Last month, June, was Pride Month. But here at Instant Teams, we’re committed to honoring and supporting all—all year long. In fact, we recently joined forces with the Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) as its first employer partner!
Want to know why? Simply put, when you combine the soaring unemployment rate for military spouses (especially in light of COVID-19) and the harsh reality of discrimination and biases that the LGBTQ community faces (specifically those who are part of the military world), there’s a deep recognition and demand that real change must happen.
And our partnership with MMAA is our step in that direction. Since 1993, the organization has been on the front lines fighting to advance fairness and equality for the LGBTQ military and veteran community. Not to mention, it’s the nation’s largest LGBTQ military and veteran nonprofit organization committed to making a real difference in the lives of LGBTQ service members, military spouses, veterans, and family members through education, advocacy, and support.
Ready to learn more? Here are 6 things you didn’t know about MMAA, but wish you did:
1. MMAA has built a robust network around the globe.
As one of the most essential parts of the organization’s mission, chapter networks (more than 80 right now) were designed to meet the needs of and provide camaraderie and mutual support to LGBTQ service members, veterans, and their families—wherever they’re stationed or living. Currently, MMAA has more than 85,000 members and supporters around the globe. (Talk about amazing!)
2. MMAA supports the LGBTQ military and veteran community with free & direct legal services.
Yes, that’s right – we said free. Why? Because the MMAA legal team is committed to restoring honor and dignity. And there’s no doubt they do just that as the team has helped more than 12,500 service members, veterans, and family members with discharge upgrades, legal name changes, and a range of other issues related to discrimination and harassment.
3. MMAA fights in court against discrimination.
From a lawsuit challenging the deeply discriminatory transgender military ban to outdated military policies on service members living with HIV, MMAA continues to fight back against discrimination. Right now, the organization has four high-profile lawsuits challenging specific policies impacting the LGBTQ military and veteran community!
4. MMAA advocates in the halls of Congress, the Pentagon, and the VA.
The organization’s on a mission to continuously educate members of Congress, Pentagon leaders, and VA officials while advocating for a fairer, more inclusive approach to meeting their community’s challenges. That’s something we can definitely get behind, don’t you agree?
5. MMAA trains military and veteran service providers.
Its landmark LGBTQ cultural competency online training program, Rainbow Shield, provides initial certification training and yearly continuing education trainings to military and veteran service providers and advocates. As a result, they become better equipped to support the community, with the goal to end negative experiences in service and advocacy settings based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and serostatus for service members, veterans, and their families.
6. MMAA amplifies the voices of the LGBTQ military and veteran community.
Through powerful tools like the Modern Military Magazine and the blog, MMAA makes sure the voices of the LGBTQ military and veteran families are front and center in the fight for equality. For that reason, we’re proud to stand arm in arm with the MMAA team, so together, we can continue to make a difference in our community.
Show your support for MMAA by following along at www.modernmilitary.org and on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter).
Want to take it to the next level? Fund MMAA’s fight for equality here: https://modernmilitary.org/donate/.
