Supporting LGBTQIA+ Veterans and Service Members

LGBTQIA+ In Service and Beyond aims to foster an environment of understanding, respect, and support for LGBTQIA+ Veteran communities. Listen and read below to learn more about unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals within military and Veteran communities.

We hope to equip service providers, mental health professionals, organizations and other allies with the culturally responsive knowledge and tools to support LGBTQIA+ Veterans more effectively, to ensure they receive the quality care and support they deserve. Together, let’s foster allyship and connectedness to create an environment where LGBTQIA+ Veterans feel valued, respected, and fully included in their support networks, contributing to suicide prevention efforts within communities across the country.

Shared Stories

Hear from community members in the working group for this initiative as they discuss their experiences and insights In Service and Beyond.

Launching the Campaign

Listen now as Veterans Erika Hoover and Andrea Norton discuss this new public awareness and advocacy campaign, LGBTQIA+ In Service and Beyond. This initiative aims to increase understanding, respect, and support for LGBTQIA+ Veteran communities.

Learn more about:

Their personal service under the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy
The high cost of hiding your authentic identity during service and your Veteran identity after service
The power of diversity in both Veteran and LGBTQIA+ communities
The role of community partners in suicide prevention screening

Healthcare

Blog: Understanding Healthcare Access & Experiences

“Addressing the specific needs of LGBTQIA+ community requires understanding the barriers we face, from historical policies through current legislative hurdles, to ideological and social concepts perpetuating a general lack of safety and trust. The dynamic of needing specialized or individualized care adds challenges…”

VA Support for LGBTQ+ Veterans

On this episode of Behind the Mission, we feature a conversation with Dr. Michael Kauth, Executive Director of LGBTQIA+ Health, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, about the support available for LGBTQIA+ Veterans in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Minority Vets of America

Hear from Navy Veteran Lindsay Church (they/them) on this episode of Behind the Mission. Lindsay is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to creating an equitable and just world for the minority veteran community including veterans of color, women, LGBTQIA+, and (non) religious minority veterans.

An initiative driven by the Michigan Governor's Challenge; this work is offered in partnership with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) and Humana.