Veterans in their own words.

The Long Determination is a powerful documentary that traces the history of LGBTQ+ service members in the U.S. military, highlighting the recurring struggles and hard-won successes they faced in their fight to serve openly and with dignity.

The story begins with Major General Baron Friedrich von Steuben, George Washington’s Inspector General and a key commander in the battles of Monmouth and Yorktown—an openly gay man whose contributions during the Revolutionary War underscore that LGBTQ+ Americans have served since the nation’s founding.

“This story comes down to recording the truth of LGBT service, told in detail and with respect,” says producer Steve Loomis.

From the civil rights struggles beginning in World War II to today’s battles to protect transgender service members and others still fighting for acceptance, the documentary sheds light on the quiet heroism of those who served while hiding their identities. Veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan share powerful, firsthand accounts of service under the weight of secrecy, yet with unmatched courage and professionalism.

The Long Determination also reflects on the lives and careers lost during the years leading up to the 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The film concludes with a poignant message from Major General Patricia Rose, the highest-ranking openly LGBTQ+ airman in U.S. history:

“I don't want us to take our eye off the ball of what we've achieved thus far, because with so many factions in our nation right now—certain states trying to roll back the clock on our hard-fought gains—we have to remain vigilant.”