Sergeant Steven Zeiger at Scott Air Force Base

Veteran and activist Steven Zeiger served in the US Air Force for more than 20 years but was forced to conceal his sexual orientation as a gay man. After his retirement and the repeal of the military’s ban on open service in 2011, Zeiger became a prominent local advocate for LGBTQIA+ service members and veterans. He organized the military presence at PrideFest in downtown St. Louis, which included a wreath-laying ceremony at Soldiers Memorial Military Museum, and led an LGBTQIA+ contingent in the city’s annual Veterans Day Parade.

Object Title and Accession Number

Sergeant Steven Zeiger at work in an office at Scott Air Force Base. Unknown photographer, ca. 1987. P1130-00002.

Color photograph of a man sitting at a desk.

A man in a military uniform sits at a desk, writing in a notepad. He has short dark hair and is looking at the camera. The desk also has a book, a vintage phone, and office supplies. A framed illustration of an owl hangs on the wall behind him.