{"id":354816,"date":"2023-07-28T11:53:30","date_gmt":"2023-07-28T16:53:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/lgbtq-law\/the-legal-history-of-lgbtq-people-in-the-military.html"},"modified":"2026-06-08T16:42:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T21:42:00","slug":"the-legal-history-of-lgbtq-people-in-the-military","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/the-legal-history-of-lgbtq-people-in-the-military.html","title":{"rendered":"LGBTQ+ Military Servicemembers: A Legal History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">LGBTQ+ Military Servicemembers: A Legal History<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/vaishali-gaur-esq\/\">Vaishali Gaur, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/laura-temme-esq\/\">Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            June 08, 2026\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-key-takeaways fl-mb30\" data-testid=\"fl-key-takeaways\">\n    <div class=\"fl-card-content\">\n        <div class=\"fl-card-body fl-card-bg-teal fl-flex fl-flex-column\">\n                            <h2 class=\"fl-card-title fl-h2 fl-no-margin\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n                        <p>LGBTQ+ people have long faced barriers to serving in the U.S. military, with policies shifting repeatedly over the nation\u2019s history. Key court decisions and federal actions gradually dismantled bans on same\u2011sex relationships, open service, and access to benefits. Today, LGBTQ+ servicemembers can serve openly, and federal law ensures recognition of same\u2011sex marriages for military and veterans\u2019 benefits.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Restrictions have been placed on LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. military since the American Revolutionary War. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/nbc-out\/out-news\/biden-recognizes-10th-anniversary-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-rcna2086\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">More than 100,000 American military servicemembers<\/a> have been discharged based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. And many of these restrictions only began to lift within the last decade.<\/p>\n<p>This article provides:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A timeline of key legal events affecting LGBTQ+ people in the military<\/li>\n<li>A brief history of the relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and the U.S. military<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Navigating the rules affecting LGBTQ+ servicemembers can feel overwhelming and deeply personal. An <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/civil-rights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">attorney near you<\/a> can explain your rights and help you claim the benefits you\u2019ve earned.<\/p>\n<h2><b>1778: First Military Member Discharged from Military for Homosexuality<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>During the American Revolutionary War, engaging in homosexual activity was grounds for discharge from the military.<\/p>\n<p>In 1778, Lieutenant Gotthold Frederick Enslin was dismissed from the military for homosexuality and found guilty of <a href=\"https:\/\/archivesfoundation.org\/documents\/court-martial-record-of-lieutenant-frederick-gotthold-enslin-march-10-1778\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cattempting to commit sodomy.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p>At the time, sodomy was generally defined as any non-procreative sex, such as anal or oral sex, regardless of consent or sexuality. The definition of sodomy varied among the states. However, anti-sodomy laws generally targeted gay men.<\/p>\n<h2><b>1920-1950: Homosexual Activity Grounds for Discharge From U.S. Military<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Throughout the first half of the 20th century, the U.S. military actively tried to keep LGB individuals out of the service. Servicemembers discovered to be gay were severely punished.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 1920, the <a href=\"https:\/\/ibiblio.org\/hyperwar\/USA\/ref\/AW\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Articles of War of the United States<\/a> made sodomy punishable by court-martial.<\/li>\n<li>In 1941, \u201chomosexual proclivities\u201d were a disqualifying condition in the military draft.<\/li>\n<li>In 1942, military psychiatrists linked homosexuality to psychopathy. They deemed homosexual people unfit for service.<\/li>\n<li>A 1944 policy directed homosexuals to be committed to military hospitals, examined by psychiatrists, and discharged as unfit for service.<\/li>\n<li>In 1950, Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice criminalized sodomy. Under Article 125, sodomy was defined as \u201cunnatural carnal copulation with another person of the same or opposite sex or with an animal.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>During this time, the U.S. military issued <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/articles\/000\/blue-and-other-than-honorable-discharges.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cblue discharges\u201d<\/a> to servicemembers who had \u201cundesirable habits and traits of character.\u201d This included being homosexual.<\/p>\n<p>These administrative discharges (issued on blue paper) were neither dishonorable nor honorable discharges. Blue discharges were generally used to save the cost and time of lengthy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military\/criminal-law\/the-court-martial-process.html\">court-martial hearings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In attempting to determine whether servicemembers were homosexual, the military used various methods, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Abusive interrogations<\/li>\n<li>Solitary confinement in hospitals<\/li>\n<li>Military prisons, sometimes called \u201cqueer stockades\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There was no right to appeal granted under blue discharges.<\/p>\n<h2><b>1963-1981: Transgender and Gay Individuals Banned from Military Service<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In 1963, U.S. Army Regulation 40-501 banned transgender people from serving due to the belief that they were \u201cmentally unfit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And in 1981, the U.S. Department of Defense released <a href=\"https:\/\/archives.federalregister.gov\/issue_slice\/1981\/1\/29\/9567-9578.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Directive 1332.14<\/a>. This banned homosexual people from serving in the military.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>1986: <em>Bowers v. Hardwick<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In 1982, a Georgia police officer found Michael Hardwick and another man participating in consensual oral sex. The officer arrested both men under the state\u2019s anti-sodomy law.<\/p>\n<p>Hardwick sued Georgia Attorney General Michael Bowers, arguing that the law was invalid.<\/p>\n<p>In 1986, the <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/us-supreme-court\/478\/186.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Supreme Court<\/a> upheld Georgia\u2019s anti-sodomy law. The court found that there is no fundamental right for \u201chomosexuals to engage in sodomy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <i>Bowers<\/i> decision became the basis for the military\u2019s defense of Article 125\u2019s anti-sodomy laws.<\/p>\n<h2><b>1993: Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In 1993, the U.S. Department of Defense issued a policy that prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted LGB military servicemembers or applicants. But it also barred openly LGB people from serving in the military. This policy became known as \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d (DADT)<\/p>\n<p>During his presidential campaign, President Clinton promised to allow LGB people to serve openly in the military. But this was met with significant backlash. President Clinton introduced DADT as a compromise after he took office.<\/p>\n<p>DADT caused the discharge of approximately 14,000 military servicemembers prior to its <a href=\"https:\/\/archivesfoundation.org\/documents\/dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-act-2010\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">repeal in 2010<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><b>1996: Defense of Marriage Act<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Congress passed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/legalblogs\/law-and-life\/what-is-the-doma\/\" target=\"_self\">Defense of Marriage Act<\/a> (DOMA) in 1996. Among other things, DOMA denied federal benefits and recognition to same-sex couples. This included military family benefits, such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Health benefits<\/li>\n<li>Visitation rights to military bases and hospitals<\/li>\n<li>Legal counseling<\/li>\n<li>Housing and transportation allowances<\/li>\n<li>Benefits to surviving spouses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>DOMA limited the military\u2019s ability to extend these benefits to lesbian, gay, and bisexual military servicemembers in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/marriage\/same-sex-marriage-and-the-supreme-court.html\">same-sex marriages<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2003: <em>Lawrence v. Texas<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In 1998, Texas police found John Geddes Lawrence Jr. and Tyron Garner engaging in sexual intercourse in Lawrence\u2019s apartment. They charged both men under Texas\u2019s anti-sodomy law. At the time, Texas\u2019s anti-sodomy law made consensual same-sex \u201cintimate sexual conduct\u201d a misdemeanor.<\/p>\n<p>Lawrence sued. And in 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/supreme.findlaw.com\/supreme-court-insights\/the-lawrence-v--texas-decision-explained.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">held anti-sodomy laws unconstitutional <\/a>under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This decision overruled <i>Bowers v. Hardwick<\/i> and lifted any ban on sex between people of the same sex nationwide.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2004: <em>United States v. Marcum<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><i>Lawrence v. Texas<\/i>\u2019s ban on anti-sodomy laws laid the groundwork for another important case a year later. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.armfor.uscourts.gov\/newcaaf\/opinions\/2004Term\/02-0944.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>United States v. Marcum<\/i><\/a> challenged the constitutionality of Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This 1950 rule (discussed above) criminalized sodomy among military personnel.<\/p>\n<p>The Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ultimately held that <i>Lawrence<\/i> applies to the military. Therefore, private conduct should be protected (referred to as a \u201czone of liberty\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>The Court established a three-part test to decide when military officials could apply Article 125:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Was the conduct within the liberty interest defined in <i>Lawrence<\/i>?<\/li>\n<li>Did the conduct consist of behaviors or factors outside the analysis in <i>Lawrence<\/i>?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any additional factors specific to military environments that affect the scope of the liberty interest in <i>Lawrence<\/i>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This test still allowed the military to punish homosexual conduct in some circumstances. But the recognition of the liberty interests outlined in <i>Lawrence<\/i> was a noteworthy milestone.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2010: <em>Log Cabin Republicans v. United States<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In 2004, the Log Cabin Republicans (a Republican organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ equality) filed a lawsuit challenging \u201cdon\u2019t ask, don\u2019t tell\u201d (DADT). They argued that DADT violated the <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment1.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">First Amendment<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/constitution.findlaw.com\/amendment5.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">Fifth Amendment<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In September 2010, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled DADT unconstitutional. The court also ordered an injunction to bar enforcement of the policy.<\/p>\n<p>The federal government asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the injunction (put on hold). The <a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov\/datastore\/opinions\/2011\/09\/29\/10-56634.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stay was granted<\/a> in November 2010.<\/p>\n<p>One month later, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/111th-congress\/house-bill\/2965\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell Repeal Act of 2010<\/a> passed the House of Representatives and Senate and was signed into law by President Obama. The repeal took effect in September 2011, allowing LGBTQ+ servicemembers to serve openly.<\/p>\n<p>Although it repealed DADT, the DADT Repeal Act did not ban discrimination on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/civilrights\/discrimination\/gay-and-lesbian-rights-sexual-orientation-discrimination.html\">basis of sexual orientation<\/a> in the military. It also did not guarantee equal benefits to LGB military servicemembers. The U.S. military continued to grapple with these issues for many years.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2011: VHA Transgender and Intersex Healthcare Policy<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In 2011, the Veterans Health Administration released Directive 2011-024. This directive provides several services for transgender veterans, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Gender counseling<\/li>\n<li>Hormone therapy<\/li>\n<li>Pre-surgical evaluations<\/li>\n<li>Post-surgical care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, gender-affirming surgeries are not covered by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/files\/2023-04\/Gender%20Affirming%20Services%20for%20Veterans%20MAR23.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Veterans Health Administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2013: <\/b><em><strong>United States v. Windsor<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n<p>Edith Windsor and her partner Thea Spyer were married in Ontario, Canada, in 2007. Same-sex marriage was not federally recognized in the United States at the time. But they lived in New York, which recognized same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.<\/p>\n<p>Spyer passed away in 2009 and left her estate to Windsor. But Windsor was denied a federal tax exemption for surviving spouses under Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act.<\/p>\n<p>Windsor filed suit in federal district court the following year, and the case eventually made its way to the <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/us-supreme-court\/12-307.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Supreme Court.<\/a> In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 was unconstitutional. The justices reasoned that it violated due process and equal protection principles.<\/p>\n<p>Until that point, the U.S. military relied on the Defense of Marriage Act to deny benefits to military servicemembers in same-sex marriages. But after <i>Windsor<\/i>, the U.S. Department of Defense <a href=\"https:\/\/obamawhitehouse.archives.gov\/blog\/2013\/06\/27\/obama-administration-statements-supreme-court-s-doma-ruling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reversed course<\/a> and began providing equal benefits to LGB military servicemembers and their spouses.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2013: Ban on Consensual Same-Sex Activity Lifted<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/113th-congress\/house-bill\/3304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014<\/a> was signed into law by President Obama in 2013. Among other things, the National Defense Authorization Act decriminalized consensual sodomy under Article 125 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>2015: <em>Obergefell v. Hodges<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/us-supreme-court\/14-556.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Obergefell v. Hodges<\/i><\/a> that all states must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. They must also recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states.<\/p>\n<p>Following <i>Obergefell<\/i>, the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/opa\/marriage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">released a statement<\/a> affirming its recognition of same-sex marriages and extended equal spousal benefits to same-sex married couples.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2016: Ban on Transgender People in Military Lifted<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In 2016, the Department of Defense <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defense.gov\/News\/Releases\/Release\/Article\/821675\/secretary-of-defense-ash-carter-announces-policy-for-transgender-service-members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced that transgender people could openly serve<\/a> in the military.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esd.whs.mil\/Portals\/54\/Documents\/FOID\/Reading%20Room\/Personnel_Related\/15-F-1724_DoD_Instruction_1300.25.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DoD Instruction 1300.28<\/a> provided a training handbook, medical protocol, and guidance to assist in the transition of transgender servicemembers. However, a few years later, these policies were briefly rolled back.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2019: Ban on Transgender Applicants with History of Gender Transition Treatment or Gender Dysphoria<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Under the Trump administration, the Department of Defense issued <a href=\"https:\/\/equalitynow.org\/resource\/uncategorised\/us_department_of_defense_directive-type_memorandum_dtm_-19-004\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Directive-type Memorandum-19-004<\/a>, which banned applicants to the military if they:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Had any history of gender transition treatment unless the applicant has completed all transition treatment and has been \u201cstable in the preferred gender\u201d for 18 months following the last gender transition treatment, or<\/li>\n<li>Had any history of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/sex\/gender-dysphoria\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gender dysphoria<\/a>, with the exception of applicants who demonstrated 36 months of \u201cstability\u201d in the sex assigned to them at birth and had not yet transitioned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The implementation of this ban followed the 2019 U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit decision in <i>Doe v. Trump<\/i>. In that case, the court ultimately vacated the initial injunction on the ban originating from President Trump\u2019s 2017 <a href=\"https:\/\/trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov\/presidential-actions\/presidential-memorandum-secretary-defense-secretary-homeland-security\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Presidential Memorandum on Military Service by Transgender Individuals<\/a>. Preliminary injunctions against the Presidential Memorandum were also granted in <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/us-dis-crt-d-mar\/1948580.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Stone v. Trump<\/i><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/caselaw.findlaw.com\/court\/us-9th-circuit\/2004234.html\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\"><i>Karnoski v. Trump<\/i><\/a>, and <i>Stockman v. Trump<\/i> in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Later that month, the U.S. Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/orders\/courtorders\/012219zor_8759.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">granted the Trump administration\u2019s request to lift the lower courts\u2019 injunctions on the ban<\/a> while court challenges continued.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2021: Ban on Transgender People in Military Repealed<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In 2021, President Biden signed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.govinfo.gov\/app\/details\/DCPD-202100083\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Executive Order on Enabling All Qualified Americans to Serve Their Country in Uniform<\/a> during his first week in office, effectively revoking the Trump administration\u2019s ban on transgender people serving in the military.<\/p>\n<p>Following this executive order, transgender people can serve in the military with no restrictions and receive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/state-laws-on-gender-affirming-care.html\">gender-affirming care<\/a> if transitioning as a servicemember.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs<\/a> (VA) also issued guidance restoring VA benefits for military servicemembers who had received \u201cother than honorable\u201d discharges due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status.<\/p>\n<h2><b>2022: Respect for Marriage Act<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Not every state has codified the right for same-sex couples to marry. But<b> <\/b>the right to federal and state recognition of legally-granted same-sex marriages has been codified in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/respect-for-marriage-act.html\" target=\"_self\">Respect for Marriage Act of 2022<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>RFMA guarantees federal and state benefits for military servicemembers in same-sex marriages. These benefits will remain protected even if the Supreme Court overturns <i>Obergefell<\/i>.<\/p>\n<h2><b>How To Find Legal Help<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>If you need guidance in navigating military life as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, an attorney can help. A <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/military-law\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">military lawyer<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/veterans-benefit\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">veteran\u2019s benefits lawyer<\/a>, or <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/civil-rights\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">civil rights lawyer<\/a> can explain the benefits and protections provided for LGBTQ+ military servicemembers or applicants.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FindLaw&#8217;s Attorney Directory<\/a> can get you started. Enter your legal issue and location (city or ZIP code) for a list of qualified legal professionals near you. Your search results will also show important information about prospective attorneys, including ratings and whether they offer free consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n                    <g id=\"thumbs-up\" 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<fieldset>\n                    <legend class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Why was this not helpful?<\/legend>\n                    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message\" role=\"status\">\n                        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__choose-option-message-text\"><\/p>\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"fl-radio-button-field fl-flex was-this-helpful__feedback-form-title\">\n                        <input\n                                id=\"was-this-helpful__radio-button--missing-info\"\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-input\"\n                                type=\"radio\"\n                                name=\"negative-feedback\"\n                                value=\"Missing Information\"\n                        >\n                        <label\n                                class=\"fl-radio-button-field-label fl-text-sm was-this-helpful__radio-label\"\n               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decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\n                     src=\"https://www.findlaw.com/static/c/images\/images\/w_1200,c_limit,dpr_auto\/f_auto,q_auto:eco\/v1751970037\/ability-law\/wp-prod\/content-original-images-lgbtqmarch\/content-original-images-lgbtqmarch.jpg?_i=AA\"\n                     alt=\"\"\n                ><\/img>\n                                    <span class=\"fl-eyebrow fl-image-card-eyebrow\">Helpful Legal Resources<\/span>\n                                            <\/div>\n                <\/a>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-image-card-content fl-flex-basis-100\">\n                    <h2>Visit Our LGBTQ+ Hub<\/h2>\n<p>Up-to-date legal information focused on&nbsp;<i>your<\/i>&nbsp;rights.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law.html\">Read more &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n<div class=\"general-list\">\n    <h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n    <ul class=\"fl-list fl-no-margin\">\n                                    <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/military.html\">\n                        Military Legal Hub\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/transgender-people-and-bathroom-access-laws.html\">\n                        Transgender People and Bathroom Laws\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                                                <li class=\"fl-list-item fl-flex\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a class=\"fl-list-item-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/lgbtq-law\/hiring-an-attorney-in-the-lgbtq-community.html\">\n                        Hiring an Attorney in the LGBTQ+ Community\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/li>\n                        <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. military has a complex history with the LGBTQ+ community. FindLaw discusses the evolution of policies on LGBTQ+ servicemembers and their rights.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41135,"featured_media":0,"parent":354790,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"app\/Http\/Controllers\/Templates\/ArticleWithBreadcrumbsController.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_stopmodifiedupdate":true,"_modified_date":"","_autodraft_ids":[],"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","_is_real_time_mode":false,"_realtime_collaborators":"","footnotes":"","cf_checklist_status":["External Links","Alt Text for All Images","Category Assigned","SEO Title Length"]},"categories":[2750],"tags":[],"state_laws_tags":[],"flmsa":[],"class_list":["post-354816","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-lgbtq-law"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/354816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=354816"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/354816\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":400131,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/354816\/revisions\/400131"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/354790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=354816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=354816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=354816"},{"taxonomy":"state_laws_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/state_laws_tags?post=354816"},{"taxonomy":"flmsa","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/law-api\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/flmsa?post=354816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}