From military lawyer to commentator: the shifting views of David French

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A former Army Reserve major and legal expert, David French has navigated the complex intersection of religious conviction and civil libertarianism. His journey from defending traditional religious rights to questioning his stance on same-sex marriage highlights the friction between theological doctrine and the legal stability of a pluralistic society.

David French’s career has been defined by his work on religious rights and constitutional law. Following his 1994 Harvard Law School graduation, he held roles as president of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and senior counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom until 2005. His legal background includes serving as a squadron judge-advocate in the Iraq War, where he was deployed to the Diyala Governorate in 2007 and awarded a Bronze Star.

French has frequently occupied a contentious space in American cultural debates. In 2017, he co-authored the Nashville Statement, which characterized homosexual behavior and transgenderism as sinful. He has also been a prominent critic of transgender rights, stating in 2022 that he does not believe trans men are men or trans women are women, and refusing to use preferred pronouns as a matter of personal belief.

However, his positions have undergone significant evolution. In November 2022, French announced he had changed his mind regarding the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. While remaining morally opposed to it, he argued that the legal protections established by Obergefell v. Hodges provide a vital legal superstructure for millions of American families. This shift, alongside his opposition to Christian nationalism, led him and his family to leave their Presbyterian Church in America congregation in early 2024.

At present, French writes for The Atlantic and serves as a columnist for The New York Times. His work often explores the necessity of pluralism and classical liberalism, arguing that these principles are essential to a nation's success and the maintenance of a stable, democratic society.

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