LGBTQIA+ Representation in the U.S. Military
Imagine being unable to express your authentic self at work. Picture a world where you are forced to hide in order to retain your job. To a lot of us, this is unthinkable.
However, to LGBTQIA+ people in the military, this is a dismal reality. When Bill Clinton signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” into effect in 1993, lesbians and gay men were only allowed to serve in the military if they remained reticent about their sexuality and gender orientation. If it was discovered that they were not cisgender and heterosexual, they risked being discharged.
Prior to the signing of this bill, members of the community were completely prohibited from military service. In the 1940s, homosexuality was considered a mental illness, which disqualified anyone in the queer community from service. In 1982, the Department of Defense issued a policy that explicitly banned gay men and lesbians from serving in the military. This remained in effect until 1993, when Bill Clinton signed a piece of legislation that permitted the service of closeted gay men and lesbians. In 2011, Barack Obama repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", allowing LGBTQ+ folk of all sexualities and genders to serve in the military.
In 2019, Donald Trump passed a bill that banned transgender citizens from serving in the military. The legislation was passed on the basis of protecting the soldiers in question. Trump stated that due to the strict gender binaries that the military enforced, soldiers would feel dysphoria; their mental health would worsen. However, the American Psychiatric Association publicly stated that military service would not negatively affect the mental healths of transgender soldiers, thereby debunking Trump’s reasoning for the ban. The former president also believed that allowing transgender soldiers to serve would increase military spending; the military is responsible for covering all medical bills of its soldiers, including gender-affirming or transitional surgery. However, researchers have proven that transgender-related medical care only affects military spending by 0.04%.
Joe Biden repealed Mr. Trump’s legislation in 2021. However, the effects of years of discrimination are prevalent in the armed forces to this day. While there is allegedly legislation in place to protect LGBTQIA+ soldiers, they still have reason to fear for their safety. This past week, national news headlines told the story of Private First Class Kaylie Harris. After coming out as lesbian, PFC Harris was sexually assaulted by a fellow military member. Immediately following this, Harris took her own life.
While LGBTQIA+ representation in the military has evolved over the years, it still has a long way to go. We need to ensure that all citizens are able to serve and feel safe in their workplace. We must make sure that any and all legislation being passed does not infringe upon the basic and unalienable human rights of every citizen.
Trevor Project (Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Helpline for LGBTQIA+ Youth): +1 (866) 488-7386
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