Marine Veteran Celebrates Pride in Service, Love, Life, and VA Health Care Support

Nine years later, he’s in remission and living proof that anything is possible with a positive attitude… and great health care through VA. Mapp was a guest during Bay Pines VA Healthcare System’s Pride Month observance, where he spoke about his experiences as a Veteran and as a patient with VA. Although Mapp admits his experiences are not everyone else’s he’s adamant that, “LGBTQ+ Veterans and their dependents are welcome and fully supported by the Bay Pines VA; and my husband and I are examples.” 

Mapp is a happily married, gay man who has an unbeatable passion for people and an affirmative response when he speaks of the people and support Bay Pines VA provides to Veterans and their loved ones.  

“My positivity is the result of a built-in resiliency that I gained through being raised in a very tough, nasty world; in a very nasty time,” said the former lance corporal. “As an African American, raised Roman Catholic, in a mixed-race family, in New York City, I dealt with a lot. I learned to be tough, but I also grew to be optimistic about life and its possibilities.”

Unlike his father, who served in the U.S. Army band while stationed in Europe, Mapp’s Marine Corps experience was spent stateside supporting the Corps as a 3043 – supply stock control supervisor and a 3051 – supply warehouse worker, for 2nd Assault Amphibian (AmTrac) Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N.C., from 1975 - 1977.

Although Mapp took pride in the work he was doing to support his fellow Marines, he was struggling personally.

“I came from a world where men who were romantically involved with men were of the lowest class. At the time, I was not happy dating women while living a double life of secretly dating men,” remembered Mapp. “My emotions led me to feelings of depression and lack of self-worth, in addition to worrying about what others would think of me, and what life had in store for me moving forward.”

Mapp admitted he struggled with the question, “Who am I, really?”

“While I don’t speak on behalf of all gay, black men, it is true my coming out experience as an African American was deeply challenging,” said Mapp. “Racial issues, family dynamics, social expectations, and the hatred and bias facing African Americans daily, all made my coming out experience more difficult, painful and deeply challenging to grow, liberate myself and find my freedom on my own terms.”

But, as he’d always done, Mapp turned to positivity.

He earned a Master of Arts in career development from John F. Kennedy University in California and later, another Master of Arts in psychology, with a focus on marriage and family therapy from Chapman University. His pursuit of education allowed Mapp to provide vocational rehabilitation counseling services and program management to Veterans, homeless people, immigrants, prisoners, women on welfare with dependent children, and other diverse populations.

“The most rewarding part of the work was witnessing any improvement in the quality of life for others, and in helping to save lives from threats of suicide and harm to others.”

In November of 2016, Mapp’s positivity sparked the start of his happiest moment…on a coffee date.

“Tony and I hit it off from the start, and 18 months later we got married,” said a beaming Mapp. “Tony is the love of my life. He makes me laugh, and he is my safe place to land.”

Mapp added that he often gets nervous when he goes back for his remission check-ups, but he’s able to walk hand-in-hand with Tony, who keeps him on track.

“I never had any expectation that gay marriage would be legal,” said Mapp. “The legalization of gay marriage has helped me to feel greater self-worth, pride, and elation that my relationship matters,” said Mapp. “While receiving care at Bay Pines VA, I have experienced the enormous benefits of dedicated staff and a loving husband who is allowed to be an active and legal part of my healthcare decisions.