What America Owes Its Queer Soldiers on Memorial Day
LGBTQ+ soldiers have fought and died for the United States for generations, often while hiding who they were. This Memorial Day, their erased histories and sacrifices deserve full recognition.
Every Memorial Day, small American flags appear on graves across the country. They stand in neat rows between headstones. They look the same from a distance. But not all soldiers are remembered equally.
At Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania, the flags catch the May sunlight. The lilacs have dried up near the south corner. There, older immigrant families are buried — people who helped build this nation. From the parking lot, every American cemetery looks the same. The same flag. The same country. The same dead.
But queer soldiers are often hidden in that history. For most of American history, LGBTQ+ people could not serve openly in the military. They were discharged, punished, or erased. Many were given "dishonorable" discharges just for being gay. This meant they lost their veterans' benefits. Their service was not honored. Their sacrifices were not recognized.
Thousands of LGBTQ+ soldiers fought and died for the United States. They served in World War I and World War II. They fought in Korea and Vietnam. They served in Iraq and Afghanistan. They did this while hiding who they were. They risked their lives for a country that did not fully accept them.
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy lasted from 1994 to 2011. During that time, more than 13,000 service members were discharged for being LGBTQ+. Many had served with distinction. Their careers were ended. Their honor was taken away.
Today, LGBTQ+ people can serve openly in the U.S. military. Transgender soldiers won the right to serve after long legal battles. But the history of exclusion still matters. Many queer veterans never received the recognition they deserved. Some died without being honored at all.
Memorial Day is a time to remember all who served. That must include queer soldiers. It must include those who were erased from history. It must include those who gave everything — even when their country gave them very little in return.
The flags on the graves look the same from a distance. But behind each one is a unique story. This Memorial Day, it is time to tell the queer ones too.