender or personal pronouns of such member or employee in any official correspondence of the Department.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 986, added Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title X, § 1071(a)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–275; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1048(c)(3), Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1226; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title X, § 1062, Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 2056, prohibited the Department of Defense from granting or renewing security clearances for certain persons, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title X, § 1072(b)(1), (3), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 329, 330, effective Jan. 1, 2008.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
10 U.S.C. § 986
Title 10 — Armed Forces
Last Updated
Apr 3, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60