Abstract: Bullying and Hazing Among Active Duty LGBT and Non-LGBT Service Members (Society for Social Work and Research 23rd Annual Conference - Ending Gender Based, Family and Community Violence)

Schedule:

Friday, January 18, 2019: 5:00 PM

Golden Gate 5, Lobby Level (Hilton San Francisco)

* noted as presenting author

Carl Castro, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Jeremy Goldbach, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Ian W. Holloway, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Mary Rose Mamey, PhD, Sr. Biostatistician, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Background and Purpose: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people experience higher incidences of bullying compared to their cis-gender, heterosexual counterparts. While prohibited by policy and punishable under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), the incidence of hazing and bullying within the military among SGM people is unknown. During the military era of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), LGBT service members likely experienced disproportionate levels of bullying and hazing since reporting such aggression might lead to their sexual orientation or identity being revealed and subsequent discharge from the military. The repeal of DADT in 2013 only allowed for LGB service members to serve openly; recent policy recommendations may prohibit transgender service members from serving. Thus, it is not known how these policy changes might have impacted on hazing and bullying behaviors directed toward SGM people in the military. The purpose of this study was to determine if hazing and bullying behaviors directed at sexual minorities differ from those experienced by cisgender, heterosexual military personnel.

Methods: The participants in this study were active duty service members that participated in a larger study assessing the acceptance and integration of LGBT service members into the military. The service members represented all branches of the military, including the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy. Hazing was assessed using a

Results: Overall, hazing and bullying is experienced by all service members, with over a third of all participants reporting being hazed or bullied during their military service. For two of the five hazing behaviors: “Playing abusive tricks on you” and “Acting violating, or threatening violence, towards you,” transgender service members reported experiencing these behaviors at higher rates than did non-LGBT service members and LGB service members (p<0.05). However, for two of the other hazing items: ““Branding, tattooing, shaving, greasing, or pinning you” and “Forcing you to consume food, alcohol, drugs or another substance,” non-LGBT service members reporting experience these behaviors at higher rates than did LGB service members (p<0.05). For bullying, transgender service members experienced higher rates of bullying compared to non-LGBT and LGB service members, which didn’t differ from one another, with the average bullying score being 29.8 for non-LGBT, 31.2 for LGB and 41.2 for transgender service members (p<0.05).

Conclusions and Implications: While hazing and bullying behaviors are prevalent within the military, transgender service members are more likely to experience bullying behaviors than are non-LGBT and LGB service members, with both non-LGBT and transgender service members experiencing increased hazing experiences, although in different forms. Surprisingly, the hazing and bullying experiences of LGB service members did not differ between those of non-LGBT service members. Collectively, these findings indicate that hazing and bullying is a DoD-wide issue that needs immediate attention, with special attention being paid to protecting the safety of transgender service members.