Each June, Pride Month serves as a time to celebrate the history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. For generations, LGBTQIA+ Americans answered the call to serve, often doing so in silence during periods when military policies like “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” forced many Service Members to hide an important part of who they were. Despite these challenges, countless individuals served honorably, helping pave the way for greater representation within the military community today.

Cal joined our organization through the DoW Skillbridge Program, an opportunity for Service Members to gain work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. She arrived at our office in January of this year and worked in the Marketing and Communications department. During her time here, Cal’s friendly demeanor and creativity contributed greatly to our Social Media reach and communication strategy. She even DJ’d at our Open House party when we relocated to our new HQ in April. Click Here if you want to see the photos of that event.

As an openly gay woman, she carried her authenticity through every chapter of her military service and beyond. In this blog, we interviewed her to learn about her experiences serving openly in the military and her perspective on identity, service, and community.

Eight Years of Service, A Lifetime of Lessons

For Cal, service has always been deeply connected to both family legacy and personal determination. She built an impressive military career, serving first as a medic and then finishing her time as a Drill Sergeant at Fort Sam Houston. Today, she continues working on her career in Marketing while also pursuing her passion as a professional DJ. Follow annalxg on her socials to book her for an event or to see her perform if you’re in the San Antonio area.

“I’m from a big military family. My uncle retired as a Command Sergeant Major in 2018 and I admired the stability of his life. I was working full time as a DJ back then so I didn’t really have any plan B if something fell through. Not a lot of people believed I could do it, so it kind of fueled the desire to prove them wrong.”  

Part of her inspiration to enlist came from the stability and success of relatives who served before her, particularly an uncle who retired as a Command Sergeant Major. At the time, she had been working full-time as a DJ but recognized the importance of creating multiple career paths. But the decision ultimately became more than stability, it became about proving to herself, and to those who doubted her, exactly what she was capable of achieving.

When asked what lessons she learned during her time in the military, Cal’s response reflected the exact thing she wanted to prove: that people are capable of far more than they often believe. The experience strengthened both her mental and physical resilience, while shaping the confidence and relentless work ethic she carries today. Whether in her career or personal life, Cal credits her military service for instilling the mindset that success comes from staying disciplined and giving nothing less than 110%.

“The most valuable lesson the Army taught me was that I can always push a little harder and hang on a little longer. I think civilian life is so focused on being comfortable that we forget what we are capable of. I gained a lot of faith in my own strength, both mentally and physically.”

Why Representation Matters

When asked about PRIDE month and what it means to her, Cal stated it is both a celebration and a reflection on the journey of a community that has fought for the ability to live openly. It’s an opportunity to recognize just how far the community has come in a relatively short period of history. Reflecting on the origins of Pride, Cal points to the events at the historic Stonewall Inn in 1969, reminding us that Pride began as resistance long before it became the celebration many know today. That history matters because it represents the generations of LGBTQIA+ individuals who fought for their freedoms.

“To me, Pride Month is a time to celebrate the unique community that we have. It’s a time to reflect on how far we have come in such a short amount of time. Pride Month started as a riot back at the Stonewall Inn and I think that’s an important reminder that the LGBTQIA+ folks that came before us had to fight for the way we get to celebrate now in 2026.”

Cal says her time in and out of uniform taught her lessons about acceptance, representation, and challenging misconceptions. As part of a small LGBTQ+ community in the military, she often had to navigate spaces that weren’t always welcoming, but those experiences reinforced the importance of kindness and living authentically. She also emphasized why representation matters, noting that even in her final year of service, she witnessed discrimination. While many LGBTQIA+ contributions throughout military history have been overlooked or erased, for Cal, visibility ensures those Service Members are recognized, and she hopes to challenge the misconception that identity defines strength. In her view, LGBTQ+ Service Members, like all others, chose to serve and sacrifice for something greater than themselves.

Finding Strength Through Community and Staying Resilient

When reflecting on her experience as an LGBTQ+ woman serving in the military, Cal says many of the challenges she faced were not necessarily tied to the demands of service itself, but rather to navigating the social dynamics that often come with military life. Building friendships and finding a sense of belonging was sometimes more complicated than expected. She recalls moments where military spouses felt uncomfortable with her forming friendships with their husbands, while at the same time feeling as though she did not always naturally fit into certain social circles among other women around her. Rather than allowing those experiences to isolate her, Cal focused on building a smaller circle of trusted friendships. For her, those connections became an important reminder that finding community does not always mean fitting into every space, but instead finding the people who genuinely value you for who you are.

Many Service Members face difficult challenges during their time in the service, and resiliency is needed to persevere. For Cal, that meant maintaining connections outside of the military and intentionally engaging in communities that reflected the different parts of her identity and interests beyond the uniform, such as music, motorcycles, and more. She believes those outside connections were essential. Military life can become incredibly consuming, often making difficult moments feel overwhelming when service becomes your entire world. By maintaining outlets that reminded her of who she was beyond her role in the Army, Cal found balance, perspective, and the ability to push forward through the inevitable challenges that come with military service. This is fantastic advice for anyone considering joining the military or currently serving. Remembering that you are still an individual beyond your uniform is essential for your mental health.

“Staying connected to the world outside the military was lifesaving. Every time I changed duty stations, I found friend groups related to other sides of my personality. I found LGBTQIA+ friends, motorcycle friends, music friends, etc. It’s so important to have those outlets because the military can be extremely consuming and when something goes wrong, it can feel like your whole world is falling apart.”

A Legacy of Service, Representation, and Pride

Cal stated she is proud of the life she has built during and after her time in the Army. Today, she is focused on finishing her Degree in Marketing while building a thriving LGBTQIA+ community in San Antonio that brings people together. Becoming a part of the very thing she needed during her time in the service.

When asked about her time at Soldiers’ Angels, she shared that transitioning out of the military can often leave Veterans feeling forgotten. To her, Soldiers’ Angels represents something invaluable: ensuring Service Members and Veterans feel appreciated, supported, and reminded that even after service ends, they are never alone.

“One thing you hear a lot as you are transitioning out of the military is that as soon as you are out, they will replace you and you are useless to them. It can feel true until you find organizations like Soldiers’ Angels. The work that they do for the military and veteran community is so needed. They make some of the most vulnerable people feel appreciated and loved. To me, that’s irreplaceable.”

Cal was an amazing intern to work with and brought a tremendous amount of energy to the office. As much as we were sad to see her go, we were happy to see her find a great job after her time with us. Cal still stays in touch regularly and is always welcomed when she visits the office. Here is some of Cal’s work that she did while interning with us at Soldiers’ Angels.

Food Distribution Short
Marketing Idea Short
Sock Collection Short

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