Military History and the LGBTQ+ Community: Questions for Reflection

These questions, designed for flexible use across the many sources in the Military History and the LGBTQ+ Community collection, can provide the foundation for a deeper examination of the documents and themes featured here. The questions can be explored through verbal discussion or writing, or adapted to suit other classroom activities. Teachers can also revisit questions (and answers!) throughout the year to help students make connections across units.

• What was the context of this document? 
  • What historical events were happening when it was written? What do you already know about the subject or the time period?
• Who was the author of this document? 
  • What do you know about the life of the author?
  • How did their life and/or identity inform their point of view?
• What does this document reveal about the LGBTQ+ community in this period? 
  • What did the author of this document say about the LGBTQ+ community? 
  • What was the author’s attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community? Was it positive or negative? 
  • What can we infer about the LGBTQ+ community by examining this document? 
• What does this document reveal about gender roles in this period? 
  • What did the author of this document say about gender roles? 
  • What was the author’s attitude towards gender roles? 
  • What can we infer about gender roles by examining this document? 
• What does this document reveal about the US military and US military policy in this period? 
  • What did the author of this document say about the US military? About US military policy?
  • What can we infer about the US military by examining this document? About US military policy?
• What does this document reveal about the role of the US military in American life?
  • What was the author’s attitude towards the military? Towards US military policy?
  • How did the author’s life, identity, or point of view inform their attitude towards the military?
• Describe this image.
  • What do you notice about this image?
  • What inferences can you make about the subject by examining this image? About the time period?