I was introduced to the LGBTQ+ Navy community (actually just the L part, mostly) in 1985 while I was stationed in DC. Susan, the female ensign in my department had a breakup with her roommate/lover that was nasty, and I had to cover for her occasionally, even before she came out to me. (That became easier when I took over the department.) Through Susan I met other women in the "family," as the code word for Navy lesbians was then, including the woman who became my best friend and eventual wife (whole 'nother story). Life inside the Beltway involved always being wary, and NIS (now NCIS) was always on the prowl.

Parts of the Navy (mostly the Pacific Fleet [PACFLT] parts) had a DADT philosophy before the official one. I got out in 1990 before DADT became official, but from stories I've heard things got worse in the Navy, too. ☹️

OTOH, one of the first women to be stationed in subs (LT Andrea Howard) recently posted a photo of her and her bride in the Naval Academy Alumni magazine! And her LinkedIn account has a photo of her and her wife (in traditional wedding dresses) flanked by eight women in full dress whites who formed a sword arch for the wedding. https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C4E22AQGOXlTmN1rbng/feedshare-shrink_2048_1536/0/1657631390762?e=1677110400&v=beta&t=R5yqmfPYTdaO21phikHDRELViAUvE1BXQSyc8ZCyGiM

Severely cool! 💚