American legion lgbtq
'A monumental step' for LGBTQ+ rights
The American Legion applauded President Joe Biden’s proclamation to pardon former servicemembers who were unjustly convicted under the military's past policy prohibiting being openly gay, lesbian or bisexual.
“This noble activity is a monumental step toward rectifying a grave injustice, affirming our nation’s commitment to the principles of justice and equality for all who acquire sworn to preserve our country with their lives,” said Chanin Nuntavong, executive director of The American Legion’s Government Affairs Office in Washington, D.C. “The president’s action not only corrects historic wrongs but also strengthens the foundational principles of diversity and inclusion that are crucial to the strength and moral integrity of our Armed Forces and our state as a whole.”
The American Legion has been at the forefront of advocating for the rights and fair treatment of all veterans, including members of the LGBTQ+ collective. The National Executive Committee affirmed that stance with Resolution No. 10, Concern for the Woman loving woman, Gay, Bisexual, Non-binary, Queer, + (LGBTQ+) Veteran Community, adopted in May 2022. The resolution calls
PRIDE shines, heals veterans
It began simply enough with a doubt from a veteran in Tuscaloosa, Ala., seven years ago: “What services are available for LGBTQ veterans?”
“There were not a lot of apparent services, you had to look around and know people,” said Michele Hilgeman, a clinician psychologist investigator who works in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital in Tuscaloosa. “Many providers were unaware of how to serve LGBTQ veterans. Many veterans were unaware services existed.”
That’s when VA began to ramp up, expand and promote what was available for the LGBTQ community. Hilgeman networked with another psychologist in Virginia to develop the pilot program in Tuscaloosa. The two-year undertaking kicked off in 2018 and evolved into VA’s Celebration in All Who Served.
“We got to see how people were dealing with stress, see their sense of entity affirmed in their identity, their resilience, social connectedness — the things we were hoping to impact,” she recalled. “We started spreading the word and it spread to 10 sites in the next year.”
Now, Celebration is in more than 30 states, with more expansions planned.
Gabrielle Metz,
LGBTQIA+ community networks in the armed forces
OP Sterling is a telephone support programme for older LGBTQIA+ veterans, service personnel (including reservists and cadets), and their families. The programme is delivered by Age UK in partnership with Fighting With Lgbtq+ fest to provide support, consultation, and casework.
The OP Sterling advice line was established to help those affected by the LGBT Bar . The lines’ advisors could provide help with accessing:
- financial support
- housing, and
- social care among many other topics.
How to access support
To access OP Sterling, you will want to complete an online application form. As part of the form, you will be able to send a message to the advisors detailing what you would like to talk about and get support with.
After you hold submitted your online establish a member of the support team will contact you to start the referral process.
Access Op Sterling via the Fighting With Pride website.
Local Legion has important note for LGBTQ veterans, others during Pride
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The Palm Springs American Legion has always been a welcoming place for area veterans, but its leaders apprehension some may not sense that way. This year during Pride they’re making a concerted effort to switch any misperceptions.
State of play: Scott Vincent, who serves as judge advocate, sergeant at arms and historian at American Legion Post 519, said this week there’s a directive from the highest levels of the organization to make sure veterans who are members of the LGBTQ community grasp they are welcome. It shouldn’t be an issue locally, he said, but it often is.
- “Our local post bylaws state specifically that there is to be no discrimination,” Vincent said. “But now the national commander put out a directive to welcome all of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters immediately at every Legion in the country.”
Why it matters: Similar to many other institutions, discrimination — whether direct or subtle — runs rampant in the military. Despite this, many members of the LGBTQ community still choose to put their lives at risk in service to our land. Organizations
Post 448 is not your typical American Legion post. If the Antique Guard at the national level takes a stance, chances are Post 448 takes the opposite view. We are a socially progressive post which prides itself on its diversity. We have a big contingent of members from across the nation and in a few foreign counties. Our members appear from every branch of service; have served in silence in every dispute from World War II to the Persian Gulf; have worn every rank from the lowest chevron to the flag officerÂ’s stars; and have held every MOS from missile technician, postal clerk, tank driver, combat medic, marine recon, infantry, photographer, and more.
We have lots of good memories, but possess never forgotten what it was like to help as a gay member of the Armed Forces, open or closeted. We offer support to LGBT veterans and active duty service members. But, in the finest tradition of this Nation and the American Legion, we attend all active duty servicemembers and veterans without reservation.
Veterans develop a special bond while in the service and this bond thrives long after our discharge. This bond is further strengthened through combat, spec