In honor of Pride Month, today’s episode chats with Ashley and Julie Harper. Julie and Ashley are a same-sex couple married for 6 years, both from Jacksonville, FL. Julie serves on Active Duty in the Navy and Ashley works full time at the Naval Academy. They welcomed their first child, Avery, in April this year. Ashley and Julie’s journey as a gay Navy family is not unlike that of other Navy families. In this interview, we talk about how to be more inclusive of our LGBTQ+ Navy families, demonstrate allyship, and how we can encourage others to live their Navy life authentically.
Show Links:
Show Takeaways:
- The Navy spouse community is rich with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and likes/dislikes.
- We can all work to uplift, encourage, and highlight that diversity.
- Navy spouses can be their authentic selves while also supporting the Navy family community.
- The use of language, such as “spouse” instead of “wife or husband,” demonstrates inclusivity of all Navy families.
- Save judgment and assumptions until you can get to know someone beyond an initial introduction.
