Silently Serving (Part One), A Warrior’s Identity: Being LGBTQ+ in the Military
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Discipline, structure, orders, and regulations are all a part of military culture. You have a strict set of policies and standard operating procedures that must be followed lest you face disciplinary action and consequences. Outside of these things lies social “rules of engagement” that also need to be followed to maintain the bonds of serving with others. On top of all of this, you also are a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Do you come out? Have you already come out and are experiencing a lack of support or fear of not getting support? These are the things that LGBTQ+ members are facing in todays military.
Historical Data
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From 1981 – 2021 policies were in place with the Department of defense banning the enlistment of LGBTQ+ members in military service. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT), issued by the Clinton administration in 1993, prohibited military officials from asking potential recruits and active military service members about their sexual orientation, but did not include any specific directive related to gender identity. Which was a small step in the right direction from the 1981 directive of the Department of Defense noting: “Homosexuality is incompatible with military service.”. This directive pressured LGBTQ+ service members to exit their military service on their own or were victims of entrapment by other service members in order to end their military service. In 2011, DADT was repealed and open lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members were allowed to enlist; but was not inclusive of transgender service members. It wasn’t until 2021 that those who do not identify with their biological sex were allowed to both enlist and serve in the military.
Trauma and the LGBTQ+ Veteran Community
Veterans have a higher risk for mental health disparities from the start. These experiences include combat-related trauma, housing instability, military sexual assault, and a high incidence of reported histories of childhood abuse or intimate partner violence. These experiences are often compounded with the experiences LGBTQ+ members face (or have faced), and lead to unhealthy mental well-being.
With this being said, there is no evidence that LGBTQ+ identity negatively affects military service. In fact, social studies have of self-disclosure by transgender veterans show that military personnel are more likable by their peers after disclosure of their transgender identity was made. This results in stronger unit cohesion, military readiness, recruitment, and retention rates.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy can help LGBTQ+ veterans to process these traumatic experiences and move forward with their lives. Trauma specific modalities like Cognitive Behavioral, Cognitive Processing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapies (to name a few), all focus on changing perceptions and thoughts within ourselves to lead us to better mental health. With the help of a therapist, we can navigate these emotions and trauma in a way that is safe.
Some benefits of working with a therapist include:
Improved emotional regulation: Therapy can help a person learn to better regulate their emotions and reactions, as well as how to better manage and express their feelings.
Improved relationships: Trauma can have a huge impact on how we interact with others. Through therapy, people can learn to better communicate their feelings and needs in relationships.
Greater self-awareness: Therapy helps individuals develop greater awareness of themselves and the world around them. This can help people identify triggers, recognize patterns of behavior, and find healthier ways to respond to difficult situations.
Improved self-esteem: Therapy helps individuals better understand themselves, their feelings, and their reactions. This understanding can lead to an increase in confidence and improved self-esteem.
If you or someone you know has experienced any of this and are curious about how to move forward. Reach out…