Trump’s military attacks will cost American life

Loneliness is one of the leading risk factors associated with veterans attempts at suicide – especially in the case of LGBTQ+veterans.

Stanley Alleria
|. Co -creator of opinions

I am a transgender woman who medically passed while working in active service. But today I logged in to my veterans’ profile and discovered that I was now marked as a “man” in my medical records.

I went worse. I served for 20 years in the army, first as repairs of Helicopters Apache, and then as an X -ray technician. While in 2005 I was placed in Afghanistan, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and died 12 months after returning home, and I became a lonely parent of our two children.

I have always been open to my identity with my family, but in 2016, When President Barack Obama announced This transgender army members could serve openly, I went out to the army. This freedom lasted only a year, When President Donald Trump announced His intention to reverse this policy.

Even worse, I was assigned to the Missouri base, where many people did not welcome me. Soldiers often told me: “Don’t go to this part of the city. They will kill you. ” One day someone stood in my drive and shot my car. My children were at home and witnessed all this. It was the most terrifying moment in my life.

I know what it is like to be celebrated as a military member of Trans. Not too many.

Then I found an organization called Construction communities of works of artArtistic Organization for Service Members based at the National Military Medical Center recently went online.

I joined their program More than one storywho helps veterans of women and non -tribles and share their stories through writing and artistic workshops.

Community Building Art Works is one of the first organizations that received me in their community. They did not do it because the presidential order or government policy stated that they must be included. They did it because a few brave people understood that there was no worse feeling than the feeling that you were completely alone. At a time when I had to hide who I was at work and in my community, they said: “We want you here. We are glad that you are here. ”

In 2021 I traveled to Military Women’s Monument in Arlington, Virginia, where our creative writing group was invited to perform A poem cooperating We wrote. Not only was it a moment of “pinching me” as a transgender woman who would be honored in the monument of women, but also for the first time I met women from the group in person.

I was the last one I came. Until the day I die, I remember when I enter the “green room” in the monument in uniform in my dress on duty. Everyone in the room got up and applauded me.

Trans veterans are seven times more likely to try suicide. They need a lifestyle now.

Currently, programs such as more than one story are necessary because transgender people encounter an unprecedented wave of hatred and discrimination. Men and transgender women can have the whole representation and world support in movies and the media, but the most important thing is that someone tells you personally: “Your story matters. You are important. And you are not alone. ”

This is especially important for transgender veterans who are seven times more likely than American civilians to try suicide for their lives.

Community Building Art Works, like many other artistic organizations, is the recipient of the Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention, provided to social organizations, which Prevent suicides through innovative and unconventional ways.

From September 11, the number of members of the service and veterans who have He died by suicide is four times higher than people lost in battle.

Studies have shown that artistic expression can be powerful deterrent to suicide. Writing programs for veterans To have It has existed since then World War II To help members of the service to understand their military experience.

Work: One review of 31 scientific research He stated that creative writing significantly improved depressive symptoms.

Inevitably many programs serving transgender persons will lose government funds over the next four years. This is a tragedy. Loneliness is one of the leading risk factors related to veterans of suicide attempts – especially for LGBTQ+ veterans.

Programs that fight these feelings of loneliness, through art and other unconventional ways are rescue lines.

The freedom to be who you are is extremely powerful. For a short period in my military service I was lucky to be freedom. So many who serve now, no.

This ongoing freedom is threatened by those who serve opening and for people enrolled in VA. I am afraid that bigotry and loneliness will push them to the edge and nobody will be there to save them.

They can’t speak, but I can.

Alleria Stanley is a retired soldier of the American army, a lawyer and a member of the LGBTQ+community. Is a member of the board Transgender American Veterans Association.

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Trump’s military attacks will cost American life

Loneliness is one of the leading risk factors associated with veterans attempts at suicide – especially in the case of LGBTQ+veterans.

I know what it is like to be celebrated as a military member of Trans. Not too many.

Trans veterans are seven times more likely to try suicide. They need a lifestyle now.

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Trump’s military attacks will cost American life

Loneliness is one of the leading risk factors associated with veterans attempts at suicide – especially in the case of LGBTQ+veterans.

I know what it is like to be celebrated as a military member of Trans. Not too many.

Trans veterans are seven times more likely to try suicide. They need a lifestyle now.

Fire explodes in a restaurant in Delhi's Connaught Place, six wounded

Was Choi Hyun Wook involved in the case Kim Sae Ron 2022 Dui and therefore did not participate in its funeral? Here's what we know

Gerres

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