Suicide is a serious public health crisis, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are at particularly high risk. The present study examined risk factors for mortality by suicide and other causes in LGBT versus non-LGBT middle-aged and older adult veterans who used Veterans Affairs health care services between 2009 and 2019 (n = 834,774). We hypothesized that LGBT veterans (n = 167,676) would be at increased risk of premature mortality from suicide, overdose, and other causes of death compared with non-LGBT veterans (n = 667,774), due to minority stress as measured by proxy risk factors of health and social determinants of health. In bivariate models, LGBT veterans had significantly higher rates of death by suicide and overdose compared with non-LGBT veterans. After controlling for proxy risk factors of minority stress in multivariate analyses, the risk associated with LGBT status was nonsignificant. Sociodemographic variables (e.g., race/ethnicity, age), mental health diagnoses, substance use, and other risk factors contributed significantly to differences in risk. Findings highlight the critical importance of interventions (e.g., U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Whole Health) for LGBT veterans to manage multiple health risk factors that contribute to mortality risk. Suicide prevention is crucial, especially for middle-aged, older adult, and LGBT veterans. Initiating targeted suicide prevention earlier in life may prevent suicide deaths. Findings also implicate subgroups of veterans who may particularly benefit from systematic improvements to health care delivery. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)

The increasing visibility of sexualities beyond heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and bisexual is often associated with progressive politics and the questioning of heteronormativity. Yet non-majoritarian sexualities can also include self-identifications premised upon an opposition to LGBTQ+ equality and inclusion, including those who identify as “ex-gay.” Drawing on fieldwork with evangelical Christian activists in London, UK, this paper uses a court case in which the “legality” of ex-gay sexuality was contested to discuss the law's simultaneous desire and inability to render contested identities legally legible. In seeking recognition as a sexual minority, self-described ex-gay evangelicals reveal the inadequacy of modern law's efforts to regulate difference as either “innate” or “chosen,” thus upsetting the terms of the hetero-secular legal gaze even as they embrace heterosexual supremacy. As such, this activism, which is typically analyzed in terms of evangelicalism's commitment to heteronormativity, works to denaturalize the concept of sexual orientation(s)—including, I argue, the heterosexuality ex-gay Christians pursue.