About Bill Kibler
Marine • Pioneer • Advocate • Nashville, TN
Bill Kibler is an American United States Marine Corps veteran, early web pioneer, and LGBTQ+ veterans advocate based in Nashville, Tennessee. A Beirut-era Marine, he is the founder of GayVeterans.us and a long-time builder of online communities for veterans and the LGBTQ+ community.
Personal Info
- Born July 9, 1963
- From Arlington, VA
- Lives in Nashville, TN
- Also lived in Camp LeJeune, NC • Beirut, Lebanon • Kaneohe Bay, HI • Jersey City, NJ
Memberships
- Life Member Disabled American Veterans
- Member AARP
- Life Member Veterans of Foreign Wars
Online Projects
Worked at the Nashville VA hospital in housekeeping for 11.5 years and was approved with a 100% disability rating for hearing impairment in August 2022. Now living a comfortable retirement life.
“It’s better to grow old with a sense of humor, than to grow old with no sense at all.”
Beirut
As a young lance corporal with MSSG-24, he served with the multinational peacekeeping force in Beirut, Lebanon, from 1982 to 1983 — an experience that shaped a lifetime of service. He went on to lead Beirut commemoration efforts, including a campaign for a national Peacekeepers Stamp.
Hawaii
Bill was stationed at Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Air Station in Hawaii from 1983 to 1985, serving with Marine Air Control Squadron 2. It was there he unexpectedly crossed paths with his old Parris Island drill instructor, SSgt Morrison — proof that in the Corps, you never really forget "that voice."
Voice of the LGBTQ+ Vets
Bill has spent years building places where LGBTQ+ veterans and their communities can be seen and supported. In 2024 he founded GayVeterans.us, an online home for LGBTQ veterans, and he continues to develop community platforms — connecting people who've too often had to find each other on their own.
Around Nashville
Nash & Ralphie
Can’t get away without featuring my buddy Nash! Recently he’s been initiating “Hey!” — comes into the bathroom, says hey, and now sits at his food dish with a loud HEY! Guess he’s hungry. Ralphie joined in January 2024. It took a few weeks but him and Nash are now best pals — chasing each other around when the zoomies hit.
Ralphie is the new addition, adopted mid-January 2024. Him and Nash are getting along well (took a few weeks), chasing each other around the apartment when the zoomies hit. When he’s not sleeping or playing with Nash, you can find him napping at my feet.
Nash
The OG. Expert at saying “Hey!” at maximum volume.
Ralphie
Adopted Jan 2024. When not chasing Nash, found napping at Bill’s feet.