World War II (1939–1945) was a global conflict that reshaped nations and ideologies. It also marked a transformative period for millions of individuals—including LGBTQ people—who contributed to the war effort while living under legal, social, and military systems that criminalized or marginalized their identities. While their stories were largely hidden for decades, recent historical research has shed light on the critical roles LGBTQ individuals played and the complex realities they faced during the war.

The Social and Legal Climate Before the War

Before and during World War II, most countries involved in the conflict—particularly the Allied powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia—maintained laws and social norms that criminalized or pathologized homosexuality. In the U.S., military regulations such as Army Regulation 615-360 categorized homosexuals as mentally unfit for service. Britain’s Buggery Act and related legislation also harshly punished same-sex acts.

Despite these restrictions, many LGBTQ people served—either by concealing their identities or by slipping through the cracks of military screening systems. Their motivations mirrored those of many others: patriotism, a desire to escape small-town prejudice, adventure, economic opportunity, or a personal sense of duty.

LGBTQ People in Uniform: Service Across the Fronts

United States

Estimates suggest tens of thousands of LGBTQ Americans served in the military during WWII. Some were discharged when discovered, but many managed to serve honorably. A few examples:

• Allan Bérubé, a historian and author of Coming Out Under Fire, documented how many gay men and lesbians found unexpected community and even romance while in the military.
• Margarethe “Grethe” Cammermeyer, though she served later in Vietnam, has discussed how many lesbians found relative freedom in the military during WWII compared to civilian life.
• Joseph Steffan, a later Naval Academy midshipman, studied how policies rooted in WWII-era codes persisted for decades.

United Kingdom

Homosexuality remained illegal in the UK until 1967, yet many gay men and lesbians served during WWII. Notable figures include:

• Alan Turing, the brilliant mathematician and codebreaker, was instrumental in deciphering the German Enigma code. Turing’s contributions are credited with shortening the war by as much as two years.
• Roberta Cowell, a trans woman and former WWII fighter pilot, served in the Royal Air Force and was later one of the first known British people to undergo gender confirmation surgery.

Germany and the Axis Powers

The situation for LGBTQ individuals under the Axis powers was drastically different. In Nazi Germany, Paragraph 175 of the German Criminal Code was used to arrest and imprison thousands of gay men. Between 1933 and 1945, an estimated 100,000 men were arrested; around 15,000 were sent to concentration camps, where many perished.

Lesbians were less targeted, but many were still persecuted, particularly if they were also Jewish, Roma, or politically active.

Women, LGBTQ Identity, and the War Effort

Women found new opportunities during WWII, with many serving in auxiliary corps like the U.S. Women’s Army Corps (WAC), British Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), and similar units.

For lesbian and bisexual women, these spaces offered rare freedom and independence. Women lived in close quarters, held positions of authority, and were sometimes less scrutinized than men. Anecdotal and historical evidence suggests many women formed same-sex romantic relationships during the war years.

Historian Leisa D. Meyer’s book Creating G.I. Jane explores how the military alternated between tolerance and moral panic over lesbianism in the Women’s Army Corps. Still, many women managed to form deep, supportive relationships that lasted postwar.

The Double Lives of LGBTQ Servicemembers

The necessity of secrecy forced many LGBTQ servicemembers to lead double lives. The threat of court-martial, dishonorable discharge, or public scandal loomed constantly. However, within this oppressive atmosphere, LGBTQ communities emerged.

In cities like San Francisco, New York, and London, gay bars and informal networks flourished. These environments became crucial spaces of solidarity and identity that influenced the postwar LGBTQ rights movement.

Postwar Lives and the Roots of Activism

The end of the war saw many LGBTQ veterans return to a society that still rejected them. Some were discharged with “blue discharges,” which barred them from receiving G.I. Bill benefits and other honors.

Nonetheless, wartime connections inspired LGBTQ veterans to organize. They played key roles in founding early gay rights organizations such as:

• The Mattachine Society (1950)
• The Daughters of Bilitis (1955)

These groups advocated for dignity, visibility, and reform in the face of discrimination and legal persecution.

Recognition and Legacy

For decades, the stories of LGBTQ WWII veterans were largely forgotten or erased. That began to change in the late 20th century, thanks to researchers, veterans, and advocates.

Significant milestones include:

• The 1990 publication of Coming Out Under Fire and its subsequent documentary
• The UK’s posthumous 2013 pardon of Alan Turing and the broader 2017 “Turing Law”
• The inclusion of LGBTQ veterans in military memorials and Pride events
• The 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the U.S.

LGBTQ individuals have always been part of military history—even when they were invisible to the public eye. During World War II, they fought, coded, healed, and strategized alongside their straight peers, all while hiding parts of themselves to survive.

Today, their stories offer a more complete and honest portrayal of both the war and the early struggle for LGBTQ rights. These hidden heroes remind us that bravery is not only found in battle, but also in living truthfully in a world that demanded silence.

Sources:

• Bérubé, Allan. Coming Out Under Fire. Free Press, 1990.
• Meyer, Leisa D. Creating G.I. Jane. Columbia University Press, 1996.
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Imperial War Museums
• US National Archives