How do LGBT service members navigate conflicts between personal identity and institutional expectations?
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. Service members are those who serve in military organizations such as armies, navies, air forces, coast guards, or police. Navigating refers to moving through a situation successfully without getting lost or stuck. Conflicts can be described as disagreements, arguments, clashes, quarrels, or battles that occur when there is a difference between two or more things. Expectations refer to hopes, wishes, demands, or desires that an organization or person expects someone to fulfill. Personal identity means one's self-identity based on individual characteristics such as race, gender, age, belief system, background, etc. Institutional expectations are standards or requirements set up by institutions like governments, companies, educational establishments, or religious groups. The United States Military prohibits discrimination against LGBT individuals but does not allow them to openly express their sexual orientation while serving. This creates a conflict between personal identities and institutional expectations.
LGBT service members may feel forced to hide their true selves because of cultural norms. They may fear losing their jobs if they reveal their sexual orientation. Some military members choose to live double lives, leading separate lives at home and work. Others decide to leave the service altogether because of the pressure to conceal their real identities. In other cases, some people manage to balance both worlds, keeping their private life hidden from the public eye.
Military organizations have made progress towards inclusion since 1993 when President Clinton signed the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, which allowed gay and lesbian soldiers to serve as long as they did not declare themselves publicly.
It was not until 2011 when Obama repealed this law that homosexuals could serve openly without fear of prosecution. Still, transgender service members must undergo surgery before joining the military, and bisexuals face challenges due to negative stereotypes about promiscuity.
Navigating conflicts between personal identity and institutional expectations can be difficult for LGBT service members. They must find ways to reconcile their identities with societal norms and policies set up by institutions like the military. While there has been progress in recent years, more needs to be done to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels accepted regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
How do LGBT service members navigate conflicts between personal identity and institutional expectations?
LGBT service members may experience challenges navigating conflicts between their personal identities and institutional expectations due to societal stigma and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They may face prejudice from fellow soldiers who hold traditional views of gender roles and family structures, as well as a lack of support for LGBT individuals within military culture.