Friends,
The topic of faith can be complicated, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. Those who grew up in a devout faith community may have been forced to hide parts of their identity, risked being ostracized, and lost personal relationships — all while living with guilt and shame.
When you add the complications of military service life — especially when the military often refers troops and their families to the chaplains for mental health resources — dealing with stress and other difficulties can be fraught.
The military’s makeup is diverse, but its official faith-based offerings and resources don’t reflect that diversity. Research shows that the Chaplain Corps is overwhelmingly White (85%), male (94%), middle-aged (70%), heterosexual, and cisgender. There are approximately 3,000 military chaplains, but of those, less than 20 are Muslim — even though an estimated 6,000 Muslim Americans serve in the U.S. military.
This is the same for Jewish chaplains and other minority groups like Sikhs, Hindus, and Buddhists. With almost one in four troops identifying as spiritual but not religious or atheist, and non-Christian faith groups being woefully underrepresented, it’s easy to see why many troops have a complicated relationship with the Chaplain Corps.
On top of that, service members and their families often don't get to decide where they live. Some parts of the country and world are less accepting of the LGBTQ+ community and religious minorities, and in smaller communities, there may be fewer faith communities to choose from.
Despite the complicated relationship that the LGBTQ+ community has with faith and the Chaplain Corps, we aim to share a variety of perspectives and experiences throughout this issue.
You’ll read about a gay JAG officer who felt abandoned by his religion but then rediscovered faith on his own terms, a Baptist Army medic who became a Muslim chaplain, affirming chaplains who aim to create inclusive faith spaces in the military, and mental health professionals who help heal religious trauma. I hope you enjoy this issue of Modern Military magazine as it explores the intersections of faith, LGBTQ+ identity, and the military.
If these stories, or other issues of Modern Military magazine, resonate with you, I encourage you to consider making a one-time or monthly contribution at modernmilitary.org/donate to help ensure that we can continue to share the stories of marginalized voices. Your support helps advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community. Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Top photo by Michael Heuss
