Cheers to the San Diego Lesbian and Gay News for this article about a team from the University of Southern California School of Social Work San Diego Academic Center that is trying to help soldiers adjust to life after “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The controversial policy, which allowed gay and lesbian members to serve as long as they did not reveal their sexual orientation, will soon be phased out. But there is nowhere for servicemembers to go to find out about policies during this transitional period.
So students at the social work school created the Military Acceptance Project, or MAP. The Web site is a place for servicemembers to anonymously get information about policies concerning lesbian and gay soldiers. And policymakers can go there to find out what concerns servicemembers may have.
There are also resources on the Web site for people who experienced stress from living under DADT.
“We are addressing these issues from a social-work perspective,” said Kristen Kavanaugh, a retired Marine officer who hid her sexuality and is now a student at the social work school. “Our biggest issue is mental health support. Everyone who is forced to hide under DADT has got some degree of post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Social workers are committed to social justice for all, including people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. To learn more, visit the National Association of Social Workers’ Diversity and Equity Web page by clicking here.
