Posted on Mar 22, 2016
Transgendered/Gay/Lesbian service members, what is your experience in the military like?
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I would like to hear what its like to be a part of the LGBT community in our nations military. anything really positive ever come out of it? anything really negative? have you ever been discriminated against or been treated unfairly? whats your story?
LGBTQ+
Politics
Transgender
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 11
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I will make this comment, and I make it without reserve as a Christian.
My job is not to judge any person. There are many lifestyles which I do not agree are in keeping with my particular faith, but thankfully, for myself and everyone else, I do not pass judgement, my job is to treat everyone as an equal, with love and charity.
That being said, any individual who has ever signed on the dotted line and stood up to defend this great Country is a brother to me.
I don't mean brother in the "male gender" sense, I mean brother as in an equal, a warrior who has decided to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
MSG Crowell, I appreciate your service, as I do all of my other brothers and sisters in arms.
I will never be able to understand the pain that you went through, nor could I begin to imagine.
Your brothers in arms failed you, and no one will be able to apologize enough to even begin the healing process.
To all of my comrades in arms, every single one of you, no matter what race, religion, sexual preference, nationality or gender; all of use deserve the same level of treatment or respect.
My job is not to judge any person. There are many lifestyles which I do not agree are in keeping with my particular faith, but thankfully, for myself and everyone else, I do not pass judgement, my job is to treat everyone as an equal, with love and charity.
That being said, any individual who has ever signed on the dotted line and stood up to defend this great Country is a brother to me.
I don't mean brother in the "male gender" sense, I mean brother as in an equal, a warrior who has decided to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
MSG Crowell, I appreciate your service, as I do all of my other brothers and sisters in arms.
I will never be able to understand the pain that you went through, nor could I begin to imagine.
Your brothers in arms failed you, and no one will be able to apologize enough to even begin the healing process.
To all of my comrades in arms, every single one of you, no matter what race, religion, sexual preference, nationality or gender; all of use deserve the same level of treatment or respect.
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MSG James Crowell
SGT Michael Thorin - as you are one of the brothers in arms i will call a brother in amrs for i been and saw four different combat zone from my time in the Army from 1979 to 2000 from Grenada ,Panama, Gulf War and Latin America
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SGT Michael Thorin
MSG James Crowell - And I greatly appreciate your service. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made to protect our Nation.
None of us are perfect. As a matter of fact, I will admit that I'm not even in the same ballpark as the first step towards perfect, and will never be, but I do not want to write off our Nation yet.
I still have faith that there are a great many more people out there who are good rather than evil. I have to, because if there aren't, what is the purpose of holding on to our values?
None of us are perfect. As a matter of fact, I will admit that I'm not even in the same ballpark as the first step towards perfect, and will never be, but I do not want to write off our Nation yet.
I still have faith that there are a great many more people out there who are good rather than evil. I have to, because if there aren't, what is the purpose of holding on to our values?
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MSG James Crowell
you are right Sgt Michael Thorin for i have not giving up for i will fight until they lay me 6 feet under ground for i toke that oath freely and still honor it still to this day unlike many of our other county men and women i do believe that all men(women ) are equal and no one is better then the next one and we all have to fight for freedom to keep us safe but at what cost ?
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SGT Michael Thorin
CW2 Lindsey Muller - Thank you very much for the compliment, I can't tell you how much I appreciate that, and would be equally as willing to serve beside you.
AH64 pilot. That is awesome. I wanted to go Warrant Officer and spend some time at Rucker to be a pilot as well. I was always torn between combat arms on the ground and throwing some lead from above.
I will never regret the choices I made as far as branch and MOS, but I will tell you that I absolutely love everyone who straps themselves into the seats of any fixed wing or rotary aircraft.
There were many times that CAS from you guys was what kept us alive.
You know what's funny though?
During our times of need, when CAS pulled us out of a tight spot, no one in my platoon ever said "Man I hope that pilot was straight!" Most likely, they would not have cared anyway. What strikes me odd about that statement, however, is that there are some who are so adamantly appalled by those who are different that they would be upset at an individual like yourself that is equal in every way imaginable, but looks at life through a different pair of glasses (as we all do), but if they found out you had been a pilot on any mission that may have pulled them out, and never bat an eye at it.
Those people are essentially saying "I don't mind you serving, just not with me."
I don't know what your religious preference is, if any at all, but I hope I do not offend you when I say God bless you for your service. It is because of pilots like yourself that people like me are still around, and to me "God bless you." is the ultimate compliment I can give anyone.
Stay strong, keep up the great work and always remember that self worth is never in how other people see you, it is only in how you see yourself.
AH64 pilot. That is awesome. I wanted to go Warrant Officer and spend some time at Rucker to be a pilot as well. I was always torn between combat arms on the ground and throwing some lead from above.
I will never regret the choices I made as far as branch and MOS, but I will tell you that I absolutely love everyone who straps themselves into the seats of any fixed wing or rotary aircraft.
There were many times that CAS from you guys was what kept us alive.
You know what's funny though?
During our times of need, when CAS pulled us out of a tight spot, no one in my platoon ever said "Man I hope that pilot was straight!" Most likely, they would not have cared anyway. What strikes me odd about that statement, however, is that there are some who are so adamantly appalled by those who are different that they would be upset at an individual like yourself that is equal in every way imaginable, but looks at life through a different pair of glasses (as we all do), but if they found out you had been a pilot on any mission that may have pulled them out, and never bat an eye at it.
Those people are essentially saying "I don't mind you serving, just not with me."
I don't know what your religious preference is, if any at all, but I hope I do not offend you when I say God bless you for your service. It is because of pilots like yourself that people like me are still around, and to me "God bless you." is the ultimate compliment I can give anyone.
Stay strong, keep up the great work and always remember that self worth is never in how other people see you, it is only in how you see yourself.
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i was rape by three men who saw me with a friends girlfriend kissing and i was told if i said any thing about it i would be throw out of the Army back when the ban was on back in the 1980s at Fort Campbell KY
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MSG James Crowell
i have a purple heart three AR Accommodation and one AR achievement four good conduct air born and aasult and expert on the 45 M16 m203 and the 9mm and i was not going to throw all that way for those cave men who will never have the brains to think
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SFC William Farrell
MSG James Crowell - I am sorry you had to go through what you did. I feel that for the military to ends this pattern of sexual abuse, prosecution had to be taken away form commanders and elevated to a fully independent body. All the best to you.
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MSG James Crowell
SFC William Farrell - nor I or other female soldier wanted this to happen to the Commanders to lead their troops but when the good old boys forget that they have a duty to do to the female troopers also then they are the only ones who are at fault
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Capt Lance Gallardo
Maj Matthew Phelps - Just like the Men who were denied the Medal of Honor because of the Color of their Skin or their Ethnicity or Religion. It is never too late for the US Military to admit a wrong done to a Service Member and take corrective action, whether that comes in reviewing Combat Awards for Bias, or Upgrading Discharges were such a discharge is merited. I joined the Marine Corps and the Military in general, to uphold my family 's legacy of service in the Armed Forces, both draftees and voluntary enlistees, like my Father (E-4 PO2 US Navy Carrier Sailor, USS Kearsarge) AND because I knew that the US Military was the first segment of US Society to desegregate, and that in combat, no one cares what your religion or ethnicity, or skin color is, as long as you fight and support your brothers to the end.
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I spent the last 12yrs of my career in the Reserves with Active Duty jaunts in EUCOM, OEF, etc and retired just before DADT was repealed. Being in the closet SUCKED. There was (as I am sure it always has been) a thriving closeted LGB (not sure about TQ) community in the service EVERYWHERE I was. I always felt compromised and stayed somewhat stealth.
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OK, I serve in a multiservice school. We have had numerous openly homosexual trainees, and we have recently had our first transgendered service member, and know that we have more coming in the future. I can honestly tell you that we don't care. When we find out that someone is LGBT, we usually say something like: "good for you, now get back to work."
90% of the problems in the military originate in one of two places: someone thinks they are special and can do whatever they want, or someone is intolerant of someone else and also thinks they can do whatever they want.
ten years ago kids were claiming they were various pagan religions to get attention in basic. Some were legitimate, some weren't. I didn't care, there was work to do.
Nobody should be ashamed to be themselves, but nobody deserves a cookie for being themselves either. Earn your damn cookies like the rest of us.
90% of the problems in the military originate in one of two places: someone thinks they are special and can do whatever they want, or someone is intolerant of someone else and also thinks they can do whatever they want.
ten years ago kids were claiming they were various pagan religions to get attention in basic. Some were legitimate, some weren't. I didn't care, there was work to do.
Nobody should be ashamed to be themselves, but nobody deserves a cookie for being themselves either. Earn your damn cookies like the rest of us.
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I can honestly tell you, I don't care, we had a guy who was gay. We did our jobs but we're family. We laughed about it and cared for each other. At the end of the day we together in some dull situations
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I joined in '07. Hearing all the 'bro talk' really never bothered me. I was open in the military from day one, I guess nobody ever had the notion to report me for it. Never really faced any discrimination I couldn't counter with civil conversation or a walk behind the woodshed.
I often hear that I'm the "Most straight gay guy they've met." I wear that proudly, because it's just who I happen to be. Me being gay never really defined me, nor did it give to me a measure by which to act around others. The goal was always to be an individual, rather than whatever role I played in the company I kept.
I often hear that I'm the "Most straight gay guy they've met." I wear that proudly, because it's just who I happen to be. Me being gay never really defined me, nor did it give to me a measure by which to act around others. The goal was always to be an individual, rather than whatever role I played in the company I kept.
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The last few years of service we're the best years of my career. Started transition before we shipped over seas came out after it was obvious something was up. (Black PT uniform don't hide shit)
Did my job no one batted an eye. Tho the random hugs from random soldiers not under my command and comments of support were uncomfortable I don't like physical contact with people or emotional displays.
Did my job no one batted an eye. Tho the random hugs from random soldiers not under my command and comments of support were uncomfortable I don't like physical contact with people or emotional displays.
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Not as bad as it could have been I suppose, but then again being inside the closet most of the time helped.
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I have almost 13 years in, and enlisted when DADT was the rule. I was 17 at the time, and hadn't really figured myself out (even though I knew I liked guys, I always figured I'd still find a wife eventually).
Being career National Guard, I had it easier in a lot of ways. I could usually pass off my awkwardness as just being away from home.
The hardest part I had was when my partner of six years left me shortly after I was slotted for Iraq. Dealing with depression, while not being able to talk to anyone (the Div chaplain essentially told me to pray the gay away). I honestly spent nights contemplating eating my sidearm.
Since DADT fell out, things have been quite good. I'm out to my unit, no one cares (though I'm told money changed hands weekend I came out), and I don't feel like I'm any less part of the team.
Being career National Guard, I had it easier in a lot of ways. I could usually pass off my awkwardness as just being away from home.
The hardest part I had was when my partner of six years left me shortly after I was slotted for Iraq. Dealing with depression, while not being able to talk to anyone (the Div chaplain essentially told me to pray the gay away). I honestly spent nights contemplating eating my sidearm.
Since DADT fell out, things have been quite good. I'm out to my unit, no one cares (though I'm told money changed hands weekend I came out), and I don't feel like I'm any less part of the team.
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PFC Alexander Oliveira
im glad it worked out best for you Ssgt. damn I wish I coulda gotten in on a bet in that unit. I too could've made some money haha
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