Women and LGBTQ+ Service Members

This topic covers the experiences, rights, and policies affecting women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the armed forces. It includes who may serve and in which roles, protections against discrimination and harassment, and programs that respond to sexual assault. The Department of Defense, the military branches, Congress, and the courts all shape the rules.

People usually ask what protections and complaint options exist, how harassment and assault reports are handled, how policy on who may serve is set, and what support is available.