Biden, lawmakers highlight inclusion of LGBTQ service members and Veterans

RallyPoint Shared Content — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 08:53:37 -0400

As June’s Pride month kicked off, the Biden Administration and lawmakers in Congress highlighted efforts to be more inclusive of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons in the military and Veteran communities, addressing years of past discrimination and countering new restrictions of LGBTQ rights.

Department of Defense (DOD) Press Secretary John F. Kirby, speaking to reporters earlier this month, honored the “the service, commitment, and sacrifice of our LGBTQ personnel in and out of uniform.”

He said that one of Lloyd J. Austin III’s first actions as defense secretary was implementing President Joe Biden’s Jan. 25, 2021, executive order to ensure that eligible transgender persons can serve in the military openly and free from discrimination. Biden’s order also provided a path for service members to access gender-affirming medical care.

Kirby added that the DOD under Austin’s leadership is taking “concerted action” to promote and protect LGBTQ human rights around the globe.

Responding to a reporter’s question, Kirby defended diversity and inclusion in the U.S. military from recent political attacks. Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, both Republicans, have labeled such efforts “woke ideology.”

Kirby said protecting the nation requires attracting talented volunteers to serve on — and service — aircrafts, crews and warships, and he said DOD leaders make “no apologies” for ensuring an inclusive workplace.

“If you (meet) the standards and you’re qualified to be in the military,” he said, “we want you to be able to do it free of hate and fear and discrimination.”

Inclusion is a work in progress

For the roughly 16% of active female service members and 5% of male service members who identified in a 2018 DOD survey as lesbian, gay, bisexual or some other sexual orientation, Kirby conceded these efforts are a work in progress. Indicators across several areas bear this out, both for LGBTQ personnel serving now and the estimated 1 million LGBTQ Veterans.

Military sexual assault: For instance, a RAND report released June 1, 2021, found that active duty service members who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual or who did not identify as heterosexual are sexually assaulted at disproportionate rates. Yet DOD rarely examines this issue, the report said.

RAND researchers analyzed 2016 and 2018 data from workplace and gender relations surveys of active duty members. The data showed that lesbian, gay, bisexual or nonidentifying-as-heterosexual service members represented 12% of the active population. However, they were 44% and 43% of all sexually assaulted service members in 2016 and 2018, respectively. (The survey doesn’t ask about transgender identification at all.)

“These statistics demonstrate that assaults on the minority of service members who do not describe themselves as heterosexual constitute almost half of all service members who were sexually assaulted in each of these years,” the authors said in the report. “However, we have seen little focus on sexual assaults against LGB service members in DoD prevention materials, research, or public discussion of sexual assault in the military.”

The report recommended DOD improve data collection to understand sexual assault of LGB service members and develop more inclusive sexual assault prevention strategies and materials.

Compensation and benefits: LGBTQ advocates have long argued that policies such as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” in place from 1994-2011, and the recently reversed Trans Military Ban resulted in many harms, including the wrongful discharge from the military and denial of benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

A commission is needed to study the historic and ongoing impacts of discrimination against LGBTQ service members and Veterans, argued Rep. Mark Takano, the California Democrat who chairs the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He introduced legislation to establish a panel that would hear testimony from service members and Veterans and their families, advocacy organizations and government agencies and issue remedial recommendations.

“Establishing this commission would help Americans understand the effects of anti-LGBTQ military policies, provide a path forward to rectify the injustices, and help create a welcoming culture for LGBTQ servicemembers and Veterans in the military and at VA,” Takano said.

In February, VA announced a wide-ranging review of services provided to LGBTQ Veterans and employees to ensure equity in delivery of medical and gender-affirmation care and procedures. In announcing this policy review, officials reminded LGBT Veterans that care coordinators are present at every VA facility. They can provide LGBT Veterans with access to primary care services, including hormone treatment and HIV prevention services such as PrEP.

Transgender health care: Another bill introduced in the House would prevent DOD from stationing service members who have transgender dependents in states or countries that prohibit or deny them gender-affirming health care and treatment, according to a statement by Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Democrat of California, lead sponsor of the legislation. At the state level, more than 20 new anti-LGBTQ laws have passed this year, many aimed at transgender people, according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Learn more

Biden’s Pride Month proclamation: https://rly.pt/352sgKp

DOD’s policy on military service by transgender persons: https://rly.pt/2TH9LZq

List of VA programs for Veterans who are LGBTQ: https://www.va.gov/initiatives/recognizing-lgbtq-veterans-during-pride-month.

Panetta’s news release: https://panetta.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-panetta-introduces-legislation-protect-transgender-military.

Pentagon press briefing transcript from June 1: https://rly.pt/2T6FRgY

RAND’s Sexual Assault of Sexual Minorities in the U.S. Military: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA1390-1.html.

Takano’s news release: https://rly.pt/355Wqw5

FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Champions LGBTQ+ Equality and Marks Pride Month | The...

Today, President Biden issued a proclamation affirming June 2021 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month, marking a time a

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 8 at 2021 9:06 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:06:51 -0400

Thank you for the great news share RallyPoint Shared Content

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 8 at 2021 9:38 AM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:38:13 -0400

LGBTQRSTUVWXYZ. acknowledging that they are different so we can mandate their inclusion is silly

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2021 12:56 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 12:56:29 -0400

would be nice if they quit hiding the information on services for Transgender Veterans on an employee only site. it would be nice if employees actually received training that was effective not the BS they pass off as training. It would be nice if these vets had access to trained medical providers on the issues they face. All the VA does is talk. Its high time that this veteran population have their needs meet as the VA meets the needs of other veterans.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jun 9 at 2021 5:34 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 05:34:46 -0400

I really don’t care what you are when the shit hits the fan you better fight to save your brother or sister or ill shoot you myself

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2021 11:14 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 11:14:41 -0400

Race doesn't matter. Gender doesn't matter. Gay/straight doesn't matter. That's what we always hear. Until they make a big deal about it so they can be "included." Dumb.

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made Jun 10 at 2021 2:41 PM

LTC Ken Connolly — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 14:41:21 -0400

Does doing that make the military, stronger, faster, more efficient, and more lethal? If not, then why bother.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Jun 11 at 2021 11:23 PM

SPC Brian Mason — Fri, 11 Jun 2021 23:23:41 -0400

All these extra 'benefits' and yet so many Veterans do not get adequate care of benefits.
Getting benefits b/c one simply 'is' is ridiculous. We earned ours by service not be default of skin color, who's bits and bobs we like to play with, what we 'think' we are, or some other made up subjective belief.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Jun 12 at 2021 11:43 AM

SFC Randy Hellenbrand — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 11:43:54 -0400

Conservatives have been trying to destroy this for thousands of years. While I must applaud their stick to it-ness. Give it up Jack, you failed.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Jun 12 at 2021 10:15 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 22:15:52 -0400

We serve under 1 flag.

Response by SPC Jesse Davis made Jun 14 at 2021 12:06 PM

SPC Jesse Davis — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 12:06:26 -0400

Good

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jun 17 at 2021 5:15 PM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 17:15:30 -0400

What about my rights as a white male American.

Response by MSG Lonnie Averkamp made Jun 18 at 2021 12:50 PM

MSG Lonnie Averkamp — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 12:50:24 -0400

Now, I'm not going to say that the following incident occurred, but.... IF, years ago, a gay soldier had made unwanted advancements in the shower, and IF I had turned the hot water on him, then WHO was the aggressor? Maybe if I was a member of some "offended" group, I could have gone crying to the Commanding Officer. As it was, the matter was settled "Out of Court". THAT is probably a reason why the "statistics" are so skewed in one direction.

Response by SSG John Oliver made Jun 18 at 2021 8:45 PM

SSG John Oliver — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 20:45:35 -0400

*yawn*

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jun 21 at 2021 7:08 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 19:08:38 -0400

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Response by SFC Robert Walton made Jun 28 at 2021 10:23 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 10:23:13 -0400

Well I think we have forgot the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Quite frankly it is none of my business what you do behind closed doors. But when your on the job this should not be an issue.

The New Military wants you to know everything about them including when and what kind of sex they had last, I see no reason for this to be a part of how you Soldier it does not make you a better Soldier and as of today they do not give awards for that kind of thing. If your partner, Husband, Wife, or what ever is a dependent I have no problem with that. This should not effect how you SOLDIER.
As a leader I see no need for this to effect how you Soldier how ever I need to know you have dependents how many and ages where they reside, disabilities, the same thing with every Soldier. NO I am not going to learn and entire new vocabulary so I can deal with you as a Soldier not happening.

If you find the need to stand on a soap box and proclaim you private life to the world then I find it important to remind you of the section 8. If you want to dream up Other non applicable things to make my job harder then we will deal with it one thing at a time.
Well I am special because I am a Man married to a Man.

I don't care if your married to the Presidents Sister your a Soldier first and I as a leader expect you to act like a Soldier. If doing so is a Problem we have regulations in place to fix that.

No I find no need to be more inclusive, You want a sex change pay for it and do it on your own time.
Before you say it NO I will not support you doing anything to yourself that takes away from Military training and functions. If you want the operation and you get it, and it affects how you Soldier then it would a be violation of your contract. Bye see ya! Anyway you get it. JMTC

Response by SPC Stiv ChenRobbins made Jul 5 at 2021 3:15 PM

SPC Stiv ChenRobbins — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:15:21 -0400

Folks in Joe Biden's party were upset when President Trump made it a priotiy to support gay rights not only in the US, but to insist that other countries did not have the right to kill people for being gay. I guess it is okay now that the Bad Orange Man isn't saying it. Of course, he was also the first American president to go into office saying that he was okay with same-sex marriages, so...

As far as this particular puff piece, there hasn't really been a lot of controversy about gay, lesbian or bi people being in the military, since that has literally no effect on being combat effective. It reminds me a bit of the "don't ask, don't tell" stuff President Clinton tossed out there. It wasn't really changing much, but it let him put his name on something and it didn't hurt, so...
The controversial bit iof the LG+++++ is the part that was added into the grouping for political purposes: Trans... anything actually requiring extensive medication/surgery for an ongoing basis, leaving aside whether you think it is a legitimate thing or not, means you are no longer someone who can be counted on to do what is needed when it is needed. I was already long out when I became an insulin-dependent diabetic, but it still made me sad that it absolutely meant I could not be an effective soldier if we were ever desperate enough for a beat up old medic to be needed.

Of course, there are still folks who legitimately believe we are dealing with gender dysphoria here and not merely a need to put up rainbow flags and tell everyone "I'm okay, you're okay," but those folks will be shouted down anyways since those who have the power at the moment are in no way interested in actual discussion one way or the other.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made Jul 6 at 2021 5:39 PM

SSG Gregg Mourizen — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:39:08 -0400

As long as they are held to the same standards as their peers, when it comes to recruiting. You know, No major surgeries. No medical conditions. I don't see a problem. You start blurring those lines for some groups, then you have to do it for all.
Before you getting yourself all flustered, this is not so much anti LGBMNOP, as a simple question of fairness.
How many capable biological females get turned away for having a hysterectomy? Recruits get rejected for Broken bones, congenital conditions, diabetes and a myriad of other conditions, but to ignore standardized rejection criteria, just because the recruit identifies as one falling into one of the alphabet groups, brings many fairness issues into question. Especially when pharmaceutical requirements will be required.
You want to transition after you get in and can get it approved? All the power to you. What was it? $15million over the last 5 years for transition surgeries and medications throughout the armed forces? No tank this year, or one less live-fire exercise.
Spousal requirements? again, an entirely different issue. The exceptional family member program (is it still called that?) covers duty assignments and dependent medical needs. If the condition is allowed, it should not be an issue.

I am out of the loop now.
How are they handling PT standards? Are you taped by biological or preferred status? Does your PT score fall under the preferred or biological standards? Or have they done away with gender standards, making it that much harder for biological females to perform. These are a serious, not sarcastic, questions.

Response by SGT Charles Bartell made Jul 7 at 2021 4:21 PM

SGT Charles Bartell — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 16:21:43 -0400

I myself do not get all this LGBTQ shit. I served under two officers that where the best I have ever known.
I have also worked with enlisted that where scared that people would find out and they would be discharged. I have never cared if some one is or is not, Just do your job, and KEEP the other away from base. Then I have had to work with Drama fags that think every one should bend over and kiss their ass because of preference if it can be called that.
Now be for people start sending me hate mail. I do in fact have lots of gay friends both when I was in the army and now.
I just do not get why some of this life style think every one owes them something.
As where most of my L,G, friends do not give a rates ass as long as you treat them like every one else.
Now as fare as this trans gender stuff goes. If you are on active duty and you want to get your transiting done.
I say no. for the fowling.
1. Your unit is going to be short the person transiting . For however long the whole thing lasts. Then comes if that person is or is not deployable and if so for how long.
Along with what ever medication's they have to take after wards. who pays for that.
Honestly it is not like a duty related injurie.
2. There are just some M.O.S.'s that require different body types.
3. A man changes to a women does that person go by the Male P.T. Chart or the Female P.T. chart.
This is not fare to biological females because mails by genetics better and faster runners. The same with pushups.
Then there are the females' that change to Male do they get a different adjusted chart.
Now I have known lots of females that max the male side of the chart.
4. Then when you get a new person and you do not know where they started and ended up on the boy ,girl team for lack of a better term.
we all know that the troops that live together play together.
The problems with that are way out of control.
So who is to say what is going to happen with who ? Then what happens when who finds out about the other and the shit storm that will come form that.
Not trying to be a dick , butt some one will not tell the other before hand. Or before hand. And it will go very badly.

Response by PO1 Mike Wallace made Jul 10 at 2021 11:12 AM

PO1 Mike Wallace — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 11:12:17 -0400

What SGT. Nieto said!!!

Response by CPT Joseph Ogulin made Jul 28 at 2021 3:11 PM

CPT Joseph Ogulin — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:11:29 -0400

If you require what would be termed maintenance medication you are considered a non-deployable asset of the unit, which thus lowers the unit's readiness. By a maintenance medication I refer to people who are diabetic (insulin has storage requirements), have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid deficiencies, or anything similar. If you require any of these things you can only really serve in a fixed facility environment and that limits the number of positions available to you at your grade, otherwise your service comes to an end for medical reasons. The same would be true for transgender individuals preparing for gender reassignment surgery or post-operative. You cannot restrict the fixed facility assignments to only people with any of these conditions because those positions may be required for someone to have a normal career progression (one of my classmates in my CAS3 class was an OR nurse whose unit's deployment responsibility was to be backfill at Walter Reed Hospital). Ultimately it comes down to whether or not you can be deployed. If you require special conditions, treatment, medication, etc, then you are considered non-deployable and are therefore limited in how you can progress in the military. If you are willing to live with that as conditions of your service, fine. If not, sorry.

Response by SGT Doug Blanchard made Aug 5 at 2021 3:41 PM

SGT Doug Blanchard — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:41:02 -0400

Majes no difference to me as long as you perform your duty like you are expected to. You protect your battle buddy, dob't try to shove your sexuam belief on me or others. If you do try to push your sexual beluef on me or others, don't perform your duty, or protect your battle budy in a combat situation, theb we are going to have an issue to be resolved. The resolution will be something you are not going to like or want. As I personally will light you up, not a threat, but a promise.

Response by Cpl Raymond Wiltshire made Aug 13 at 2021 2:02 AM

Cpl Raymond Wiltshire — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 02:02:44 -0400

Joining the military is an act of personal commitment. You are willing to do what this country asks you to do to protect the freedom of our Republic. It makes no difference, in my opinion, what your personal believes are as long as you are willing and able to do your assigned duties.

Response by LCpl Richard Zelesket made Aug 22 at 2021 4:15 AM

LCpl Richard Zelesket — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 04:15:27 -0400

Biden and his crew are all worthless price of shit. When shit hits the fan I hope by God they get taken out of office and hanged for treason.

Response by SFC Terry Chamberlin made Sep 2 at 2021 1:35 PM

SFC Terry Chamberlin — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:35:17 -0400

They just want special treatment with flags and a pride this and that I call bull.

Response by CW2 Michael MacInerney made Sep 19 at 2021 3:44 PM

CW2 Michael MacInerney — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 15:44:29 -0400

It use to be we were all the same in the military. Now one is protected with special privileges if they are different. Can anyone think of a better way to divide? What about courage, teamwork, discipline, temperance and loyalty?

Response by PFC David Foster made Sep 19 at 2021 8:38 PM

PFC David Foster — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 20:38:34 -0400

These people have always been fighting beside us among the ranks. Ones sexual preference, gender, skin color, religious choice, or other individual qualities have absolutely nothing to do with their patriotism or bravery....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2021 8:55 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 08:55:46 -0400

Don't go out of your way to point out differences in people and then preach inclusion. The military is the one place where it doesn't matter. We come together train as one, fight as one, and if it's our time die as one. The overwhelming emotions you see at a memorial service for a fallen brother or sister isn't because they were black, Jewish, gay, or any other PERSONAL differences. when I lost a brother in Afghanistan I was torn up emotionally. It wasn't because he was Asian, Hell I could see that, It wasn't because he was a Buddhist, that was his personal choice. He was a friend, a brother whom I knew would have my six. Stop trying to divide us while preaching inclusion. The men and women standing on the line are not and never should be PC social experiments.

Response by SPC Richard Rauenhorst made Oct 30 at 2021 12:30 PM

SPC Richard Rauenhorst — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 12:30:37 -0400

They can not help the way they are born, but they can determine how they will behave.
I have found good and bad in just about every different group of people. I like good people.

Response by SSgt Salvador Martinez made May 30 at 2023 1:34 PM

SSgt Salvador Martinez — Tue, 30 May 2023 13:34:03 -0400

With WWIII in the horizon, why the DoD will spend millions with this bullsh*t. We are the laughing stock of the world.