Original Article by SIG Members
Honoring Our Nation's Sexual and Gender Diverse Service Members and Veterans
Nicholas A. Livingston, Ph.D., National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Cara Herbitter, Ph.D., M.P.H., VA Boston Healthcare System; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
William T. Bryant, Ph.D., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
November 11, 2020
Honoring Our Nation's Sexual and Gender Diverse Service Members and Veterans
Nicholas A. Livingston, Ph.D., National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Cara Herbitter, Ph.D., M.P.H., VA Boston Healthcare System; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
William T. Bryant, Ph.D., Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center; Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
November 11, 2020
Veterans and active duty personnel are a diverse group, including individuals from varied racial and ethnic backgrounds and across the spectrum of sexual and gender diversity.¹-³ In fact, a significant number of sexual and gender minorities—or individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer+—are currently serving or have served in the military, despite previous Department of Defense policies barring sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals from serving openly in the military (e.g., “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”). ¹,²,⁴,⁵
This Veteran’s Day, it is important to acknowledge that, while reasons for joining the military and serving our country vary, all Veterans have served our country, communities, and individual citizens. Honoring our SGM Veterans and active duty personnel is important for these reasons, but also in light of the impact that intersecting SGM and Veteran identities can have on the health and wellbeing of SGM Veterans.⁶ For example, some SGM Veterans have felt alienated in SGM communities due to their Veteran status, as well as in Veteran communities due to their SGM identity.⁶ This is because there may be aspects of SGM individuals’ experiences in the military that are not relatable to members of the SGM community, and aspects of sexual and gender diversity that may not be relatable to, or affirmed by, fellow Veterans; there are also inaccurate stereotypes about each identity. Thus, finding an affirming community that honors all of one’s identities can be especially complex for SGM Veterans. For these reasons, Veteran’s Day can be a challenge for SGM Veterans.
Despite these challenges, many SGM Veterans are proud of their SGM identity and also of their military and service background. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we highlight some of the positive aspects of what it means to be an SGM Veteran, followed by what allies and non-Veteran individuals might consider to best honor our SGM Veterans.
For and About Veterans
The participation of so many SGM individuals in the military, even during eras when their participation was not allowed, affirms the commitment of our SGM Veterans to serve our country. In addition, Veterans and active duty personnel are uniquely trained, have a strong sense of camaraderie and loyalty, and demonstrate strong moral fortitude. In particular, they are trained to act prudently and often selflessly under high-stress situations, which is deserving of our attention, affirmation, and respect.
If you are an SGM Veteran, we encourage you to consider ways you might honor yourself and your service, and celebrate who you are and what you have done for your country. We invite you to also reflect on instances when you have felt respected and affirmed, and try to maintain or recreate that for yourself through self-care, social/community involvement, or advocacy.
For Allies
Those seeking to engage in allyship toward SGM Veterans are encouraged to consider ways they can support and honor SGM Veterans on Veteran’s Day and beyond.
We thank all Veterans for their service, and for those whose “thanks” never came or are long-overdue, we thank you double.
References:
This Veteran’s Day, it is important to acknowledge that, while reasons for joining the military and serving our country vary, all Veterans have served our country, communities, and individual citizens. Honoring our SGM Veterans and active duty personnel is important for these reasons, but also in light of the impact that intersecting SGM and Veteran identities can have on the health and wellbeing of SGM Veterans.⁶ For example, some SGM Veterans have felt alienated in SGM communities due to their Veteran status, as well as in Veteran communities due to their SGM identity.⁶ This is because there may be aspects of SGM individuals’ experiences in the military that are not relatable to members of the SGM community, and aspects of sexual and gender diversity that may not be relatable to, or affirmed by, fellow Veterans; there are also inaccurate stereotypes about each identity. Thus, finding an affirming community that honors all of one’s identities can be especially complex for SGM Veterans. For these reasons, Veteran’s Day can be a challenge for SGM Veterans.
Despite these challenges, many SGM Veterans are proud of their SGM identity and also of their military and service background. In honor of Veteran’s Day, we highlight some of the positive aspects of what it means to be an SGM Veteran, followed by what allies and non-Veteran individuals might consider to best honor our SGM Veterans.
For and About Veterans
The participation of so many SGM individuals in the military, even during eras when their participation was not allowed, affirms the commitment of our SGM Veterans to serve our country. In addition, Veterans and active duty personnel are uniquely trained, have a strong sense of camaraderie and loyalty, and demonstrate strong moral fortitude. In particular, they are trained to act prudently and often selflessly under high-stress situations, which is deserving of our attention, affirmation, and respect.
If you are an SGM Veteran, we encourage you to consider ways you might honor yourself and your service, and celebrate who you are and what you have done for your country. We invite you to also reflect on instances when you have felt respected and affirmed, and try to maintain or recreate that for yourself through self-care, social/community involvement, or advocacy.
For Allies
Those seeking to engage in allyship toward SGM Veterans are encouraged to consider ways they can support and honor SGM Veterans on Veteran’s Day and beyond.
- Sexual and gender diversity are to be celebrated, and SGM individuals should be recognized for their important contributions to military service, both in the community and within healthcare settings. Indeed, many Veterans Affairs hospitals (VAs) have programming and trained providers ready to serve SGM Veterans. It is also VA policy that Veterans will not be discriminated against based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Increasing the visibility of Veterans within the SGM community, such as LGBTQ+ organizations recognizing SGM Veterans on Veterans Day, is important and can help SGM Veterans feel connected and affirmed within the SGM community. Further, celebrating and increasing visibility of SGM individuals serving or who have served in the military (e.g., by Veterans’ organizations hosting Pride events) could foster needed connection within Veteran communities with shared experiences.
- If you are a loved one, provider, or ally of SGM Veterans, we encourage you to consider ways you can support these efforts and be the most effective ally for SGM individuals and SGM Veterans. This may include providing individual support to SGM Veterans, recognizing the challenges they face, and working to stop discrimination against SGM Veterans that may stem from non-LGBTQ+, LGBTQ+, or Veteran communities.
- We also encourage careful consideration of personal biases about what it means to be a Veteran, what it means to be an SGM person, and proceed mindfully and from a place of affirmation to honor the identities and sacrifices of our SGM Veterans.
We thank all Veterans for their service, and for those whose “thanks” never came or are long-overdue, we thank you double.
References:
- Blosnich, J. R., Brown, G. R., Shipherd, J. C., Kauth, M., Piegari, R. I., & Bossarte, R. M. (2013). Prevalence of gender identity disorder and suicide risk among transgender veterans utilizing Veterans Health Administration care. American Journal of Public Health, 103(10), e27–e32. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301507
- Gates, G. J. (2010). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women in the US military: Updated estimates. Retrieved October 16, 2020 from https://escholarship.org/content/qt0gn4t6t3/qt0gn4t6t3.pdf
- Kamarck, K. N., Congressional Research Service. (2019). Diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the armed services: background and issues for congress. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved October 16, 2020 from https://fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R44321.pdf
- National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994, H.R. 2401. (1993). https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2401/text
- James, S. E., Herman, J. L. Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Retrieved October 16, 2020 from https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf
- Livingston, N. A., Berke, D. S., Ruben, M. A., Matza, A. R., Shipherd, J. C. (2019). Experiences of trauma, discrimination, microaggressions, and minority stress among trauma-exposed LGBT veterans: Unexpected findings and unresolved service gaps. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 11(7), 695-703. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0000464