Our Mission
American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is a non-profit, non-partisan, chapter-based Veterans Service Organization of active, reserve, and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, especially the LGBTQ current and prior military personnel who have been historically disenfranchised by armed forces policy and discriminatory laws governing military service and benefits.
American Veterans for Equal Rights is the oldest and largest chapter-based, all-volunteer national LGBTQ Veterans Service Organization in the United States, and the nation’s only LGBTQ VSO recognized by the Veterans Administration. Members of AVER are not lobbyists, staffers, interns, or politicians. We are veterans of the US military who are proud of our service and dedicated to the success of the armed forces and the equal treatment of all the patriotic men and women who answer the call to defend our nation’s freedom. With chapters across America, AVER provides a unique and safe space where LGBTQ veterans can honor pride both in our service and our identity as LGBTQ people. AVER is dedicated to equality for LGBTQ service members and veterans in all aspects of our armed forces, including recruitment, training, promotions, honors, and benefits. We support our military’s stated commitment to diversity, and we are dedicated to ensuring that the military honors that commitment fully.