LGBTQ Pride Month: Battles Fought After the War is Over - Is the War Really Over?

Last week, a friend and I were talking about LGBT Pride Month, and I stated that a more appropriate reference would be LGBTQQIP2SAA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, 2-spirited, Asexual and Allies) Month. The puzzled look on their face demanded clarification. I shared that I researched the topic a few years ago. Listed below is a summary of our conversation.

In 2018, I was required to conduct research on and present findings on a culture other than my own. I choose the LGBT+ community, due to being harassed for collaborating and advocating for the LGBT+ community while running a table at a local VA. Many individuals stopped by to obtain information, etc., but some stopped to ask questions such as “Are you gay, too?”, “Why are you advocating for them?” “You know the Bible says this is wrong.” One individual refused to accept any information unless I answered his invasive questions. My response, “Unfortunately, that is not a requirement to participate, but please do stop by if you wish to learn more”. These responses prompted me to learn more and try to understand why there is such a stigma around LGBT+ and why they are treated so badly at times.

My findings:
In 1993, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was established under the Clinton Administration. It intended to lift the ban enacted during WWWII to prevent homosexuals from serving in the military. What resulted was the prevention of homosexuals from serving openly. The same thing happened to Dr. Frank Kameny, an American Veteran. Dr. Kameny was discharged from the military in 1946. He began working for the U.S. Army Map service in 1957 and was terminated in January of 1958 after a background investigation raised questions about his sexual orientation. At that time homosexuals were banned from federal service. In 1953 President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 that broadened the definition of “national security risks” to include any criminal, dishonesty, immoral, or notoriously disgraceful conduct, habitual use of intoxicants to excess, drug addiction, or sexual perversion as reasons for termination from federal employment. The State Department used the executive order to fire suspected homosexuals, as they believed them to be more suspected to blackmail by spies and that homosexuality was unmoral and sexually perverted. Dr. Kameny filed petitions with the U.S. Supreme Court, founded the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance, fought to stop these firings, and his fight became part of the Gay Rights Movement. Too many of our Servicemembers honorably served their county for 18+ years, put their lives on the line serving multiple deployments, only to be dishonorably discharged if they were identified as lesbian or gay. In 1975 the U.S. Civil Service Commission stopped denying homosexuals the right to federal jobs. Dr. Kameny was at the 2010 signing ceremony when President Obama repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but sadly he passed away in 2011. This was only ten years ago and was long overdue; but not soon enough for over 10,000 service members. Since that time, both the Trump and Biden administrations have implemented policies that significantly impacted LGBT+ members' ability to serve in the military.

While researching, I came across a documentary regarding a 16-year-old boy who ended his life following countless harassment, bullying, and rejection. His mother donated his heart; however, when she attempted to donate his eyes, she was told that “a gay man’s organs, tissue, and blood cannot be donated”. This is due to an FDA policy stemming from the HIV crisis during the 80s and 90s and is still in effect. It is not just in the FDA; the field of psychology has discriminated against LGBT as well.

The 1952 DSM classified homosexuality as a mental disorder. Sadly, this verbiage did not change until 1973 when political pressure was placed on the American Psychiatric Association following the Stonewall Riots in NYC in the Summer of 1969. This was a bitter-sweet victory for the LGBT community. Though homosexuality was removed as a disorder, DSM 3 (published in 1980) included a chapter on psychosexual disorders and endorsed gender identity disorder (transsexualism). Sadly, best practices dictate that Transgender individuals must receive a mental health diagnosis of gender dysphoria and live as their desired gender for one year before they can have the sex reassignment surgery. Not to minimize anyone or their experience, but if I wanted to go out this weekend and get breast implants, I can do that; if I wanted to get a vaginoplasty, I can do that too; the law states that I have a right to terminate a pregnancy without having to receive a mental health diagnosis prior to doing so. I understand that the desire to transition is much more complex than the examples I provided. I just want to illustrate the discriminatory practices.

Part of the project required a direct immersion with the community being researched. An individual that I interviewed shared that the Midway Café is open every Thursday to provide a safe space for individuals who do not have families to go to over the holidays, so I attended their Queeroke night on Thanksgiving. Before I entered the door, I felt something overwhelming that stopped me mid-step (I think it was fear). Not fear of the people, but fear that they would find out that I am not queer and would not allow me to stay. Can you imagine what they must feel like in similar situations... I sat at the bar, danced, and sang in my seat (don’t judge me, I can’t dance or sing but no one could tell with the loud music). There were all colors, shapes, and sizes of people there truly enjoying themselves. I had a blast! Sadly, where there is hate, there is bound to be hurt. I don’t know if any of you recall the mass shooting at an FL LGBT club in 2016. 49 people were killed and 53 were injured. They were in what they believed to be a safe space. For those of you who are surprised by that number, this is not an isolated event. I will discuss this more in detail in a different post.

I leave you with this: Our LGBT+ friends, family, neighbors, employees… are no different than me, you, or the next person; and should be respected and allowed the liberty to live whatever life they chose. Before beginning my project, I thought I knew a decent amount about different cultures. What I realized is how much I don’t know, and how much more there is to do. This post is not enough to truly understand different cultures or the inequalities and/or oppressions they face; but I hope it provided you with the drive to want to learn and do more. In the famous words of Maya Angelou, now that you know better, do better.
Until next time.

Listed below are additional LGBTQ resources and information
Preventing Suicide Among LGBT Veterans: https://rly.pt/3g16LPf
Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) Service Members, and Veterans: https://www.benefits.va.gov/persona/lgbt.asp
VA Patient Care Services: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/lgbt/
You can also find the following 4 PDF fact sheets at https://www.patientcare.va.gov/lgbt/
VA Female Veterans – Lesbian and Bisexual Healthcare Factsheet
VA Female Veterans – Transgender Female Healthcare Factsheet
VA Male Veterans – Gay and Bisexual Healthcare Factsheet
VA Transgender Male Factsheet
Coming out to your VA Healthcare Provider: https://rly.pt/3vQ5W2w
How to Apply for a Discharge Upgrade: https://rly.pt/3iboQwL

FAQ’s:

Are there any providers specializing in transgender Veteran care in my area?: https://rly.pt/2SU6Qwk

Why do you use the term “LGBT and related identities?”: https://rly.pt/3g0NpK1

How do I get transition-related care at the VA?: Veterans can apply for VA health care enrollment by completing VA Form 10-10EZ. Apply online, or visit, call or write to any VA health care facility or Veterans' benefits office. You can also call the VA Health Benefits Call Center toll-free at 877-222 VETS [login to see] ). Get the latest on VA health care eligibility and enrollment. Watch a new video that helps guide patients through the enrollment process. You can also use the Vets.gov site to obtain additional information.