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

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:37:43 -0400

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.

Preventing Suicide among LGBT Veterans - My HealtheVet

LGBT Veterans experience depression and suicidal ideations at twice the rate of heterosexual Veterans. Learn how to seek help for you or a loved one today.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2021 6:02 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:02:07 -0400

Sorry thing is the VA fights TG care every chance it gets

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Jun 2 at 2021 7:24 PM

SFC Randy Hellenbrand — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 19:24:28 -0400

I had 25 years. I absolutely guarantee you I commanded gays. Wanna know how many did do their job??? EVERY ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Jun 3 at 2021 12:35 AM

SMSgt Bob Wilson — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 00:35:32 -0400

I prefer DADT. I know what that is--"Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I've always been a firm believer in what you do away from work, on your own time, and in the privacy of your lodging is nobodies business but yours. I don't who you have an affair with; my questions are: [1] Can you do the job? [2] Do you have family problems? Don't bring your home issues to work with you.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 3 at 2021 3:11 PM

MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:11:58 -0400

Personally, I don't really care what two consenting individuals do in the privacy of their own domicile. I have to many failed relationships of my own to even think about telling someone else who they should/shouldn't be romantically involved with. I knew several "closet" homosexual/bisexual/lesbian individuals during the time of DADT. Never really mattered to me. The lifestyle isn't for me but it's not my place to judge other's preferences in that regard. The only question I had was, "Can you perform the task at hand?" As long as the answer was in the affirmative, the rest was irrelevant to me. Incidentally, most of them were damn fine service members and I was proud to have served with them.

I can't really speak to the "gender fluid", transexual, or non-binary orientations because I don't have enough first hand exposure. I've only encountered one individual that I know of who was transitioning and that particular individual had way more issues going on than just trying to redefine their physical attributes. Some may have already made the transition but never confided in me about it so I have no basis from which to form a stance that isn't rooted in ignorance and/or bias.

Response by SFC Mark Bailey made Jun 5 at 2021 12:27 PM

SFC Mark Bailey — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 12:27:44 -0400

I had one Maxim that I followed no matter what

"Do your job and we all come home together"

I had one openly Gay NCO, and he volunteered for NEO Warden and was one of the best NEO Wardens we ever had.

I do not care what body part you prefer and it is none of my business and does not affect my military responsibilities. I was Infantry so my job was simple: Kill the Enemy and deny them access to the ground upon which I stand and the terrain I am set to secure. A gender preference for consensual sex is not part of my duty and responsibilities and is therefore none of my concern. Likewise, a persons faith has no bearing as does what they like to do when they have time off... I did not discriminate against people who lik3d to fish any more than people who called Soccer "Futball"

The ever increasing number of letters ("The Alphabet Gang") is meaningless and in fact just confuses things rather than enlightening or including anyone else. Stick to the LGBT+ and be done with it... More letters is just stupid and an attempt to prove you are more "Woke" than the LGBT+ standing next to you using one less letter.

The corollary to my Maxim also stands true
"If you cannot do your job, you should not be in place and someone else needs to be there so we all come home together"

The third set finishes this out and I followed all three for 20 years and brought my people home every time.

"Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of my Way"

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 5 at 2021 1:42 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 13:42:34 -0400

Thank you for sharing this important work and for highlighting the daily courage these individuals often need to show, and the challenges that the overall community still needs to find ways to overcome.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2021 2:26 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 02:26:44 -0400

good story

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Jun 13 at 2021 6:33 AM

SGT Lorenzo Nieto — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 06:33:43 -0400

I Hurd the color of the rainbow was a sign that god would never bring a great flood to the world again,

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jul 9 at 2021 3:25 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 03:25:53 -0400

Thank you MSG Private RallyPoint Member for posting a perspective that has drawn significant responses.
Sadly too many people are incensed by external characteristics and choices people make.
1st God accepts each person as we are throughout our lifetime. HE loves each person and has tremendous patience with us. I am a conservative Christian who tries to demonstrate respect for each person I interact with.
2nd in the early 20th century while I was assigned to HQDA, G-4 in the Pentagon, there was a transgender woman who had gone through surgery and follow-on treatment to go from male to female. This individual was a retired LTC. I did not work directly with this individual; yet I passed by her in cubicle city from time-to-time. I was saddened by how this person was ostracized especially by people I new were Christians. When she went to the latrine, no women would go in, etc.
I made it appoint to greet this person and ask how she was doing, etc. This shocked many and caused me to be ostracized to some degree. That did not change my behavior since I have tried to be respectful to all. Over time this woman was accepted more and more. Change is hard. Significant personal change is incredibly hard - tests relationships ad friendships.

FYI SSG Jacey R. PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Aaron Kletzing SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SPC Michael Terrell MSgt Dave Hoffman PO3 Phyllis Maynard MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SMSgt Lawrence McCarter PO1 H Gene Lawrence Linda Lawrence SSG Michael Noll SMSgt Dr. G. A. Thomas SMSgt Mark Venzeio SFC Ralph E Kelley SPC Nancy Greene SSG Diane R.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 9 at 2021 12:18 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:18:22 -0400

You celebrate dysfunction and are not helping anyone to find true happiness. At best, they can find comfort with each other. At worst, they will simply become more depressed as a result of following up on your advice to call the VA to get help with transitioning.

To be fair, why don't you discuss how the LBGTQ+ community has pooled their resources and targets Christian-owned businesses for destruction. It's not enough for them to be left alone. They are seeking special protected status for their poor choice to engage in a sexually oriented lifestyle that is statistically proven to be self-destructive to those that engage in it. They are more prone to engage with multiple partners in short-term relationships, more prone to drug abuse, depression, disease, suicide, etc. Calling one's self "gay" and "proud" is symptomatic of the fact that the truth is just the opposite for most of them.

Do I hate them? No. Do I feel sorry for them? No. My best man was gay. He's the only one alive of all the dozen or so gay people I've known on a personal level. I don't judge them and we can agree to disagree about their lifestyle as a suitable alternative. The rest are dead now as a result of AIDS, suicide, and drug abuse. I know more about that lifestyle than I care to know and wouldn't wish their burdens on anyone. Their so-called 'new normal' is anything but normal. They're not well. They need help... but not the help you offer.

I've never met a gay person that can't point to a time in their life when they made a conscious decision to engage in that lifestyle. There is no gay gene. They are not born that way. People may be born with a predisposition to be alcoholic but every alcoholic becomes one by taking that first drink. And just as alcoholics can harm themselves if they don't get help, so it is with those who identify as LGBTQ+. TG's that have had surgery don't find that their lives are any better. It's not going to make them any more accepted by society in general. Real men don't want TG females. In fact, many TG's lament their decision later, after it's too late and they've burned all the bridges behind them. Their lives just get more complicated and more depressing.

The LGBTQ+ community is engaged politically and their influence is felt far beyond what one would expect from the < 2% of the population that identifies with their dysfunctions. The Progressive movement promotes abortion as a means of birth control, and they support the LGBTQ+ community because these things suit their depopulation agenda. Gays typically don't reproduce; instead, they must rely on recruiting others to maintain their numbers.

Response by SPC Jesse Davis made Jul 9 at 2021 1:19 PM

SPC Jesse Davis — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 13:19:07 -0400

So long as the people who say 'we're all American' turn around and oppose civil liberty for LGBT people and endorse nonsense like trying to ban trans people, then that rhetoric is just empty posturing with no meaning or substance.

Pride, Black History Month, and other celebrations are explicitly in opposition to the real injustices that these groups face, to this day. You can cry about how 'we are all just American' when these problems are fixed. Otherwise, it's just farting in the wind.

Response by SSG Bill Cooke made Jul 29 at 2021 3:37 PM

SSG Bill Cooke — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 15:37:06 -0400

DADT is the so called old letters. The LGBTQ etc. want all to accept them and do so loudly. Their flag is more important than the Flag the our stars and stipes of the US. LGBTQ etc want to force their opinions of others. And if straight persons ask them to back off, the LGBTQ etc can be beligerant. I know only one LGBTQ person a childhood friend of mine. We get along by long distance because I act like he now she is my old childhood friend and it works. He now she does not push anything on me.

Response by PFC Michelle Gauthier made Aug 2 at 2022 12:12 AM

PFC Michelle Gauthier — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 00:12:46 -0400

If you want more informatiion, read the MIND Psychology Today Is There Something Unique about the Transgender Brain?

Imaging studies and other research suggest that there is a biological basis for transgender identity

Response by PVT Ted Rodosovich made Aug 2 at 2022 10:05 AM

PVT Ted Rodosovich — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 10:05:19 -0400

I prefer the Native American term "humans".

Response by CAPT Edward Schmitt made Aug 3 at 2022 10:05 AM

CAPT Edward Schmitt — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:05:01 -0400

Why would anyone be so concerned with sex that they make it their whole purpose in life? I do not care what you do in the privacy of your home so why do you feel it is appropriate to push your private life at me? The current military is going down the crapper with all this woke idiocy. Can you do the job? Are you component? I do not care what your private life is if the unit is functioning and the mission can be performed

Response by SP5 Larry (Lawrence) Pitman made Aug 3 at 2022 4:09 PM

SP5 Larry (Lawrence) Pitman — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:09:31 -0400

"Freedom"...we all claim to support it....but some struggle to understand or honor its meaning

Response by SPC Tommy Dean made Aug 11 at 2022 11:16 AM

SPC Tommy Dean — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 11:16:49 -0400

HOLY CRAP.

Response by PO3 John Fahrer made Sep 23 at 2022 11:58 AM

PO3 John Fahrer — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 11:58:22 -0400

I will never understand why anyone or group who involved in the LGBTQ2 feel it is so wonderful to live in their sexual way of life, that they have to shove and push their views all over the place. Some of the sexual activities done in the open while they march is disturbing. Do straight people have huge deals or demand rights that no one else has? I much prefer DADT.