Morano asks about reducing stigma for MST survivors

I was a bit surprised in my preparation for this hearing when the committee pointed out to me that

Post-Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell LGBTQ plus veterans are dealing with similarly high rates of

PTSD, social isolation, and that whole basket of maladies as their pre-Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell predecessors.

And as we dug deeper into this,

Apparently, part of the reason was there are some cultural issues that linger in the military and maybe even in the veteran community.

What is DVS doing to reduce stigma about seeking care for survivors of military sexual trauma, including victims of military sexual trauma who are LGBTQ plus and victims who are men?

At DBS, what we are doing differently is creating awareness of what veterans go through.

Veterans go through many, have gone through many hardships, very different.

And at DBS, if you look at our social medias, you are seeing us opening up conversations that normally would not be happening.

And when it comes to the LGBTQ+, what we want to do is

create that awareness of the services, one, that we provide, but also to let the LGBTQ plus veterans know that DVS

is a welcoming agency for them to be able to reach out to, but also that they know that they're going to be getting the support that they need.

But most importantly is just humanizing the veteran.

Oftentimes, like, people feel that veterans don't need help because, you know, in their mindset, they think that they're strong.

And veterans are strong.

We're strong.

But we're also...

human, right?

So our goal is to really humanize veterans themselves and also to, again, let them know that it's okay to seek help.

It's okay to say that you are not okay.

That is what we are doing at DVS, highlight the

I mean, to create that awareness, but also do it throughout various other agencies as well to create that partnership.

Because I think oftentimes other agencies may feel that because they're not veteran designated per se, that they're not supporting veterans, when in reality,

Again, that's why we asked for that question to be added because they are also supporting in their own way veterans in various other services.

And I think also in addition to that, and Commissioner alluded to it as well, but working with the nontraditional partners in a way that, you know, it's putting the services out there.

It's letting them know that there's a space, but also not being overly like this is something that you have to sign up for.

This is something that you should be doing.

I know my favorite groups at events are the vet dogs and the service animals because I think that that's a way where, you know, it brings everyone together.

And I think if we can just make sure that they know that we're here and it may not be now that they're reaching out for services, but the fact that they can down the line, that's what's important.