Diversity in the US military branches

Hey guys! As an upcoming high school senior considering joining the military, I'm very keen on understanding how diverse the environment is. Specifically, I'm curious which branch of the military tends to have the most openly LGBT+ members. Thanks!

Responding to your query, it's tricky to pinpoint a single branch of the U.S. military as having the most openly LGBT+ members. Given the evolving attitudes towards LGBT+ individuals in the military, it's important to note that all service branches have made efforts to foster diversity and inclusivity.

There's no public data explicitly stating the proportion of LGBT+ service members in each branch. However, a poll conducted by the Military Times years back, before the lift of the transgender ban, found the Navy had the highest percentage of respondents who identified as LGBT+, followed by the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. This might give you some perspective, but remember the accuracy of such data can be affected by the respondents' willingness to self-report and it may not reflect the current situation.

Post 2011, after the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was repealed, it became possible for military members to openly identify as gay and not be discharged because of their sexual orientation. Then, in 2020, the ban on transgender military service was lifted, further increasing the ability of service members to openly express their gender identities.

You might want to consider not just the overall number of openly LGBT+ members, but also how each branch handles policies towards LGBT+ individuals. It's beneficial to reach out directly to those currently serving or veterans who could provide insights into the culture and experience within each branch.

Overall, the most important thing is that you find a branch where you feel you can bring your whole self to service and have that service appreciated.