Thank you very much for your kind comments. Certainly I know you've been on this journey for a long time in support of us.
Training is so vital. It's really essential to understand what basic human rights are around LGBTQ2+ equality, and to explain a bit of history to ensure that respect is conveyed whenever you're dealing with an LGBTQ2+ veteran.
The trauma runs so deep. People are already taking a great deal of courage to step in and ask for support and assistance. I've heard in a number of cases when that first initial phone call did not go well. There was doubt, or even mocking in a couple of cases. They never called Veterans Affairs again. They felt so humiliated and ashamed, and it was retraumatizing.
Our experience tells us that this is a particularly vulnerable group of folks who are looking for help. Many have experienced precarious home lives or are experiencing homelessness. There has to be a range of awareness training throughout the life of a caseworker so that there's currency in that training. I do know it's under way, and that's a good thing, but it's certainly not right across the department.