Support and Programs for LGBTQ+ Veterans
Committee on Veterans · June 22, 2026 · 2hrs 5m
Source: https://hearinghearings.nyc/hearings/committee-on-veterans-support-and-programs-for-lgbtq-veterans-2026-06-22/
Video: https://councilnyc.viebit.com/vod/?s=true&v=NYCC-250-8-1_260622-101735.mp4

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(00:00:20)

Was saying basically, yeah.

(00:00:20)

Good morning and welcome to today's New York City Council hearing from the Committee on Veterans. At this time I would like to remind everyone to please silence their electronic devices and no one is to approach the dais. If you would like to sign up for public testimony and have not done so already, feel free to sign a slip located outside in the hallway with the Sergeant at Arms' chair. We are ready to begin.

Good morning. I am CM Frank Morano. I have the pleasure and honor of chairing the Veterans Committee of the New York City Council. I want to thank everybody who is joining us here in person. I want to thank everybody who is watching on Zoom. I want to thank everybody that is watching on cable television when there is nothing else on, but I really want to thank everybody for tuning in, however they are tuning in, for such an important topic. Today our oversight hearing is on programs and services for LGBTQ+ veterans.

When I first took over this committee, I mentioned that to me veterans issues were the one issue that should be and ideally would be totally nonpartisan. Conservatives love talking about veterans issues because it deals with patriotism, defending the country, all sorts of things that traditionally conservatives are all about. A lot of progressives love focusing on veterans issues because it gives them an opportunity to talk about health care and housing and all sorts of things that progressives are all about on a regular basis. To me, the thing that I loved most about this committee is we have members on both sides of the political spectrum and we are all rowing in the same direction to deliver for New Yorkers and especially for the veterans that have served us. Nowhere is that more noticeable than in terms of the issues that are uniquely facing LGBTQ+ veterans. As our committee has researched, and as we will get into, LGBTQ+ veterans have a higher incidence of PTSD. LGBTQ+ veterans have higher incidences of being victimized by sexual assault and a number of other things that, even after the ending of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, continue to permeate throughout the veterans community. This committee, which has some very dedicated Council Members on it, is not going to just sit by and accept that as the new status quo.

So what I am hoping we can get out of today's hearing is a playbook for legislative action, a playbook for awareness, and a way that we can fix what is a very real problem. I do want to mention two things that are particularly important given the circumstances and given our history. I want to give a big congratulations to retired Sergeant First Class Dominick Pepe from Woodhaven for his induction into the New York State Veterans Hall of Fame not long ago. I did not even know there was a Hall of Fame, and to me Dominick Pepe is exactly the type of person that this hearing is focused on today. I am glad to see that he has been recognized on a statewide basis.

I also want to take a moment to speak about the legacy of a Staten Islander who lives in my district. There is a street named for him six minutes from my office and ten minutes from where I grew up, and that is James "Jimmy" Zappalorti, a gay Vietnam War veteran who was murdered because of his sexual orientation. His murder was the first officially designated hate crime in the Borough of Staten Island and his plight inspired activism that led to the passage of the New York State Hate Crimes Act of the year 2000, which was signed by Governor Pataki, which allowed harsher penalties for crimes motivated by bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, et cetera.

Zappalorti's murder did more than just cause grief. His legacy united communities. It sparked a level of activism that really had not been seen before, certainly in the Staten Island South Shore community, certainly in the LGBTQ+ community and certainly in the military veteran community. There was the Zappalorti Society, which was founded in 1992, and the Pride Center of Staten Island, which was founded in 2013, all about providing lasting support and services to Staten Island's LGBTQ+ community.

Let me say a word or two and an observation or two about our LGBTQ+ veterans. Between 1980 and 1993, over 19,000 LGBTQ+ service members were discharged, many with other than honorable statuses. Under Don't Ask, Don't Tell, more than 13,000 were denied benefits, recognition and dignity. When you think about that, these people are just as much in need of health care and housing, and to think that they were denied anything that should be rightly given to a veteran who has risked their life in the service of our country — it is abominable. These policies forced veterans to lose health care, education and retirement benefits while at the same time enduring discrimination, harassment and trauma in service to their country.

Even today it persists, with about a thousand transgender service members discharged after the 2025 ban on their service. As a result of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, LGBTQ+ veterans face higher rates of mental health challenges, suicide, PTSD and chronic illness. They are also significantly more likely to experience military sexual trauma and assault, further compounding a lot of these health issues.

At the same time, we have a real problem with data. There are major gaps in the data. Nearly 89% of VA records lack gender identity information, making LGBTQ+ veterans largely invisible in official counts. National estimates suggest there are around one million LGBTQ+ veterans, while in New York State there may be around 70,000, most of them believed to be concentrated in New York City, although as I indicated, because of the lack of data we do not know exactly for sure.

Together, these realities underscore the importance of ensuring LGBTQ+ veterans are seen, recognized for their service to the country, supported and connected to comprehensive, affirming health care and services that they have earned. In addition to our oversight topic today, we are going to be hearing two very important pieces of legislation. We are going to be hearing Int 0914-2026, which is sponsored by me, which is a great Bill as you might expect, which would require a study and recommendations on the feasibility of implementing a pilot program to provide reconsolidation of traumatic memories therapy for veterans.

Let me say a word on this Bill. Unlike any other Bill that I have introduced, this did not come from an idea that I had, that a constituent brought to me, or that I researched. This Bill was introduced by the prior chair of the Veterans Committee, Bob Holden. Even though it had been passed by the Veterans Committee in the last City Council, it never got to be voted on by the Council as a whole. So what I am hoping to get at today is exactly what this particular type of therapy would do. I know it has been controversial in some quarters, and what New York City could do to explore this as a viable therapy for dealing with PTSD. If this Bill needs to be amended to better reflect the realities of how New York City would handle this, I am all about amending it. Even though this is my Bill, this is not a Bill that I have necessarily a rooting interest in seeing in its current form. I am all about changing it, adapting it or expanding it based on the testimony we are going to hear from the administration and hopefully the public.

The other legislation we are hearing today is another very important piece of legislation, which is Int 0928-2026, sponsored by Minority Leader David Carr, which would amend the Administrative Code of the City of New York in relation to establishing an LGBTQ+ liaison within the Department of Veterans' Services.

(00:09:55)

For those of you that are unfamiliar with Minority Leader Carr, he is the best Council Member this body has and certainly the best Staten Islander it has. I would love for the Minority Leader to speak on his Bill. Thank you, Chair.

(00:10:08)

I appreciate the kind words of praise, but I have to start by thanking you and commending you for your leadership of this committee since the start of the term. You have shown in these last six months an energy, enthusiasm and determination to improve the lot of the New York City veteran community that I think is not only commendable but necessary. I think that we always have to have a focus on those who served — many of whom served in combat, many of whom served and came back after traumatic experiences or physically traumatic injuries. These people were willing to give their lives for our nation and the least we could do is support them now that they are home, in their pursuit of jobs, in their pursuit of housing and in their pursuit of justice, and in some cases in pursuit of a life of happiness that they more than earned with their service. So thank you, Chair, for all of your advocacy on behalf of this wonderful community.

I also want to thank Commissioner Motto for being here today. We had a productive conversation last week about the Staten Island veteran community and the New York City community at large, and I look forward to continuing to work with you and your team. I appreciate you being here to give feedback on these pieces of legislation.

This will mark 15 years since Congress repealed the infamous Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which was supposed to allow LGBTQ+ Americans to serve in the military as long as they did not openly disclose their sexual orientation. Intended as a so-called compromise in order to end discrimination against gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals in the military, in many ways it did quite the opposite, forcing people who were willing to give their lives to serve their country into an opportunity to go back into the closet. Sadly, by some estimates, between World War II and the repeal in 2011, the military discharged as many as 114,000 service members on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation.

I think the lesson of that period before Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the period in which it was in place and then, of course, the period since its repeal — I think the lesson of each of those points in time is that everyone should be allowed to serve openly in our nation's military, regardless of their sexual orientation or their gender identity. If you are willing to put your life on the line for the United States of America, that is a commendable thing. It shows the inherent bravery and character of who you are. That is what speaks to the kind of person that those individuals are who want to serve in that way, and they should all be given the opportunity to do so freely and openly and genuinely as who they are.

The military continues in all cases to issue service members a characterization of service upon their discharge. Most service members receive an honorable discharge status, which entitles each of them to their VA benefits. But those who receive a less than honorable discharge — such as a general discharge under honorable conditions, an other than honorable discharge, a bad conduct discharge or even in some cases a dishonorable discharge — as a result cannot access some of the essential benefits awarded to those who have served our country. These include education benefits, health benefits, burials in the VA national cemetery and many more.

When Congress repealed Don't Ask, Don't Tell in 2011, the military established a process for veterans discharged under the policy to remove justifications related to their sexual orientation from their paperwork and upgrade their discharge status to honorable. Yet that process shamefully placed the burden on individual service members to correct their records after many of them had endured years, and in some cases decades. To complete this procedure, veterans must assemble a variety of old records. In most cases the help of an attorney is required, and they typically wait 18 months or more for the board that decides these discharge status changes to upgrade those petitions with their respective military branch of service. If they exhaust their administrative remedies, veterans must file an appeal in court, for which they must seek the help of a lawyer, often at great cost. It is unclear how many thousands of New York veterans are still impacted and still have not received the benefits they are due because they were discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Four years ago, this Council unanimously passed legislation authored by former CM and LGBTQ+ Caucus Chair Danny Dromm to help correct this historic injustice. Local Law 4 of 2022 extended City veteran benefits to those who were discharged because of their sexual orientation and required the City's Department of Veterans' Services to offer discharge upgrade assistance to help obtain federal benefits. The legislation I have introduced, being heard today as Int 0928-2026, will help fully realize the goals of Local Law 4 by establishing an LGBTQ+ liaison within the Department of Veterans' Services specifically tasked with conducting outreach to LGBTQ+ veterans, coordinating the department's assistance with discharge characterization upgrades and connecting these veterans with programs and services offered by other relevant agencies.

I understand this will largely and hopefully codify existing practice, but I think there are some practices and policies that are so good they absolutely need to be enshrined into law. It will also require the department to issue an annual report related to assistance for LGBTQ+ veterans, which will hopefully and finally give us some idea of how many veterans still suffer from the effects of the shameful legacy of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I think the Chair was quite right — we have a data problem with respect to our veteran community. I know the Commissioner knows this well. We need to do more to get veterans to self-identify, both within the LGBTQ+ cohort and beyond, because if we are going to start adequately serving the veteran community, particularly with the breadth of benefits that we have to offer, we need to make sure that they are able and feel comfortable to come forward. That means really engaging in a mission of finding them over the next several years. So I appreciate the Chair hearing this Bill and I look forward to hearing testimony from the administration.

(00:19:19)

Good morning, Chair Morano and members of the Committee on Veterans, and Council Member Car. My name is Johnny Mata and I am the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans' Services. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today regarding support and services for LGBT+ veterans in New York City.

Chair Morano and members of the Committee, thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to the veteran community. We look forward to continuing to work alongside all of you to connect with and serve veterans across the five boroughs.

I would like to acknowledge an important nuance regarding today's hearing. The language used throughout City administrative code and reporting requirements specifically references LGBT+ populations. While we recognize and support the full diversity of New York City's communities, including asexual individuals, our testimony today aligns with the terminology currently established within the City's legislative framework.

As someone who continues to serve as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve, I understand that military service is not a singular experience. Our veterans come from every borough, neighborhood and background. They represent every race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation. Every program, service and resource should be available to all veterans.

Today's hearing is not about creating a separate service. It is about ensuring LGBT+ veterans know they are welcome, that they belong, and that the Department is here to support them.

I will also like to briefly address the legislation before the Committee today. Regarding Int 0914-2026, the Department appreciates the intent of expanding access to effective mental health treatments for veterans. We support the overall goals of the legislation and look forward to continuing discussions with the Council regarding amendments necessary to ensure the proposal is operationally feasible and aligned with agency responsibilities.

Regarding Int 0928-2026, the Department fully supports the legislation and its goal of strengthening engagement with LGBT+ veterans. We have designated LGBT+ liaisons within the Department. Donna, an Army veteran, has served as the LGBT+ liaison since 2024, and Michael Lopez, also an Army veteran, now serves as our LGBT+ claims and benefits liaison.

New York City is home to one of the largest LGBT+ veteran populations in the nation. Nationally, an estimated number of LGBT+ adults and veterans serve, including approximately 37,000 transgender veterans. LGBT+ veterans are also more likely to have served during the post-9/11 era than the veteran population overall.

Many LGBT+ veterans have faced unique challenges through their military service and transition to civilian life, including discrimination, housing instability, barriers to health care and social isolation. For some, these challenges were compounded by policies such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and restrictions on transgender military service. Between 2000 and 2014, approximately 1,300 transgender individuals were discharged from the military because of their gender identity.

While significant progress has been made, barriers remain. Many are not immediately visible and can include shame, hesitation or fear of seeking support. Nationally, 36% of LGBT+ veterans report avoiding services due to perceived bias. No veteran should ever feel that their identity diminishes or affects their ability to access the benefits and support they have earned.

The City has taken important steps to better support LGBT+ communities, including through the Mayor's Office of LGBT+ Affairs. The Department is currently exploring the creation of a certificate of eligibility for LGBT+ veterans, which would help discharged LGBT+ veterans access certain City benefits and services available to veterans.

One area where the Department has been particularly proud to support LGBT+ veterans is through our Discharge Upgrade and Legal Services program, known as DUELS. During Fiscal Year 2026, 38 LGBT+ veterans sought legal assistance through the program, many navigating the lasting impact of discriminatory discharge practices. We are grateful for our partnerships with the Veteran Advocacy Project and the New York Legal Assistance Group, whose expertise has helped veterans pursue discharge upgrades and access earned benefits. While many cases remain pending due to the complexity of the review process, these cases underscore the continued need for targeted outreach, legal support and culturally competent services.

We also recognize the importance of community partnerships. Organizations such as SAGE Vets and the Stonewall Veteran Association provide trusted spaces, social connection and culturally competent support for LGBT+ veterans. These partnerships are critical to reaching veterans who would not otherwise engage with traditional systems.

Thank you again for the opportunity to testify today. We look forward to continuing our work with the Council, community organizations and LGBT+ veterans to ensure that every veteran in New York City feels welcome, supported and empowered. I am happy to answer any questions.

(00:25:21)

Thank you, Commissioner. Happy birthday. You should know that who is seated at the table beside you also happened to be at the Vietnam veteran event on Friday with CM Wong and I, and she was and is just a terrific spokesperson for your agency and really represents you well.

I have a number of questions. I want to say a word to the public and to my colleagues who are good enough to participate in today's hearing. I have the unique distinction of being on eight City Council committees, so I have had the opportunity to watch every variety of chair holding hearings. There are two things that I think both the public and the Council members find somewhat challenging and frustrating, to be honest.

The first is that the chair will spend 20, 30, 40 minutes asking questions of whoever is testifying before them, and all these other Council members who all have busy schedules do not get to ask any questions. In many cases the chair just does not want the person who asked the question... I mean, I am speculating, but the bottom line is it is frustrating.

The other thing that is frustrating is you get three minutes to ask a question, the administration will try to give a comprehensive, lengthy answer, and your time is up with no time for an appropriate follow-up question.

So I will just say to my colleagues who are good enough to be here and participate in today's hearing: I am going to ask a couple of questions, then turn it over to you. You have got five minutes, but if you need more than five minutes, take more than five minutes. If there is an appropriate follow-up question, ask it. We are not going to kick anybody out and grab the hook after five minutes.

But trust me, I have plenty of questions on my own. Let me begin, Commissioner, with your testimony regarding the LGBT+ liaisons. You have indicated that there are already two LGBT+ liaisons. How many veterans have interacted with each liaison over the last 12 months?

(00:27:42)

We necessarily do not ask the gender identity question when a veteran comes in. We ask for the type of services that they need us for. We want to make sure that it does create a welcoming space for every individual to feel comfortable. Oftentimes the individual him or herself decides to disclose the type of service that they need or the type of gender identity that they would like to identify as. However, I do not actually ask that question directly.

However, with the gender liaison that we do have in place since 2024, that liaison specifically has provided support to individuals by helping them connect with partners that can go further in providing the services that they need. Most recently we added a second LGBT+ liaison, and the goal is to work closely with the LGBT+ Committee and the LGBT+ Mayor's Office to see how we can do better to provide support to the LGBT+ community. I will let Nicole elaborate on that.

(00:29:08)

Our current LGBT+ liaison, Donna, has also attended different community events in the past as well. So in addition to just being one-on-one on the client side of it, she is also participating in the community at different events that pop up specifically relating to LGBT+ issues as well.

We can follow up with the listing, and as for how we measure the effectiveness of those existing liaisons at the moment, that is what we are working on. I am really looking forward to working with CM Car, with the LGBT+ Committee and the Mayor's LGBT+ Office, and also with various other nonprofits to help us understand how we can measure that success.

Again, the census or the VA do not have data or a questionnaire or intake that can help us establish the accurate number of LGBT+ veterans. From my end, that is appalling. So for this year, what we are trying to do is to ensure that we can actually have a better intake process of not just understanding the veteran status but also gender identity. Also, what is your background? Are you, for example, Latino? What type of Latino background? What type of general background? We want to really understand where veterans are coming from and the needs that they truly have. So when I do want to answer that question, it is that we are working to improve our intake process.

(00:30:51)

If the Department already has two designated liaisons, what operational changes would Int 0928-2026, Minority Leader Car's Bill, actually create? What would be different?

(00:31:04)

Well, first of all I want to thank CM Carter for that introduction because it really pushes the agency even further to provide that support to LGBT+ veterans. Even though we had one liaison, now we have two. Having the second liaison, at first when it came to us, we were focused primarily on the discharge upgrade, which Nicole, my colleague, will elaborate further on. But now with the second liaison, we will go even further in upgrading our intake process.

Again, the VA or the census itself does not ask that question about LGBT+, so the goal is through this second liaison to work in conjunction with Council Car, the LGBT+ Committee and the LGBT+ Mayor's Office to ensure that we can together develop an intake process where individuals will feel comfortable disclosing that information.

(00:32:10)

Also, operationally, what would change is the reporting requirements on this, because currently the only thing we report on is Local Law 4, which is in regards to discharge upgrades. But we know and we respect that this community's needs go beyond just discharge upgrades. So by being able to take what our liaisons are doing and translate it into data and into reporting, that gives us a better picture of what the needs of the community are in addition to discharge upgrades. We are really looking forward to implementing that piece of it.

(00:32:37)

Are you able to tell us how many outreach events specifically targeted LGBT+ veterans were conducted by these liaisons either last year or the last fiscal year?

(00:32:54)

So I am going to pass this question to Nicole.

(00:32:57)

So more recently, I am taking a closer look at the type of events that we have been doing across all five boroughs. What is different this time around is that we are being very intentional as to when we go to a specific borough, what type of service are we providing, who are we teaming up with, why are we teaming up with them, and what type of services the individual veteran will get if they decide to go to this specific nonprofit.

So I just want to discuss what we are doing internally right now. Internally, I am updating our partners. Even our partners have to go through an intake process. Soon we will need to go through an intake process again. If we are going to be partnering up with individuals, I want to make sure that when nonprofits... we want to make sure that veterans themselves do get the support that they need when they do go to these great partners that we have.

(00:33:54)

In the last fiscal year we had three events that were specifically targeted for LGBT+ veterans, but then every month there is a veterans' mental health coalition meeting that includes topics on LGBT+ support. Council Member Wong.

(00:34:10)

Please. He did not expect me to go to you so quickly. Thank you.

(00:34:18)

I am concerned about your data collection regarding LGBT+ veteran populations. Yes, you have been doing outreach, but have you encountered veterans that are reluctant to identify themselves as LGBT+ due to past discrimination, or who have a hard time self-identifying when seeking services?

(00:34:51)

To begin with, that is why we do want to do a campaign collectively, again with the support of various other nonprofits. But even further, when it comes to LGBT+ veterans, that is another layer of work that we have to do. A campaign awareness effort like this requires having individuals who are directly impacted to help lead the campaign. But we understand that when it does come to data, we do not have that specific data in hand, and we do hope that with this second liaison we can again create an intake process that we can work on collaboratively with various other nonprofits.

What we do have is the data from the DUELS discharge upgrade program that supports the veterans who were discharged due to their gender identity. I will let Nicole elaborate on that.

(00:35:54)

I want to go back. I am reading your statement and you are saying that you are going to explore the creation of a certificate of eligibility for LGBT+ veterans. So what is your approach?

(00:36:07)

If you have problems identifying them, then how do you find these veterans and give them the certificate of eligibility?

(00:36:17)

Yeah, so to speak a little bit more on the certificate. What we have been noticing is that on the state level and city level, there are veterans who are discharged due to their status under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the transgender ban, or anything else. For us, what we are seeing is that there is a lot of fear in applying for benefits due to the fear that you have to show your DD-214 that says you were discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" or whatever it may be.

So for us, what we are acting as is that safe space for them to come to us and say, "I have served my country," show us their paperwork in a trusted space with our LGBT+ liaison, who will then be able to verify their service and create a certificate that can then be given to different City agencies to verify that service. So they do not actually have to provide their DD-214 that says what they were discharged for, or be in the process of upgrading or whatever that may be, but it still verifies their military service.

So for us, we do not want someone's fear of having to show their discharge to be a barrier to getting any benefit. That is why we want to be the ones that will provide that certificate. It will not say anything about the discharge on it. It will just verify their service.

(00:37:26)

Veterans like to visit health clinics like the ones on Flushing Avenue. Have you done any outreach with them to identify these veterans that require health services? Can you talk about that?

(00:37:42)

I am going to pass this question to Donna and Noah. But as part of the claims team, when someone does come in, oftentimes veterans go through the claims process first as they are in need of different types of benefits, and when they do disclose that they need any sort of health care support, we do connect them to the VA. But we also connect them to Health and Hospitals Pride Health Centers and Northwell, as they provide LGBT+ fertility services. Again, this is if the individual does disclose that they need LGBT+ services. However, I am going to now pass it on to Donna and Noah to elaborate on the claims process when it comes to the health care component.

(00:38:37)

Specifically when it comes to the health care component.

(00:38:40)

Thanks. Sure. I am Noah Bram, the Executive Director of Support Services. So I think that conversation about the difficulty of just getting them to disclose their veteran status does go further to disclosing anything, even like a name and an address. So I think it is a testament to the claims agents, who are just so great at building that rapport and making that veteran comfortable just having a conversation. With that comes everything else, like any kind of medical conditions or anything that has to do with the claim that we are going to file. So that is where we get that information. Once we develop that relationship, it allows us to connect them to whatever benefits or whatever partnerships that we have, and that is where that magic happens. So that is where we overcome that hurdle. Please feel free to continue.

(00:39:25)

Yeah, just as a follow-up: we have the Queens Vet Center right at the border of my district, and I see veterans go there all the time requesting medical services. So I am just wondering about the outreach you have with them or other vet centers, and whether you are able to identify or help them identify veteran status. That is an issue that is always on my mind every time I drive past it, like are we reaching out to these veterans because they...

(00:39:57)

We do go there a lot, right? We do have that partnership with that Vet Center as well as all the other Vet Centers and VA's. Those are part of our regular circuit that we try to send our claims agents to, so we do have usually a liaison for each one of those entities. But it does happen organically. We leave nobody out for partnership opportunity. So whether it is a Vet Center or nonprofit, we try to send our claims agents out as part of the outreach and we have had some pretty good success so far. I just wanted to add to that: one of the unique aspects is that when it comes to claims and housing, one of the major needs for veterans, it is led by veterans themselves. There is a Coast Guard veteran and also an Army veteran, but so it also provides us that extra cultural competency, per se, to be able to provide that support to veterans.

(00:40:59)

Do you need assistance in reaching out to nonprofits that work with individuals and then work with them to identify veterans? Is that something you are currently doing or you might need help in connecting to these nonprofits?

(00:41:18)

Yes, absolutely. We welcome any support. With my background as an organizer myself, that is one of the major components that we are providing training to the staff as well. It is not just training about services. The training when it comes to how do you organize with the LGBT+ community — but in general, when it comes to LGBT+ support, it keeps evolving as time goes on. So that is one of the major components that we are making sure we address. When it comes to the LGBT+ community, how do we revamp our partnerships that we have? As I said before, I am updating the list that we have that would include intake for each of our partners to see what type of services they provide. But as always, we want to make sure that we have them at the table so they can help us organize and be able to reach out to individuals in different boroughs. We would love to work with your office as well.

(00:42:21)

Well, I have a few more questions, but please, thank you. Thank you. Just going back to your testimony for a moment, and then I have a couple of other things following up on CM Wong's questions. You stated that 38 veterans went through the discharge upgrade program in fiscal year 2026. Of those 38 veterans...

(00:42:54)

How many cases remain pending? Thank you for the question, Chair. So yes, in fiscal year 2026 we have had 38 LGBT+ veterans work with our partners, whether through NYLRAG or another organization, for discharge upgrades. Currently what we are seeing is that there are about 20 that are still pending.

(00:43:21)

For us, "pending" can mean a range of things — whether information is still being gathered or whether it is further along in the process. But that is something we can follow up on in more detail. Do we know at this point how many resulted in successful discharge upgrades?

(00:43:36)

Yes. So I think in the last two fiscal years we have seen eight discharge upgrades. How many veterans...

(00:43:45)

Maybe the answer is the same — regained VA benefits as a result of that?

(00:43:51)

That would be a little bit different just because there is a difference between a discharge upgrade being a total change versus the characterization of discharge upgrade, which means that you are still then entitled to VA benefits even if your discharge has not fully been changed.

(00:44:06)

For my edification, how long does the average discharge upgrade case take?

(00:44:12)

It could take one, two or three years. There is a little bit of delay whether that be in the actual courts themselves, information gathering, sometimes clients falling off and then getting re-engaged. But about one to three years.

(00:44:24)

What do you think the biggest barriers are to obtaining upgrades?

(00:44:29)

I think it has to do with the information gathering, where there are records all over the place. In some cases, some agencies are less willing to give out the information that is needed. If someone has been stationed at different areas across the country, it is a matter of coordinating with those entities. We even see this with disability claim issues — getting those health records and just getting...

(00:44:50)

...everything in the same place, as well as recognizing there is a lot of trauma and mental health support that is needed when dealing with these cases.

(00:44:59)

How many potentially eligible veterans do you believe might remain unaware of the program?

(00:45:13)

Regarding the program itself, we do want to do a campaign to raise awareness of the services we provide. But also with the DOORS program, oftentimes if you are a veteran or have served in the military, you understand the language. However, oftentimes when it comes to family members of those that served, they do not realize that this is the type of service that exists, even for the veteran themselves. So we do have to do a better awareness campaign to showcase the services that we provide, but also when it comes to the DOORS program. Even at that, the DOORS program itself does take time, as Nicole mentioned — it takes one to three years to do this type of support. We would like support from this Council to highlight the work that is being done and to highlight the work when it comes to the DOORS program.

(00:46:20)

I think in addition to that, there are also people who file for discharge upgrades for reasons beyond just "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." What we do anticipate, though, is an increase as more people are being affected by the trans ban, and we are seeing that become more prevalent. So that is something we are actively tracking with our partners to ensure we are doing more targeted messaging for those affected by that ban as well. One thing that caught our ear was the certificate of eligibility, because it was new, at least to me. What exactly would this certificate do?

(00:46:57)

So this certificate would enable access to about four different City benefits that are administered at the City level, for which someone needs to provide their DD-214. They would still be able to receive the benefit even though they are dishonorably discharged. But there is a lot of shame in presenting that when you have a dishonorable discharge under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." So what we are doing at the City level is, for those benefits where the DD-214 needs to be presented, instead of them having to present that DD-214, they would present this certificate that would be given out by our agency, where information about their service would be verified by our agency, so that they do not need to provide that to the different City...

(00:47:39)

...agencies. Do you know which four benefits that would unlock?

(00:47:42)

Yes, so that would unlock different residency preference points for civil service exams through DCAS, there is an ICERS pension buyback, there is the Department of Finance for tax benefits, and I believe there are two different types for the Department of Finance. Do we think this would require legislation or is that something that the agency could do on their own?

(00:48:05)

This is something that is actually in our Charter to be able to do, so this is something that we are now acting on from the Charter. This is also something that is required by the State to do, and they executed it as a letter, so we will be executing it as a certificate along with a letter. How would eligibility be determined?

(00:48:21)

Yes. So the individual cases would go to our LGBT+ claims liaison, who would take account of all the different service paperwork and would be able to verify the DD-214. They have experience dealing with cases like these as well as being militarily and culturally competent, and then they will be executing the certificate. Is this being developed specifically for LGBT+ veterans or for LGBT+ New Yorkers generally?

(00:48:49)

It is specifically for LGBT+ veterans. Do you have a timeline that you envision for implementation?

(00:48:57)

Yes. So this is something that we are in active conversations with the Mayor's Office about. We have now identified the benefits and are connecting with the agencies who will be receiving these certificates. We were hoping by mid next year to be able to actually execute it — probably before, but we want to ensure that we are having the correct conversations so that there are no barriers in using this.

(00:49:20)

You brought up Local Law 4, which, for those who may not know, requires the City to assist with discharge characterization. Specifically, how has the agency implemented this law?

(00:49:43)

Thank you for the question. So we maintain very strong partnerships with NYLRAG to ensure that the veterans we are referring over, who come to our office, are getting connected appropriately and in a timely fashion, and are getting access to that support. We are also making sure that we are continuing to promote the services — to your point, for people who do not know that that is an option. We are also looking to explore in the future how we can do more outreach and engagement directly with contractors to ensure that people are aware of the services.

(00:50:16)

In terms of some of the trends that we have seen with Local Law 4 of 2022, after comparing data from all available reports on Local Law 4, we see that between fiscal year 2022 and 2025, among male, female and non-binary veterans, veterans identifying as male contacted the program most frequently for discharge upgrade assistance. Is there a reason male veterans contacted at a higher rate...

(00:50:53)

...rather than the rest of the population? Again, it goes back to self-identification. The first hearing that you did, which we are so grateful for, was on women veterans.

(00:51:05)

Well, and I am grateful as a woman veteran yourself for your participation in that.

(00:51:11)

And when it comes to that, we have, along with Smalls... I do want to also highlight that Smalls was also inducted into the Hall of...

(00:51:20)

...Fame. Oh yes! But I think it is the perfect example here. We need to make sure that we can bring that awareness that there are women who serve, that we have different types of backgrounds. I think it goes back to the LGBT+ component as well. We need to do a better awareness campaign for LGBT+ veterans who are currently serving and who do a magnificent job. So again, it goes back to the awareness campaign.

(00:51:54)

Women are serving at a higher rate as well, and we need to highlight those stories too.

(00:52:01)

The report also shows that veterans from the Navy contacted the program for discharge upgrade assistance at a higher rate than any other branch of the military. Is there a reason for this trend?

(00:52:17)

While we do not know exactly the reason why that may be, we do think that it does have to do with outreach and with the groups that are being targeted in a lot of this outreach. That is our hypothesis right now, but we are looking forward to seeing how different tactics would affect that number.

(00:52:33)

I noticed you may have worn white in tribute to the high participation rates of naval veterans. I wore Coast Guard blue in recognition of my service and service with the Auxiliary Coast Guard.

(00:52:48)

In fiscal year 2025, the number of veterans seeking discharge upgrades drastically increased among all genders and military branches. What changed? Are you seeing a similar trend this year?

(00:53:07)

Currently for fiscal year 2026, we did not see a similar trend. What we do see is that there is still an increasing need compared to fiscal year 2022, where we only had two people. For us, we think that what drove that spike was different outreach efforts, awareness of the services, and stronger partnerships that we are having with our legal service providers. As we are continuing to build that capacity, we anticipate that number to increase. We also believe that in this landscape that we are in, with the trans ban...

(00:53:36)

...being introduced in January 2025, there is a lot of stigma and a lot of discourse going on in the community where people are more likely than not to actually identify and to actually come forward for those benefits and support. We do think the federal landscape has some effect on that as well.

(00:53:54)

And that is why we wanted to highlight the important need, and I think it goes back to what you mentioned about how many people know about the DOORS discharge program that is in place at the moment, because...

(00:54:08)

...that will also give them the support system that they need, but also help them feel welcome and feel that there is support here for them. So that is something that we do want to do better — highlight that program that we have in place. I noticed you alluded to the trans ban...

(00:54:28)

...earlier. Have you observed a difference in the number of veterans who were discharged pre and post the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," seeking discharge characterization upgrades?

(00:54:43)

This is something that we have been seeing anecdotally. We are still working on what those exact numbers look like, but we have had veterans come to us because of the trans ban and we are working on seeing what support we can provide. In some cases it may not necessarily just be the discharge upgrade — there are other issues that have come up. But this is something that we are actively tracking. On the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" side, we are monitoring the lifelong effects of that, even from when someone gets their discharge upgrade. We are anticipating and preparing for more of those who will be engaging with us because of the trans ban.

(00:55:15)

CM number one, thank you.

(00:55:18)

I just want to go back because I am a little confused. So you have between 2002 and 2014, approximately 1,300 transgender individuals discharged from the military because of their gender identity. So that is a direct result of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," right? Or is this because of something else? And I think my question is: you have City benefits for them — is that right? How are you going to relay that message? Because it seems to me that they got this discharge because of their gender identity, and now you want to go back and say, "Oh, we want you to come forward because of your identity, you are allowed these benefits." It seems to be a message that they do not even want to... well, they do not want to talk about it.

(00:56:20)

Yes. So in regards to transgender individuals who were discharged for that prior to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," that is something that we are seeing happen even more now with the trans ban. Currently, if you have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, you are unable to serve in the military and will be discharged. So for us, what we are trying to show is that there are certain City benefits available even if you may not be eligible for federal benefits. I will pass over to my colleague to speak a little bit more, but if you are here in New York City you are able to be eligible for the benefits for having served, and we can provide that documentation to...

(00:56:57)

...show that. Thank you for that. Yes, it is another layer that we have to deal with — to find those veterans. Like you said, now we have to go back and let them know that you are eligible for more benefits than you think. For the veteran community, it is tough just to find them and say, "Hey, you are eligible for just the most general benefits." But it is just a little step further and a little bit harder to find those who were discharged unnecessarily and say, "Please come back into the fold. We want to help you. We want to help you get your discharge changed or get eligible for benefits." So it goes back to that outreach component — just starting that conversation about benefits in general, and then from there we get to, ideally, those discharge...

(00:57:43)

...upgrade cases. I have a follow-up for you.

(00:57:47)

Yes, and for surviving spouses of LGBT+ veterans...

(00:57:52)

...are they eligible for benefits, and how are you reaching this particular population?

(00:58:00)

Sure. Thank you for that question. We do have claims benefits specialists that we are creating as subject matter experts in that realm, and the surviving spouse cases would fall into their purview. So it is a similar thing where we send them out into the communities with the nonprofit organizations that tend to have a higher population of potential surviving spouses. From the beginning of those conversations, it is very similar in that once we have that general benefit conversation, that will lead to more. That is the magic, and it speaks to the claims agents' ability to connect with those veterans or the surviving spouses to get into those conversations.

(00:58:37)

Are they eligible for the same benefits as other surviving spouses, or is it totally... yes, yes. But every...

(00:58:44)

...case is individualistic, depending on sometimes things like the age of the veteran or when they died, things like that. But typically, yes.

(00:58:53)

And if I could just jump in right now, our agency is currently not aware of any surviving spouses that were denied benefits.

(00:59:00)

Okay. All right, thank you. Do you need to provide proof of marriage or relationship to prove that you are a surviving spouse? Because a lot of these relationships may not even have paperwork to back this up.

(00:59:20)

That is correct, and that is what goes back into the factors on the individual case, because there are so many things that are involved, like the length of time they lived together, or the age — let us say if you are looking for benefits for the children. It is very case-specific.

(00:59:36)

Okay.

(00:59:41)

OK, thank you. Thank you, Joe. Thank you, Councilmember. I want to go back to data collection because I think it is clear based on what everybody said that the data collection gap is the biggest blind spot for how to best serve the LGBTQ+ veteran community.

(01:00:01)

How many veterans served by the agency identify as LGBTQ+?

(01:00:09)

So that is not something that we include in our intake for that self-identification question. That is what we are exploring updating. We currently do not collect that information.

(01:00:19)

Does the agency have a target for increasing engagement with LGBTQ+ veterans?

(01:00:26)

Absolutely. As Nicole mentioned, that is something that in the past has not been collected. What we want to create is an environment that ensures that veterans feel welcome and that they get the support that they need.

(01:00:46)

They come from different backgrounds and seek different types of services.

(01:00:48)

However, as the new Commissioner, I understand the importance of data and the importance of understanding the veteran holistically, rather than just putting the veteran in one box and thinking of them only as military. We understand that they come from different backgrounds. Even for example, we belong to different communities. I prefer getting my services as a Staten Islander. I am also a bit different than people that are in Brooklyn and Queens or the Bronx, right? It is just based on the location that you are in.

So what I do want to do with an intake process or intake documents is not only understand that they are veterans, but that we know, for example, what type of gender identity they have, and also their background. It is about learning about that veteran holistically. However, if we are going to do an intake and provide that question, I do want to ensure that it comes from advocates themselves and that we have them at the table and that they tell us how the question should be

(01:01:52)

included in the intake. I do want to ensure that we can have the veterans at the table so they could help us understand how the LGBTQ+ veteran community can better self-identify.

This might be self-evident based on what both of you just said, but what data does the agency wish that it had right now that it currently does not collect? Is it the self-identification question, or is it something else?

I think if we are speaking more generally, I think the demographic data would be super helpful because we know that there are so many services across the City that can be helpful that are not veteran-specific but can be used by a veteran. I think also just speaking more generally, something that has been a data point that would be super helpful — and this is totally separate — is the unemployment rate for veterans in New York City. That has been a data point that is impossible for anyone to find. It does not even hold the key for a lot of connection to these different services. I know that we are currently working with other agencies when it comes to Local Law 37 to ensure that the questionnaire about veterans is put into their application process, because then with that it will help us understand where veterans are going to get the services that they need, but also what types of services they are requesting the most.

(01:03:25)

And Nicole can elaborate on the efforts that we are having on ensuring that agencies can join us.

(01:03:36)

So specifically for Local Law 37, and thank you for collaborating with us on this, we have made some recommendations in terms of the language to better reflect what our report would need to capture. So we are just finalizing what our office will write to the hall and then we will be sending them over just for further conversations. As well, we are currently working with larger agencies to ensure that this is something that will be doable and making sure that they are able to provide this data in a timely manner. We are also working to execute those MOUs so that we are able to have a better way to ensure we are getting this data and that it is coming in a timely fashion.

(01:04:10)

One of the things I struggle with as a CM on this committee and as somebody that plays a leading role in some other entities within the City Council is wondering what the best way to reach people is and whether my outreach efforts are successful. Sometimes it is easy to see — if you see 9,000 people commenting on a social media post, it is reaching somebody — but there are all sorts of people that are not on social media. How does the agency know whether outreach efforts are succeeding, whatever those outreach efforts are, whether they are related to LGBTQ+ veterans or some other veteran cohort?

(01:04:55)

We are seeing, for example, from last year to this year, that there has been an increase in the sense of who we are outreaching and how we have referred individuals. However, what we are trying to do is upgrade our systems. For example, if we are referring individuals, we are upgrading that system to track what happens once that individual is referred. What was the outcome with that specific individual? In a sense, we also want to have a case management system in place to be able to support the veteran in the long term, not just a one-time interaction.

I will let Nicole elaborate further on that too. To your point, it is easy to see more in the numbers — if people are subscribing to the newsletter, we are getting views on social media. I think for us, what that has been translating to is more people being engaged with us. We are seeing more engagement directly from advocates in our meetings and we are seeing the highest number of participants we have ever seen. So I think for us, it is about leveraging and really working with social media and with our newsletter because that has been translating to more people showing up.

(01:06:17)

And also with the partnerships that we are doing. Again, they are very intentional partnerships. With the events that we are doing, for example, we need to understand why we are doing that event, how many people we have outreached at that event, how many people attended that event, and how many people did the intake process. For example, I am developing that intake form, but again I want to work with various other veteran groups so they could help us finalize that intake form. Also, once they are referred, we are making sure that there is a follow-through with that referral. What we are seeing is that a lot of the partnerships have already existed and we just needed to revamp those partnerships.

(01:07:09)

Speaking of partnerships, I know you alluded to a few of them, including the Veteran Advocacy Project and the Stonewall Veterans Association. Which partnerships generate the highest number of referrals?

(01:07:25)

In terms of LGBTQ+ veterans specifically, or partnerships in general? Both. Yeah, I will take both. I think for LGBTQ+ veterans in general, SAGE has been a primary referral source for us as they participate in our mental health roundtables and veteran mental health coalition meetings as well as different outreach events that we have in the community. So I would say SAGE is our primary. Then for partnerships in general, working very closely with our federal partners makes a lot of referrals over to us, as well as to our partners at different agencies, whether that be the Office to End Gender-Based Violence or the Department of Finance for anything taxation-related. So right now what we are working on is, as the Commissioner said, being more intentional about where we are sending people, more specifically locally, so targeting some of those smaller groups.

(01:08:17)

Obviously I know at least a few of us are from Staten Island. Are there boroughs where partnership networks are stronger than others? Obviously you alluded to the cultural differences of being a veteran and seeking assistance or seeking programs in a place like Staten Island versus Brooklyn or Queens.

(01:08:37)

Well, we do know Staten Island is a veteran-friendly borough and does provide a welcoming environment for many veterans. What we are seeing is that every borough is unique. The services are there. There are so many services available not only to veterans but also many nonprofits that perhaps feel that because they are not veteran-designated, they should not support veterans or do not have the cultural competency.

So again, every borough does provide that support and services. However, I do want to bring it back to the fact that we need to do a better job reaching out to those nonprofits that perhaps have never been involved with veterans but can be, and further highlight the services that are available to veterans in each borough. That is going to be an ongoing effort. When it comes to being a welcoming borough for veterans, I do know that Staten Island is one of them. We want to do better by providing better services to veterans by showing them what is available, whether they go to Brooklyn or Queens — what kind of services are available there. In general, every borough has something to offer.

(01:10:13)

Sure, I have a few questions. Do you want to add something? Yeah, I just want to

(01:10:17)

add to that. I think we have also been super intentional about our staff because we know that at the end of the day it is those who are in the boroughs and working there who are able to forge those relationships. When I started as an intern six years

(01:10:27)

ago, I was the only one in the office from Staten Island. So we are really excited to see that that has been growing, as well as we now have staff members representing every single borough. That is something that we have been really empowering our staff members to do — to be able to represent their borough and really have those connections locally. And we have taken that across the City. I am going to have Donny and Noah elaborate on what they are doing in each

(01:10:53)

borough and what their staff in each borough is doing.

(01:10:57)

Good morning, Chair. Donna Smaltz, Associate Commissioner for the Department of Veterans' Services. On the housing front, things are going well across all boroughs. Queens and the Bronx are very strong — both borough presidents are very strong on the veteran housing aspect and veteran benefits issues across the board. I wanted to point that out. A lot of my attention is getting into Manhattan and getting in there as far as the support that is needed. CM Yusef Salaam — I worked with him to help self-identified veterans in his district, which I live in, so I am in very close partnership with him and his staff to help identify veterans in my area as

(01:11:52)

well. Thank you for that. Hall of Fame status, please. Noah, what is that Hall of Fame status? Aspiring — gotcha.

(01:12:01)

I have to say the borough initiative has been great for us when you talk about referrals and partnerships in general because they are, as you know, everywhere in all the boroughs and all the nooks and crannies with us, so they have been a fantastic partner for us. Also the library community has been amazing and very open-arms with programs and things like that and partnership opportunities. But really you have the VFW and the American Legion — they have been amazing for us as far as that goes.

(01:12:34)

I have a couple of questions related to mental health and health care in general, including the Bill that we are hearing today that I introduced. Commissioner, your testimony referenced discrimination, social isolation, military sexual trauma and mental health challenges. Are there trauma treatment needs that are unique to LGBTQ+ veterans that are not being adequately addressed by existing programs?

(01:13:10)

Yes. So we believe that there are different challenges that are unique to this community that are not being addressed by the services available, especially given some of the policies that have come out. We were in close conversation specifically with the Staten Island Pride Center about the different therapies that are available that are non-traditional in the sense that they may not be something that the VA is actively promoting, but that veterans are able to leverage even though they are not veteran-specific. Those are conversations that we have started in regards to different treatments that may be available that the VA is not providing.

(01:13:45)

Have you encountered veterans who might benefit from additional evidence-based therapies such as reconsolidation of traumatic memories?

(01:13:56)

We believe that there are veterans that can benefit from this. However, in regards to this Bill, since we are not a health care provider, we believe that the pilot study would not be feasible for us as a City agency, but we are supportive of any benefits that can help our veteran community.

(01:14:12)

Is there an agency that might be better suited?

(01:14:15)

We believe that collaboration with Health and Hospitals could be the key for this, as we make referrals to them.

(01:14:27)

For veterans with PTSD, does the agency differentiate between PTSD treatment focused on combat-related trauma and trauma related to military training or anything else?

(01:14:43)

It really depends on the severity of the case because it depends on where someone is in that crisis. At the end of the day we want to just get them that support. But then when we are thinking about if someone needs sustained support or is looking for more long-term solutions, that is something where programs are evaluated based on what the eligibility criteria would be to make the best determination of what would be able to help the

(01:15:04)

veteran. I will pass over to Noah on that. So as it relates to claims, that would come out of the conversation depending on if they disclose a PTSD situation. The claims process goes a certain way, but it also opens up the conversation about which partner we would connect them to that specializes in whatever they went through, whether that is a VA or a vet center or just one of our mental health partners. So again, it is very individualistic, but the conversation from the claims agent helps connect them to that very specific mental health

(01:15:36)

partner. Since you alluded to Health and Hospitals a minute ago, does the agency coordinate with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or Health and Hospitals to connect LGBTQ+ veterans with health care services? And assuming the answer to that is yes, what does that collaboration actually look like?

(01:15:56)

Yeah, so we are working very closely with both Health and Hospitals and the Department of Health on this issue, as there are Pride Health Centers in each of the boroughs except Staten Island, where we are connecting our veteran community in a more local way. Are there particular health disparities among LGBTQ+ veterans that the agency believes require additional attention? In addition to what the data shows us about there being an increase in chronic illness faced by LGBTQ+ veterans, in our conversations with the Pride Center as well, we see that there is definitely a need for services to be readily accessible through some of the larger organizations. So we believe that programs that focus on this is something that we are working to build up more partnerships for so there is a direct connection.

(01:16:51)

Given the high rates of military sexual trauma that I alluded to earlier, what efforts has the agency undertaken to ensure survivors are connected to trauma-informed services?

(01:17:10)

Sure. That goes back again to just having those conversations, especially with our claims agents, making sure they get the training that they need to identify certain trigger words which would lead them down a different conversation. So depending on what they are speaking about and the rapport that they build, we have built a bench as an agency with a lot of different mental health partners and each one has a specialty that can deal with a certain incident in a different way. So through those conversations, it really allows us to connect that veteran to that very specific mental health

(01:17:52)

partner. I also do want to highlight that we work very closely with the VA coordinators, so there is a coordinator in each facility. We also work very closely with the Mayor's Office to End Gender-Based Violence and we just want to make clear that that is not a service that is just available to women veterans, but to all veterans.

(01:18:09)

I was a bit surprised in my preparation for this hearing when the committee pointed out to me that post-Don't Ask, Don't Tell, LGBTQ+ veterans are dealing with similarly high rates of PTSD, social isolation and that whole basket of maladies as their pre-Don't Ask, Don't Tell predecessors. As we dug deeper into this, apparently part of the reason is that there are some cultural issues that linger in the military and maybe even in the veteran community. What is the agency doing to reduce stigma about seeking care for survivors of military sexual trauma, including victims of military sexual trauma who are LGBTQ+ and victims who were men?

(01:19:02)

What we are doing differently is creating awareness of what veterans go through. Many have gone through many hardships. If you look at our social media, you are seeing us opening up conversations that normally would not be happening. When it comes to the LGBT+ community, what we want to do is create that awareness of the services that we provide, but also to let them know that the Department of Veterans' Services is a welcoming agency for them to be able to reach out. They know that they are going to be getting the support that they need. But most importantly, it is just humanizing the veteran. Oftentimes people feel that veterans do not need help because, as you know, in their mindset, they think that they are strong.

(01:20:03)

And veterans are strong. We are strong, but we are also human, right? So our goal is to really humanize veterans themselves and also to let you know too.

(01:20:15)

To again let them know that it is okay to seek help. It is okay to say that you are not okay. That is what we are doing — to create that awareness, but also to do it throughout various other agencies as well, to create that partnership. Because I think oftentimes other agencies feel that because they are not veteran-designated per se, they are not supporting veterans, when in reality, again, that is why we asked for that question to be added. Because they are also supporting veterans in their own way through various other services.

(01:20:52)

Also, in addition to that, and the Commissioner alluded to it as well, working with non-traditional partners in a way that is putting the services out there, letting them know that there is a space, but also not being overly prescriptive — like, this is something that you have to sign up for, this is something that you should be doing. I know my favorite groups at events are the vet dogs and the service animals, because I think that is a way where it brings everyone together. And I think if we can just make sure that they know that we are here, and it is not that they are reaching out for services right now, but the fact that they can down the line — that is what is important.

(01:21:24)

A couple of questions before we wrap up, related to your coordination with other agencies. Which City agencies does the Department of Veterans' Services most frequently coordinate with regarding services for LGBT+ veterans, and what form does that coordination generally take?

(01:21:43)

Yeah, I think that specifically for LGBT+ veterans, we definitely see more connection with the Mayor's Office to End Gender-Based Violence when we are thinking about those cases involving military sexual trauma, and that usually comes from a warm handoff from our staff members right over to that office. I think more in general, what we are seeing is that in addition to discharge upgrades and some benefits, they are still reaching out to access housing services or claims support or just other services that veterans are reaching out for. So that has increased coordination with the Department of Social Services, and I know that I could probably speak a little bit more.

(01:22:19)

Votes, referrals? Yes.

(01:22:23)

I work closely

(01:22:23)

with the Mayor's Office to End Gender-Based Violence. I have a direct line of communication. So many veterans come in and they express any type of assault, or once they share how they feel. I always tell my team to create a safe space and to listen for what the veteran is not saying, so that they can understand what they are really going through. And once they hear certain key words and the veteran expresses things that have happened, we kind of elaborate and let them know that we are also veterans. I am a veteran, and a lot of times my staff will come and get me if they have certain situations they want help with. And I just let them know, hey, I am a veteran as well. I have experienced different things in the military, just like you. I am no different. Being a veteran does not mean that I cannot understand what you are going through. So it is just about giving a person a safe space. Once they get that safe space, I let them know that I want to help as much as I can. I want to be able to get you to the help that you need. So I am able to call over to the Mayor's Office in those cases to get them the help and security that they need.

(01:23:52)

And to further elaborate on the partnerships and relationships that we have — there is an increasing aging population of veterans, and also when it comes to disabilities as well. So what we are doing is creating those strong partnerships with the Department of Aging and the disabilities agency. It just so happens that the Commissioner for Disability is also from Staten Island. So we are working very closely with both Commissioners to ensure that we can support veterans holistically.

(01:24:30)

Staten Island is taking over the City? Yes, that is it. We will soon have a flag if the hearing in the next room goes well. Are there any federal or state policy changes that could affect LGBT+ veterans? I guess with the exception of the certificate of eligibility, which we have already covered.

(01:24:52)

Yes, so the transgender ban remains something that we are continuing to monitor as different guidelines come out at different times — specifically around discharge qualifications and what allows someone to remain in service temporarily. So that is something that we are actively monitoring. We are also actively monitoring the abortion ban, so that is something else that we are tracking. And then more in general, less specific to LGBT+ issues, is the MISSION Act — the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. There is some proposed legislation that would cut certain benefits over a period of ten years. That is something that we are actively tracking as well, which would affect many veterans in the community.

(01:25:31)

I will end with this. Part of the reason that we chose this specific topic is because it is Pride Month, and I would love to come back a year from now to see how we have done. The committee, the Council members, the Council as a body, and you as an agency — of all the challenges that are facing LGBT+ veterans in New York City today, which one in your opinion is...

(01:26:00)

...the most urgent, and what specific action should the City Council take to address it? I think for us, discharge upgrades and access to those services are the most primary focus. I think also the providers that provide these services — there is definitely a question about funding and sustained funding. So that is something that we view as more urgent, as we understand that this issue can only primarily be dealt with by lawyers, and that is something that we are really tracking to ensure that if we do see that influx — which we hope for — of more people reaching out for their benefits, there is support that will meet them.

(01:26:38)

And what we hope to do is to again have better systems in place to ensure that veterans not only self-identify, but that LGBT+ veterans can self-identify. I really look forward to having further conversations with the Council. We came up with various ideas that we would also like to pursue — part of the ideas is to hold a forum for LGBT+ veterans so we can work together. If the census itself does not ask LGBT+ questions, then how can we do it collectively for LGBT+ veterans so that they can get the support that they need? So we are again exploring what data collection might look like for LGBT+ veterans, but in general for all veterans, to ensure that holistically they are fully supported. So I do hope as well that a year from now we have systems in place so that I can just come in here and say this is how many LGBT+ veterans we served.

(01:27:48)

There are so many veterans who are LGBT+ people. I do hope a year from now we are in a better place.

(01:27:56)

Council Member, I have just one final question. How often do you meet with the federal veteran services...

(01:28:03)

...officers? Since we are now at the federal level — I see them at almost every outreach event that we go to. Their outreach component is great. So I liaise with them on an almost daily basis, and I visit at least every two weeks to talk with my partners.

(01:28:25)

Thank you. Well, thank you. Thank you, all four of you, not only for your testimony today but for your energy and advocacy on behalf of New York's veterans. As someone who gets to work pretty closely with all of you and your agency, thank you for your partnership and for your innovative approach to helping New York City's veteran community. Appreciate it very...

(01:28:50)

...much. Thank you. Thank you, Councilmember.