GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- June is federally recognized as Pride Month. The 17th Training Wing recognizes and celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, its diversity, and how our members make the force stronger. Each week in June, the 17th TRW highlights service members of different backgrounds and experiences. This week we highlight Master Sgt. Stephanie Bogdanovic, 17th TRW Legal Office superintendent.
1. What is your job?
I am an individual mobilization augmentee reservist from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. I am currently back-filling as the legal office superintendent for Goodfellow.
2. Tell us about your affiliation with the LGBTQ+ community?
I am a bisexual woman. I have a wonderful group of friends, family, and coworkers who have overlapped as both service members and as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
3. What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is a way to show inclusion and acceptance to our community. It's a way to provide information and knowledge to everyone about the LGBTQ+ community and shows others we have more in common than others might believe.
4. What is an aspect of Pride Month you feel strongly about?
We can be many things and contribute in so many ways, just like anyone else while also being who we truly are. Having conversations with people from different walks of life in an honest, open, and caring environment means the most to me.
5. What LGBTQ+ public or historic figure, past or present, inspires you and why?
Alan Turing is an inspiration to me. He was a mathematician who played a major role in World War II, breaking several German codes. Turing is often credited with creating the foundation for artificial intelligence and computer science. Even though he did so much for his country through his contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math, he was still ostracized and punished for who he loved and how he lived. I think he would be proud of how far we have come, but he serves as a reminder to me that we still have so much progress to be made - to be seen as whole members of society, even when we have so much to give others and our nation.