Wong asks about data collection and reluctant LGBTQ veterans
Wong asks about veterans reluctant to identify as LGBTQ+ due to past discrimination. Mata discusses the need for awareness campaigns led by directly impacted individuals and the challenge of self-identification, noting DVS lacks specific data.
Thank you.
Thank you, Chair.
I'm concerned about your data collection regarding LGBTQ veterans'populations.
Yes, you have been doing outreach, but...
Have you encountered veterans that may be reluctant to identify themselves?
As LGBTQ plus do the past discrimination or they feel uncomfortable seeking service?
How do you handle cases like that?
Absolutely.
Veterans themselves have a hard time to self-identify to begin with, and that is why as the SDBS, we do want to do a campaign collectively, again, with the support of various other nonprofits.
But even further, right, when it comes to LGBTQ plus veterans, that is another layer of work that we have to do, a campaign awareness.
Again, this requires to have individuals that are directly impacted to help us lead this campaign.
But we understand that when it does come to data, that DVS doesn't have that specific data in hand.
And we do hope that with this second liaison that we can, again, create this intake process that we can work collaboratively with various other nonprofits to do this.
What we do have is the data of the duals upgrade discharge that supports the veterans that were discharged due to their gender identity.
And I'll let Nicole elaborate on that.