By Dr. Laura McGuire
I love to tell people that if it wasn’t for Texas and the Air Force, I wouldn’t exist. My parents were both service members stationed in San Antonio when they met, fell in love, and decided to make the coolest baby ever—me. On both sides of my family, I’ve had relatives serve in every branch of the armed forces dating back to the Civil War. My grandfather served as an American Legion Chaplain until his death, and my mom followed in his footsteps and became the first female chaplain in that same post.
This past year, I worked for a branch of the Navy, the Merchant Marines, and helped to prevent sexual violence and increase inclusion of LGBTQ midshipmen. I was the advisor for the student LGBTQ club and created the first draft of the inaugural trans inclusion policy for a federal academy. During this time, however, I also saw how deeply queer service members were oppressed, marginalized, and mocked.
Being a queer person who wants to serve is no easy task. Luckily, more organizations—including Houston’s own Montrose Center—are working to improve conditions for these community members. In July, the Montrose Center—in collaboration with Lone Star Veterans Association (LSVA), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Medical Center, and Legacy Community Health—launched new counseling, case management, and service linkage services specifically for LGBTQ veterans. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kennedy Loftin, the Montrose Center’s Chief Development Officer, about this vital programming and community collaboration.
Dr. Laura McGuire: As someone who has worked in the government and directly with LGBTQ service members, I know how greatly this population needs support and community. Can you tell me more about the Montrose Center’s collaborative work to provide such support?
Kennedy Loftin: Kevin Doffing, the CEO of Lone Star Veterans Association, took a tour of the Montrose Center through his Leadership Houston class. During this tour, he was impressed that the issues facing the LGBTQ community and veterans were so similar [and intersected]. He was also unaware that so many services were available in one place for LGBTQ veterans. LSVA is focused on underserved veteran communities, so [the organization] worked with the Montrose Center as a community partner to be a part of the planning and promotion of their new LSVA affinity group specifically for LGBTQ veterans—the first in Texas. The group held its launch event on April 5, 2017 at JRs, and the group’s monthly event has since moved to Guava Lamp. This was the largest affinity group launch in regards to attendance for LSVA, and the LGBTQ veterans group quickly became the largest LSVA affinity group.
The creation of a social space and community for LGBTQ veterans was just the first step. Plans to improve LGBTQ services at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, within the many organizations in combined arms, and to improve the services at the Montrose Center for veterans were all part of LSVA’s vision. When a grant for LGBTQ veteran services became available, the Montrose Center and LSVA partnered on the grant writing process and, in turn, were awarded the funds to begin offering the new and improved counseling, case management, and service linkage services for LGBTQ veterans at the Montrose Center starting on July 1, 2018.
What is the current climate for LGBTQ veterans in the United States? What are some unique challenges that this intersectional population faces?
First, we have to address the current administration‘s ban on transgender service members. This is currently being blocked in the courts, but over the past two years, the Montrose Center has seen a dramatic rise in hate crimes, school bullying, and a reverse in general acceptance of LGBTQ people after decades of each of these areas improving. We know that institutions like the armed services and VA have a history of discrimination and, since we are seeing anti-LGBTQ forces being empowered to discriminate within civilian life, we are confident that our LGBTQ service members and veterans are facing increased discrimination as well.
There are more than one million LGBTQ veterans in the nation, and the recent LSVA/Rice capstone team found that there are 8,500 LGBTQ vets in Houston. Many seniors and those who served under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) were discharged because of their sexuality or gender expression and may not qualify for services at the VA, but do qualify for services under this partnership. The majority of LGBTQ veterans remain closeted while in service and, although the VA has made strides in the eight years since DADT was repealed, there is still a culture that makes it hard for LGBTQ veterans to be open with doctors and mental health professionals for fear of being denied services. There are still cases of discrimination and—because of bullying and other issues when service members come out or are outed—we have veterans who do not feel comfortable seeking services from the VA. Our case managers will provide LGBTQ-competent counseling and services, such as connecting veterans to medical care and benefits.
Both homelessness and addiction are struggles LGBTQ veterans face. How does your program address these issues in the services you offer?
The Montrose Center does not have a specific housing program for LGBTQ veterans, but if these individuals qualify for our LGBTQ Youth Rapid Rehousing, Domestic Violence, HIV+, or other housing programs, they will be able to access these services through us. The Center is a partner with the Coalition for the Homeless, which coordinates homeless resources through Harris County with a focus on ending veteran homelessness. Through working with a Center case manager—and through the coalition’s coordinated access system—LGBTQ veterans will have the best pathway to housing resources and our case managers will help them along the way.
The Montrose Center is uniquely positioned to address our LGBTQ veterans’ issues with addiction. For more than 30 years, the Center has offered substance abuse treatment that is LGBTQ culturally–competent. One of the reasons we have been so successful (last year, we had a greater than 90 percent success rate three to six months after treatment) is because our licensed professional therapists not only specialize in this area, but they also understand how addiction can be complicated by other physical and mental health issues and/or identity and orientation. Being able to address gender dysphoria and internalized homophobia while in recovery is an example of why LGBTQ culturally–competent care is important for long–term recovery. We offer a safe and affirming treatment environment that lets clients be themselves fully without being judged, the fear of losing services, or having to explain or justify who they are.
But we don’t want to paint all LGBTQ veterans with the same broad brush. Some veterans return and do not struggle to transition back into civilian life. There are LGBTQ veteran volunteers working with us at the top of their fields and this is why an important part of this partnership is to create a social space or community for LGBTQ veterans to come together, not just access to services. Through the monthly LSVA happy hour and other programs, the LSVA currently reaches about 300 LGBTQ veterans. The Montrose Center has also updated our system and we now ask and track how many LGBTQ veterans we have in programs.
Many people who have been marginalized and faced erasure for years feel hesitant about getting involved in another system that might let them down. How are you addressing this fear? How are you reaching out to LGBTQ veterans to make them aware of your program?
The work between the Center and other organizations serving LGBTQ veterans is ongoing and the services launched by this partnership take into consideration that—even with case management support—there are veterans who may not be willing to pursue services at organizations that are not LGBTQ-centric. Many of the most diverse and successful programs at the Center have social and community points of entry. LGBTQ homeless youth do not like to identify as housing insecure, but can attend Hatch Youth drop–in meetings and social events for free food, games, and community. Once these youth are involved, they can then access social services with reduced stigma. This “social point of entry” model is utilized at our SPRY Senior Diner—and throughout the organization—and it is an important part of this partnership.
We recognize that social and community spaces are vital for our veterans as well. The monthly happy hours are just the beginning of our combined efforts to create social entry points to services. Another exciting component of this grant is the volunteer community leaders. Both LSVA and the Center are recruiting and training a volunteer corps of LGBTQ veterans who represent the diverse intersections of our community and will work together to bring LGBTQ veterans into services. These volunteer leaders will learn how to access the Montrose Center and other available services and they will serve as outreach and social service navigators. The vision is that this group will be able to answer the questions of LGBTQ veterans and share information about the opportunities available to them.
How do you see this program evolving?
This is the first grant the Center has secured for targeted LGBTQ services and the partnership with LSVA is a new opportunity for outreach and is only the beginning of recognizing the need for affirming and accessible services for LGBTQ veterans and their families and filling the gaps.
What is the best way to learn more about receiving these resources, volunteering, or donating?
The Montrose Center is accepting LGBTQ veteran clients as of July 1. For more information, call (713) 529-0037 or visit the Montrose Center’s second floor reception desk Monday through Friday from 8 a.m until 7 p.m. To volunteer as a community leader for the LGBTQ veterans program or for other volunteer opportunities with LSVA or The Montrose Center, please visit montrosecenter.org or lonestarveterans.org.
