VA celebrates Pride Month by serving all who served

VA celebrates Pride Month by serving all who served. The “Pride Counts at VA” campaign continues VA’s initiative to inform Veterans that they can disclose their sexual orientation and gender identity within our national health record systems. Veterans can choose from several gender identity options or choose not to reveal them at this time.

Veterans can also choose from several sexual orientation identity options or choose not to disclose. Gender identity and sexual orientation are essential aspects of self that affect exposure to stress and health behavior.

VA health records now display gender identity and preferred name so VA staff can address the Veteran appropriately. Coming soon, you will also be able to modify your sexual orientation identity, too.

You can reach out to your medical facility’s eligibility and enrollment office or LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator to get started and update your record.

Health care for the Veteran you are

If you are among the one million Veterans who identify as LGBTQ+, VA wants you to know that we see you, hear you, respect you and appreciate your service. VA understands that many of you have felt pressure to hide your identities, have faced stigma, or felt unsafe when you came out.

While coming out is a personal choice, being open and honest about your sexual orientation, gender identity and sexual practices with your provider is essential to patient-centered health care. Know that conversations and the information you share with your VA provider are confidential.

Our commitment is to delivering care that fits the individual needs of Veterans enrolled in VA health care, including transgender and gender-diverse Veterans. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion. This Pride Month, VA wants you to know that your pride counts.

In the fact sheets below, learn more about health risks and why you should talk to your provider about your sexual orientation, birth sex, and self-identified gender identity.

• Trans Men and Masculine of Center (MOC) Veteran Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Trans Women and Transfeminine Veteran Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Veteran Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer Veteran Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Nonbinary Veteran Health Care Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Veteran – Birth Sex and Self-Identified Gender Identity Fact Sheet (PDF).
• Provider – Birth Sex and Self-Identified Gender Identity Fact Sheet (PDF).

VA Program Information

We invite you to check out the Subscribe to our LGBTQ+ Health Program email list and never miss an update.

You can also find your local facility’s LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator or visit our Patient Care Services LGBTQ+ Health Program office website for more information on available health care services, online training, policies, research and resources.