Our Programs and Resources
Our staff, volunteers, and members have made incredible gains for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community over the past three decades. But we cannot overlook the torrent of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies that are making our states less equitable and actively harming our communities. In 2022 and 2023 there have been record numbers of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in state legislatures; 200+ in 2022, 510 in 2023, and 465 as of February 2024. These states are home to many of our military service members, their families, and veterans. As we work to uphold the civil rights progress made on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community, we are working to:
- Educate elected officials on anti-LGBTQ+ laws’ negative impact on national security, military recruitment, and retention efforts.
- Lead Rainbow Shield Certification, culturally specific and trauma-informed linguistic, administrative, and environmental resources and knowledge for agencies and corporations to effectively work with LGBTQ+ and HIV+ military and veteran communities.
- Share legal resources for discharge upgrades with LGBTQ+ service members who were kicked out under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
- Provide MilPride resources and support network for LGBTQ+ youth and/or youth with LGBTQ+ parents. This is particularly important now as families are scrambling to access healthcare services and equal rights (for sports and bathroom access) for nonbinary and trans children in anti-LGBTQ+ states.
- Support the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community through the MMAA chapter network that facilitate opportunities for mutual support, camaraderie, and leadership development.
- Lead advocacy efforts to codify LGBTQ+ inclusionary policies in military and veteran spaces so that a future administration cannot eliminate military service opportunities for trans people.
