(11/9/22) Join us on Thursday, November 10 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. for the next LGBTQ Community Connection virtual event, Honoring our LGBTQ Veterans.
We will honor the people in our communities and our families who served our country in times of turmoil and uncertainty. Be sure to bring your stories to share of serving in the armed forces or being a family member supporting our military heroes.
The conversation will be hosted by Jessica Lefave from the VA, and Lauren Pruitt from FreeState Justice. We asked Jessica and Lauren for a preview of the information they'll share at the session.
Jessica Lafave, Veterans Affairs
What types of support do LGBTQ Veterans in particular often need, or seek from the VA?
Healthcare is the primary service LGBTQ+ Veterans seek at the VA Medical Center. LGBTQ+ Veterans are seeking tailored healthcare in an affirming environment. Mental health, family planning, and transgender care are additional services asked about.
How does the VA support LGBTQ veterans and their families?
The VA has a designated LGBTQ+ Health program coordinator, Aimee Olivera-Sanchez. She assists with coordinating care, referrals for speech therapy, advocacy, staff education, completing advance directives, and assists with documentation in medical records such as changing one’s name or sex. VA services support the involvement of family members when asked by the Veterans.
Here is a list of services:
- Mental health services, including psychosocial assessments for hormone therapy and gender confirming surgeries
- Hormone therapy
- Gender-affirming prosthetics (re-wigs, binders)
- Testing, counseling, and care for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for Veterans at risk for HIV
- Other prevention, screening, wellness, and testing services
Lauren Pruitt, FreeState Justice
What legal needs do LGBTQ veterans often encounter, that they might or might not anticipate?
U.S. Veterans who were given other-than-honorable discharges under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell for being LGBTQ can apply to be upgraded to an Honorable Discharge and given access to full benefits. The Center for American Progress found that the process was so difficult, fewer than 500 veterans have applied out of 10,000 discharged under the policy.
What services does FreeState Justice offer to LGBTQ veterans, and how does your organization advocate for them?
FSJ can assist individuals in applying for an upgrade as well as reconsideration if they were previously denied. We can assist in ensuring timely responses to requests for information by the VA and help aid clients in information gathering to increase odds of a successful application. We want to ensure that our veterans receive the benefits they deserve including medical and mental health care, disability payouts, employment assistance, education benefits, VA home loans, and other benefits previously blocked due to other-than-honorable discharge status.
