My name is Karina Piu (she/her), and I am the Senior Policy and Advocacy Analyst at The Center, and one of our co-liaisons for the Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor (VWoH) Advisory Committee. I am excited to share that, beginning May 1, we are accepting nominations for our 2026 LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor!
For 15 years, The Center has recognized the service of LGBTQ+ veterans through our LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor following the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), a discriminatory policy that prevented our LGBTQ+ service members from serving openly and authentically in the military. The implementation of this policy resulted in the separation of over 13,000 LGBTQ+ service members simply due to their identity. Many of those discharged received an “other than honorable” discharge from the military, rendering them ineligible for benefits like VA healthcare, GI bill funds for college tuition, and VA-backed home loans.
Today, many LGBTQ+ veterans continue to face barriers in accessing the benefits and support they have earned through their service. Trans and nonbinary service members are also currently experiencing widespread uncertainty, involuntary separation proceedings, and the reversal of policies allowing them to serve openly, under the federal administration’s anti-trans policies. A January 2025 executive order announced that a diagnosis of gender dysphoria would render one “medically unfit to serve.” Although this order was initially blocked by lower courts, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in May 2025 that the Department of Defense could continue the separation process for trans and nonbinary troops while the case against this order moves through the courts.
These developments underscore the importance of continuing to recognize and uplift LGBTQ+ service members. The Center will continue to advocate for the rights of trans and nonbinary community members who have served in the military.
This is why it’s so important to recognize LGBTQ+ veterans who are making a positive impact in our community by nominating them to be added to the LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor. At the annual LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor Induction Ceremony in November, inductees are celebrated and honored for their courageous service and ongoing commitment to the San Diego region’s LGBTQ+ community. It is an opportunity for LGBTQ+ veterans to step out of the silence and repression they were forced into and share their stories and experiences, inspiring future generations, and reminding us all that our community will not be erased. It is an incredibly unique experience, and we look forward to inducting this year’s honorees in November.
We invite you to nominate an LGBTQ+ veteran you know whose story deserves to be uplifted. Nominees are eligible regardless of rank earned, branch of service or component (Active, Reserve, or National Guard). Nominees may be living or deceased. Please find the list of criteria and application process on The Center’s LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor webpage. The deadline to submit nominations is 11:59PM on June 30, 2026.
We look forward to reading your submissions and recognizing our LGBTQ+ veterans for their service and commitment to our nation and our community!
In community,
Karina Piu (she/her)
Senior Policy and Advocacy Analyst