LGBTQ in the US Military

"Half a decade after the repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell, most LGBT service members still felt reluctant to be open about their sexuality with their colleagues and chain of command, according to a study released in late May.

The study, published by the journal Sexuality Research and Social Policy, found that 59% of respondents did not feel comfortable being out at work, either because of career repercussions or because of the burden of being a token responsible for educating their peers.

“Taken together, LGBT service members seek a military in which disclosure will not subject them to negative career repercussions, burden them with feelings of differentness or expectations to teach others how to treat them, limit their ability to access needed resources for themselves or their family, and, ultimately, that their physical and personal integrity will not be endangered,” the authors, both military and academic researchers, found." --- Excerpt from an article in the Military Times.

None of this was shocking to me, although well said. What IS surprising to read however was that the SCOTUS ruling from last summer about prohibiting sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination at work does NOT apply to the military.

So people who are willing to put their lives on the line in order to protect our rights, have to give up their own rights. 

That's nuts.

I know that people IN the military and our veterans could have a vastly different point of view on this and I welcome you to share it! Are you okay with our American military being allowed to discriminate?

Photo: Minority Veterans of America helped lead the Seattle Pride parade in 2018. (Minority Veterans of America)