The Elizabeth Dole Foundation announced the 2022 fellows cohort. The cohort included 11 incredible caregivers from around the country who all have incredible stories caring for a military veteran they care about.

Being a caregiver, I have learned to advocate for my family. I have also learned to have compassion for people. Being a caregiver, I have learned to fight. So I was built for this.

Becoming a fellow

In May 2022, I was named as an Elizabeth Dole Foundation Caregiver Fellow representing the state of Alabama. I am excited to be a part of the foundation, especially because I am one of the first openly LGBT fellows. I am the proud bisexual partner of a transgender individual (MTF). We are in the beginning stages of my spouse’s gender transition, and I am supporting as much as I can.

Being a fellow means working on state and national policies that support military veterans and their families. These include efforts such as the Elizabeth Dole Care Act, the Serving our LGBTQ Veterans Act, and the VETS Safe Travel Act. Being a fellow also means supporting my local community. I plan on doing that through my research and by engaging with other supportive organizations throughout the Alabama and southern region.

I recently spent time in Washington D.C. with other fellows and alumni from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation. We spent a day on the hill advocating for caregivers, veterans, and their families with our state legislators. We also spent a day with key members of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other organizations that play a role in care for veterans.

Check out more about the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and the fellows by reading our stories here!