The United States military has often been at the forefront of efforts to incorporate minority groups into the fighting force, even while the country, as a whole, was divided by broader social movements such as racial segregation. As the U.S. military unites individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, efforts to homogenize the force may have the unintended effect of blinding leaders and healthcare providers to important cultural differences including minority stressors among service members. Mental healthcare providers within the Department of Defense (DoD) often receive extensive training in the identification and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. But, these providers may have a limited conceptualization of trauma and stress in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) populations, including more insidious forms of trauma stemming from anti-LGBTQ policies and social movements that may affect these military personnel.
