Mar 25, 2025 - Politics

Nashville Councilmember Olivia Hill defends trans rights in interview

Nate Rau

Nashville Metro Councilmember Olivia Hill told CNN in an interview this week, "They can't make me go away, they can't make me hide," in response to anti-transgender policies introduced by the Trump administration.

Why it matters: Hill is the first transgender person elected to public office in Tennessee history and she's using her mantle to stand up for transgender rights.

State of play: Trump has signed executive orders to ban transgender athletes in women's sports and to ban transgender people serving in the military.

What she's saying: "I've been trans my entire life and it didn't affect my service at all," Hill, who served in the Navy for 10 years, said. "I did three deployments, two of which were in the Persian Gulf, and I saw combat during Desert Storm."

"It didn't affect my service at all and it doesn't affect any service member being trans."

Watch the full interview

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Nashville Councilmember Olivia Hill defends trans rights in interview

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