Parity Pipeline

Genre

Synopsis

FIGHTING FORWARD follows three trailblazing transgender service members—Commander Emily “Hawking” Shilling, Petty Officer 2nd Class Paulo Batista, and Chief Warrant Officer Jo Ellis—as they navigate career threats, legal battles, and rising political hostility in a military increasingly shaped by partisan agendas. Emily, a decorated Navy pilot and president of trans military support nonprofit SPARTA, once supported Trump but now fights the trans military ban he enacted. Paulo, who joined the Navy after transitioning to honor his late father’s wish, now excels in intelligence operations and public service. Jo, a Black Hawk pilot raised in a conservative Christian household, became the target of false accusations and death threats following Trump’s baseless blame of “diversity hires” for a military crash. Their stories are interwoven with courtroom scenes, behind-the-scenes moments with military leaders and legal teams, and expert commentary from figures like General Tammy Smith, attorney Paula Neira, and NCLR’s Shannon Minter. The film reveals the high cost—financial and moral—of discrimination, highlighting RAND Corporation findings that transgender service members do not harm military effectiveness, and countering cost-based arguments with data showing $3 million spent on gender-affirming care pales in comparison to $41.6 million on erectile dysfunction meds and the $18 billion price tag to replace trans personnel. At its core, the film challenges who gets to define patriotism, showing how these individuals exemplify courage, competence, and integrity in the face of politicized exclusion—and what’s truly at stake for democracy and national security when identity is weaponized over merit.