Oregon LGBTQ Veterans Needs

Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs LGBTQ Veterans Coordinator Needs Assessment

In 2015, Oregon became the first state in the U.S. to create a position solely for advocacy and support of LGBTQ veterans and their families.

This VSO (Veteran Service Officer) within ODVA (Oregon Dept of Veterans' Affairs) will assist veterans with discharge upgrades, pension and compensation claims, including connection with a host of other veteran services and benefits.

A more critical role for ODVA's LGBTQ Veterans Coordinator is to help organize and sustain collaborative networks between traditional veteran-serving organizations and LGBTQ-serving organizations. In order to work towards these goals, we must identify the needs of the community.

Your time and participation in this survey will help us with these efforts. If you feel there are questions omitted that need to be in the survey, tell us! If there are issues that need to be addressed that aren't, let us know!

Any feedback, suggestions, compliments, and concerns can be directed to our general email address at LGBTQVets@odva.state.or.us

Thank you for your assistance. Together we are working towards a more unified front in serving those who served us.

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* 1. With which gender do you most closely identify?

Male

Female

Transgender (male to female)

Transgender (female to male)

Prefer not to answer

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What is your age?

17 or younger

18-20

21-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60 or older

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* 3. How would you describe your sexuality?

Bisexual

Gay

Lesbian

Straight

Queer

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status?

Employed, working full-time

Employed, working part-time

Not employed, looking for work

Not employed, NOT looking for work

Retired

Disabled, not able to work

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* 5. With which race do you most closely identify?

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

Asian

American Indian or Alaskan Native

Black or African-American

From multiple races

White

Some other race (please specify)

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* 6. Do you identify as Latino or Hispanic?

Yes

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* 7. Which of the following best describes your current relationship status?

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

In a domestic partnership or civil union

Single, but cohabiting with a significant other

Single, never married

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* 8. What was your total combined household income for 2015?

$0 to $9,999

$10,000 to $24,999

$25,000 to $49,999

$50,000 to $74,999

$75,000 to $99,999

$100,000 to $124,999

$125,000 to $149,999

$150,000 to $174,999

$175,000 to $199,999

$200,000 and up

Prefer not to answer

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* 9. In which Oregon county do you currently reside?

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* 10. Have you ever served in any branch of the United States military?

Yes, I have

No, I have not

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* 11. In which branch (or branches) of the United States military have you served? (Check all that apply)

Army

Marine Corps

Navy

Air Force

Coast Guard

A reserve or guard component of any of the above (please specify in the comments)

Other (please specify)

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* 12. What was your best discharge status from the military?

Honorable

General under honorable

Other than honorable

Bad conduct

Dishonorable

Uncharacterized

Don't know

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* 13. Are you currently enrolled in the VA healthcare system?

Yes

I don't know

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* 14. Did you serve in any of the following theaters of operation?

World War II

Korean War

Vietnam War

Persian Gulf War (Desert Storm)

Afghanistan (Enduring Freedom)

Iraq (Iraqi Freedom or New Dawn)

Other Peacekeeping Operations (Lebanon, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc.)

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What services from ODVA's LGBTQ Veterans Coordinator may interest you?

Correction of military records (name change on discharge paperwork, removing DADT-related language, etc).

Discharge upgrade assistance for a DADT-related discharge.

Assistance with veteran services and benefits from the VA and beyond (VA health care, service connected compensation, pension, homelessness services, etc).

Promotion and support in creating a community and culture of inclusion for ALL veterans regardless of sexuality or gender identity (liaison between veteran and LGBTQ serving organizations)

Advocacy for legislative changes in Oregon to better serve our LGBTQ community (veterans and non-veterans alike)

Other (please specify)

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* 16. What services, if any have you accessed as a result of your veteran status?

None

Homelessness Services

VA Compensation and/or Pension

Employment Assistance (Vocational Rehab, etc)

Drug and Alcohol Counseling

Mental Health

Home Loan

Education Benefits

Other (please specify)

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* 17. What veteran benefits would you like more information about?

None

Discharge upgrade assistance

Homeless services

VA compensation and/or pension

Employment assistance (vocational rehab, etc.)

Drug and alcohol counseling

Mental health

Home loan

Education benefits

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What legislative changes (in Oregon) would you like to see that affect the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ veterans?

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* 19. How likely would you be to attend an event specifically for LGBTQ veterans?

Not at all

Somewhat unlikely

Neither likely or unlikely

Somewhat likely

Very likely

Not at all

Somewhat unlikely

Neither likely or unlikely

Somewhat likely

Very likely

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* 1. With which gender do you most closely identify?

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* 2. What is your age?

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* 3. How would you describe your sexuality?

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* 4. Which of the following categories best describes your employment status?

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* 5. With which race do you most closely identify?

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* 6. Do you identify as Latino or Hispanic?

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* 7. Which of the following best describes your current relationship status?

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* 8. What was your total combined household income for 2015?

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* 9. In which Oregon county do you currently reside?

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* 10. Have you ever served in any branch of the United States military?

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* 11. In which branch (or branches) of the United States military have you served? (Check all that apply)

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* 12. What was your best discharge status from the military?

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* 13. Are you currently enrolled in the VA healthcare system?

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* 14. Did you serve in any of the following theaters of operation?

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* 15. What services from ODVA's LGBTQ Veterans Coordinator may interest you?

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* 16. What services, if any have you accessed as a result of your veteran status?

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* 17. What veteran benefits would you like more information about?

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* 18. What legislative changes (in Oregon) would you like to see that affect the LGBTQ community and LGBTQ veterans?

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* 19. How likely would you be to attend an event specifically for LGBTQ veterans?

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* 20. What services would you like to see as an LGBTQ veteran?

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* 21. Please provide your email address if you are interested in updates and news from ODVA's LGBTQ Veterans Coordinator.

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* 22. Do you have any other comments, questions, or concerns?