State Of The Union 2019: Democrats Nancy Pelosi, Kirsten Gillibrand Invite Trans Military Personnel

In an act of solidarity against the Trump administration's military ban against transgender service members, both Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York will have transgender active-duty Army officers as guests to the State of the Union.

Pelosi announced at a press conference Tuesday that her guests would be Captain Jennifer Peace and Major Ian Brown.

After the announcement, NBC News spoke to Captain Peace, who serves as a director-at-large for the LGBT military advocacy group SPART*A, about her feelings regarding representation at the upcoming presidential address.

"I think it’s important to raise visibility and get people to realize that by excluding trans service members, we are directly weakening our military and national security," Peace told NBC News.

Gillibrand, who entered the 2020 presidential race on Jan. 15, announced plans on Monday to bring Navy Lieutenant Commander Blake Dremann, a transman, as her guest to the State of the Union.

"I am inspired by Lieutenant Commander Blake Dremann’s leadership and am honored that he will be attending the State of the Union as my guest," Gillibrand said in a statement.

Dremann has been deployed 11 times and has earned numerous awards and merits, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Service Achievement Medal. He also serves as a board member for SPART*A, whose members include current service members, past service members, and their allies.

"Lieutenant Commander Dremann is a proud member of the U.S. Navy, he is a loyal patriot who has devoted his career to serving and protecting our country, and he is also one of the thousands of transgender service members serving in our military with honor and distinction," Gillibrand said.

The Supreme Court on Jan. 22 upheld a partial transgender military ban, reversing an Obama administration rule to open the armed forces to trans personnel.

Peace, however, remains hopeful about transgenders serving in the military.

"Trans service members are currently serving in the military, we have been and we will continue to do so," Peace told NBC News.

Gillibrand and Pelosi aren't the only legislators bringing current or past trans members of the armed forces to the State of the Union. Rep. Donald McEachin, a Democrat from Virginia, will be accompanied by Navy Petty Officer Second Class Megan Winters, a transwoman who has served in the Navy for six years.

Winters is also one of a number of plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit against the trans military ban headed by Lambda Legal, the nation's largest LGBT legal organization. The suit, known as Karnoski v. Trump, is challenging the constitutionality of the ban.