I was in the military for over 10 years. A lot of LGBTQ+ people join the military for the same reason White straight men like myself did. They were out of options. I lived in a very rural area with no job or education opportunities and raised by an absentee single mother with no money or property. The military was a way out. Many LGBTQ+ people had the same situation as me. Many others were shunned or disowned by their families and had no other way to get ahead. Their families refused to care for them just for being gay. I served with many people who were as flamboyantly gay as you can get in a combat uniform and I never saw an issue. Never had any reason to doubt their intent or integrity. The people who caused the most problems were other White straight men, especially those from southern states.
I was in the military for over 10 years. A lot of LGBTQ+ people join the military for the same reason White straight men like myself did. They were out of options. I lived in a very rural area with no job or education opportunities and raised by an absentee single mother with no money or property. The military was a way out. Many LGBTQ+ people had the same situation as me. Many others were shunned or disowned by their families and had no other way to get ahead. Their families refused to care for them just for being gay. I served with many people who were as flamboyantly gay as you can get in a combat uniform and I never saw an issue. Never had any reason to doubt their intent or integrity. The people who caused the most problems were other White straight men, especially those from southern states.