Terri Odom: On Serving Your Country In The Military and Being LGBT
A message from Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board Member Terri Odom:
LGBTQ service members have been silenced throughout history. Many servicemembers have been sexually assaulted because of who they were or kicked out after reporting their attacks.
I remember being barely 17 years old at the MEPS STATION in St. Louis, MO. My father and mother had signed me up for the Army after much begging and pleading on my part. We had to take a physical exam and a mental health exam to be considered fit for duty. One of the questions on the mental health exam asked, are you a homosexual? Our recruiters had already warned us, no matter what, say no! Mark that box no! Otherwise you would be disqualified from military service.
After my Army enlistment. I joined the Navy. One day I received a loud knock on my door and opened it to find two NCIS Agents. They asked me to join them in our rec room, where I was then read my rights and placed under arrest for “Possible Homosexual Actions.” After six months of being barred from leaving base and being under investigation, I finally was cleared of any possible “Homosexual Actions.” Shortly after, I received orders to my new duty station. When I arrived, my team leader said, “Aren’t you that lesbian?” I said, “No! I was cleared!” Almost one year to the date of being “cleared,” I was violently raped, beaten, impregnated and left for dead. I lost my military career at the hands of my rapists.
Terri working outreach for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) at St. Louis Pride Fest
Last week, as I was doing physical therapy at the VHA from long-term head trauma from my attack, the news came over the television that the United States would have marriage equality for all Americans. I cried when I heard the news.
The VHA sits next to our veteran cemetery. I walked outside and wept knowing that thousands of LGBT service members died defending American freedoms and civil liberties that we didn’t have — not even a basic civil right to marry who you love. As an LGBT veteran, I can only say that to be willing to die for freedoms that you can’t have is true honor beyond measure.
