On this Veterans Day, we honor the courage and sacrifice of all who’ve served — and we hold close our transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming friends who have served, or dreamed of serving, yet have been left behind by discriminatory policies.
We’re proud to have two queer veterans on our team: our security guard, Eli Bazar, and our Vice President of Finance and Development, Darren Smith. I sat down with Eli and Darren to reflect on what it meant to serve as out, gay service members during the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell era (1994–2011), when LGBTQ+ troops were prohibited from living openly.
“Back then, you could hide who you were and be in the closet a bit,” said Eli, who served in the Marine Corps from 1991 to 1997. “Now, they’re actively seeking out folks who are trans, who are queer, and kicking them out of the service for it. That’s atrocious.”
For Darren, the Trump administration’s ban on transgender and non-binary service members echoed the same fear and hostility.
“It’s frustrating seeing my siblings in the military being kicked out or retired early with no benefits — things they’ve worked so hard and sacrificed so much for.”
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell forced Darren to live in silence; authenticity was a risk, and femininity was ridiculed. The policies may have changed, but the prejudice has persisted.
This Veterans Day, we recommit ourselves to the fight for inclusion, dignity, and justice for all who serve. Let’s honor our trans veterans not just in words, but in action — by demanding equal treatment, access to benefits, and the right to serve openly.
If you or someone you know is an LGBTQ+ veteran in need of resources, reach out to the Modern Military Association of America, American Veterans for Equal Rights, or Out in National Security.
The Center on Colfax stands proudly with our transgender siblings — today and every day.