Harassment, victimization, mental health, substance abuse, and sexual risk behaviors of LGBT service members in the US military
December 10, 2013
Dr. Jeffrey T. Parsons, Director of Hunter College's Center for HIV Educational Studies & Training ( CHEST ), and members of his research team, including Dr. Ana Ventuneac, Dr. Sitaji Gurung, and Jonathon Rendina, recently presented new findings from a study of LGBT military personnel at the 141st Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association. Dr. Parsons and his team surveyed hundreds of LGBT Military service members online about experiences of harassment and victimization in the military as well as their sexual behavior, substance use, and mental health. Here are some of the key findings from the study:
Mental Health & Alcohol Use:
Increases in PTSD, anxiety, and depression were associated with increased odds of alcohol dependence, with PTSD and depression being most strongly associated with alcohol dependence.
Feeling personal growth from coming to terms with one's sexual identity was associated with decreased odds of alcohol dependence, perhaps indicating that this factor promotes coping in the face of difficult life experiences.
Experiences of Harassment:
Women and men reported similar levels of sexual orientation-based harassment in the military.
A greater number of lesbian and bisexual women reported being denied career opportunities and more incidents of sexual harassment inside the military than gay and bisexual men, though gay and bisexual men also reported experiencing sexual harassment.
HIV risks & testing:
Overall, a majority of gay and bisexual men in the military were engaging in safer sexual practices ( i.e., condom use during anal sex ).
Experiencing harassment within the military because of perceived sexual orientation was associated with a greater frequency of unprotected anal intercourse, particularly among those who were actively serving in the military in the past year.
Almost all service members reported having been tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime, with most having received a test within the previous 12 months.
These challenges notwithstanding, a majority of surveyed individuals reported no difficulties with mental health, substance use, or sexual risk behavior, suggesting that a variety of resilient factors may be protecting them from the adverse effects of gender and sexual orientation-based stigma and discrimination.
CHEST's findings highlight that, despite Department of Defense policy changes such as the dismissal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ( DADT ), many LGBT military members still face harassment and victimization in the military. More work is needed to achieve adequate levels of safety and equity for LGBT individuals serving in the military. New programmatic initiatives spearheaded by the Military Partners and Families Coalition, the Center for American Progress, and the Palm Center are underway that may be tremendously helpful in reaching these objectives.
The results of this study titled, "Serving Proud: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Service Members in the US" were presented at the APHA 141st Annual Meeting and Exposition held on November 2-6, 2013 in Boston, MA.
CHEST's mission is to conduct research to identify and promote strategies that prevent the spread of HIV and improve the lives of people living with HIV. We have been advocating for and working with the LGBT community since 1996.
