LGBT POV

Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach talks about the stress of being in “limbo” over the 10-month review of his Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell case – he’s facing discharge one year short of serving 20 years. “My case should be the poster case for the new enforcement standards,” he says, since he was maliciously outed. He also talks about the Pentagon’s new survey questions: it’s unnecessary and insulting.

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Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” was launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). With the House and Senate votes, we’re bringing the series to a close – for now. Even with the recent votes, it is important for all gay and lesbian, active-duty service members, including the reserves and the national guard, to know they’re at risk. They must continue to serve in silence under the ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that remains on the books. Congress and the Pentagon need to stay on track to get repeal finalized, hopefully no later than first quarter 2011.

The final letter in this series was written by a World War II soldier to another on the occasion of their anniversary. It is a love letter. It was published in September 1961 by ONE Magazine – an early gay magazine based out of Los Angeles. In 2000, Bob Connelly — an adjunct professor of LGBT studies at American University –- found a copy of the letter in the Library of Congress. He brought the letter to the attention of SLDN last month. We sincerely thank Mr. Connelly for his research and the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives for granting permission for the letter to be republished in this series.”

Please click inside to read this final moving letter, which starts: “This is in memory of an anniversary – the anniversary of October 27th, 1943, when I first heard you singing in North Africa. That song brings memories of the happiest times I’ve ever known.”

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read this letter from an anonymous Marine who writes: “When I returned from Iraq, I had trouble adjusting to being home.”

AmericaBlog’s Joe Sudbay provides an excellent summary of a conference call with Servicemember Legal Defense Network Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis, which I encourage you to read in full. Sarvis talked about the logistics of the movement to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t’ Tell. The discussion focused on the effects of the letter Defense Sec. Robert Gates sent to the House Armed Services Committee on April 30 saying he does not favor a legislative repeal until after the Pentagon has completed its report on repeal implementation, expected on Dec. 1. The committee marks up H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2011, Wednesday but no movement on DADT-repeal action is expected, though Sarvis said there is a possibility that Republicans might offer a hostile amendment.

Levin “is beginning to feel more confident but we’re still not there,” Sudbay reported. Sarvis said “we’ve got to keep pushing…..we’re still not there yet.” The Congressional switchboard is 202-224-3121; tell them where you live and ask to speak first with your representative and then your senator. On their site, SLDN provides a script, if you don’t know what to say.

I joined the conference call late but heard Sarvis talk about needing President Obama to step up are urge Senators to repeal DADT. Sarvis said: “That’s not happening and the question is why?”

Please click inside for more – but here’s a sound bite from Sen. Carl Levin at a March 3 news conference where Levin said he doesn’t find the arguments used to justify DADT convincing:

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read of a serving military man on his way back to Iraq.

The California Assembly officially endorsed a resolution calling for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (SJR-9) in a 51-17 vote that included bipartisan support. The Equality California-sponsored resolution (SJR-9) was introduced into the State Senate last year by openly gay San Diego Sen. Christine Kehoe (pictured here with “Milk” producer Bruce Cohen and the late Harvey Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk at a “Harvey Milk Day” kick-off event Wednesday night. Photo by Matt Smith). The resolution calls on Congress to pass and President Barack Obama to immediately sign the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2009, which would repeal DADT to allow gays to serve openly in the armed forces and mandate non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In a statement delivered on the Assembly floor, Assemblymember Nathan Fletcher (R-San Diego) said:

“I believe that any American who has these core values – honor, courage, and commitment, and who is willing to give their life for their country should be allowed to serve openly and honorably.”

Sen. Kehoe said in an EQCA press release:

“A soldier must display courage, patriotism, commitment and ability — none of which have anything to do with sexual orientation. Overturning this shameful policy will help ensure that gay and lesbian Americans will be afforded the same opportunities as any other American who wants to serve our country.”

However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi told the Washington Blade Thursday that the path to repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is “uncertain.” Here’s an excerpt:

“As you probably are well aware, I have never supported ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ and look forward to a time soon when it will no longer be the policy,” she said in response to a Blade inquiry. ”How we get from here to there –we’ll make those determinations as we go forward.”

Please click inside for more.

The resolution now heads to the Senate for a concurrence vote, probably on Monday. After that, the State of California will officially be on the record endorsing the repeal of DADT.

Here is former Marine Nathan Fletcher, who represents the 75th Assembly District in San Diego County:

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read Brian Humbles’ letter in which he writes: “I wanted to serve my country. Now, I was fighting to not be humiliated by it.”

Today – until 5 p.m. Eastern, 2 p.m Pacific – about 300 gay and straight veterans are in Washingon DC participating in Veterans Lobby Day to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and to repeal the discriminatory law this year. Chris Geidner 
has a good piece on a meeting between gay and lesbian veterans and members of the Pentagon Working Group on Monday.

The vets need your help and ask you to “light up the Congressional switchboard in a virtual lobby day” to support the vets who are meeting with lawmakers. The Human Rights Campaign, which organized Veterans Lobby Day with Servicemembers United, gives these instructions – PLEASE CLICK INSIDE – on HOW to lobby from where you are.

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read former Sgt. Tracey L. Cooper-Harris who says she was ashamed of what she had to do to stay in the Army.

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read the letter from this bisexual veteran.

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Please click inside to read First Lt. Laura Slattery’s story about the confusion of love.

A demonstration at the White House had been planned by GetEQUAL for May 2 before Friday’s White House-backed letter from Defense Sec. Robert Gates to the House Armed Services Committee saying he is “strongly opposed” to any changes to the “don’t ask, don’t tell” legislation before the military review is completed in December.

The protesters, however, feel an urgency to repeal DADT before the November elections when Democrats are expected to lose congressional seats, thereby closing the current “window of opportunity” afforded by a Democratic President and Congress.

Former Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean surprised the crowd, joining speakers who include Lt. Dan Choi, Capt. Tanya Domi, and Aubrey Sarvis, Vietnam veteran and executive director of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN). (Video and photos of Dean with Sarvis thanks to John Aravois at AmericaBlogGay.)

“This is about the kind of country we are and whether we’ll stand up for those who stand up for us,” said Dean. “This is a community that’s demonstrated their courage. They’ve given their lives and now it’s time to allow them to say who they are.”

Please click inside for more on Sunday’s protest, more about the Gates letter, and read a compellation of quotes and a timeline from SLDN about the effort to repeal DADT. UPDATED WITH MORE INFO AND PHOTOS.

“Stories from the Frontlines: Letters to President Barack Obama” is a new media campaign launched to underscore the urgent need for congressional action and presidential leadership at this critical point in the fight to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). Every weekday morning as we approach the markup of the Defense Authorization bill in the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, SLDN and a coalition of voices supporting repeal, will share an open letter to the President from a person impacted by this discriminatory law. We are urging the President to include repeal in the Administration’s defense budget recommendations, but also to voice his support as we work to muster the 15 critical votes needed on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include repeal. The Defense Authorization bill represents the best legislative vehicle to bring repeal to the president’s desk. It also was the same vehicle used to pass DADT in 1993. By working together, we can help build momentum to get the votes! We ask that you forward and post these personal stories.

Today’s story is from a military chaplain still on duty. Please click inside to read his story. Here is an excerpt: “When the final cross has been placed in the last cemetery, will it only be then that we as a nation acknowledge our gay brothers and sisters who took the risks of life and truth to answer their nation’s highest calling? How many of these brave men and women lie in military graves and still hide in death? They are among the unknown soldiers.”

San Diego-based Autumn Sandeen, who expertly and passionately covers transgender issues for the very important blog Pam’s House Blend, issued an open letter today to President Obama to complain about her treatment after she was arrested during a protest of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

I encourage you to read the whole letter – but here is an excerpt:

My name is Autumn Sandeen, I’m a retired, disabled Fire Controlman, First Class Petty Officer; I retired in 2000 from the U.S. Navy after twenty years of service.

You may know my name already, as I was one of the six military veterans who handcuffed ourselves to the White House fence on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010, to put pressure on you to include the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in your submission of the Defense Authorization Budget. I am writing today to bring to your attention the discriminatory behavior I was subjected to as a transgender woman by your federal law enforcement officers.

I am a strong, confident transgender woman. I served proudly as a Persian Gulf War Veteran onboard the USS Gary (FFG-51) as a Close-In Weapons System technician during that war. I was awarded both a Navy Achievement Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award for my service at Naval Station Long Beach’s Shore Intermediate Maintenance Activity. I served onboard the USS Coronado when the ship was awarded a Unit Commendation. I’m also a disabled veteran; my VA Disability Rating is 100%, and is a service-connected disability. When I handcuffed myself to the White House fence, I wasn’t an impersonator wearing a costume; I was proudly wearing an appropriate uniform for my gender identity.

Sir, I engaged in civil obedience to pressure you because you told us we should.

[cut]

My peer female protesters — Cadet Mara Boyd, and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas — were in a holding cell behind the U.S. Marshal’s station. They heard that same U.S. Marshal in the fuchsia blouse state the following to one of her peer officers (emphasis added):

“Did you see it? The nerve of it to be wearing a Navy uniform. Did you see the shim in the Navy Uniform?”

Calling transgender people “it” is clearly a way of dehumanizing transgender people. “Shim” a relative to “she-male” is also a dehumanizing term to identify transgender people. President Obama, your U.S. Marshal calling me “it” and “the shim” is the equivalent to calling an African-American by the n-word, or calling a Gay-American by the antigay f-word, it is absolutely unacceptable.

I believe the behavior of your U.S. Marshal’s sent the message to the prisoners that your representatives wouldn’t protect me if these prisoners had sought to physically harm me — because I was a less than human, a “shim.” At no time did any officer correct or dissuade any of the other officers from such offensive behaviors. In fact, they seemed to feel comfortable in doing so around each other, even in front of other prisoners.

There is virtual palpable excitement online as LGBT politicos await the formal announcement by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday that the Pentagon will exercise more “humane” enforcement of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.

UPDATE: GATES MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS ANTICIPATED. He told reporters at a news conference that the on-going review will consider how soldiers feel about the policy change and what to do about same sex marriage and housing. UPDATE UPDATE: CHRIS GEIDNER FROM METROWEEKLY WAS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE.

The new directives come after a 45-day review to figure out what can be done short-term to staunch the discharge of lesbian and gay soldiers until Congress formally repeals the ban against gays serving openly. Critics of DADT want the Pentagon to put a moratorium on all discharges while it conducts a year-long review completed by Dec. 1.

In effect the new directive creates yet another subset of gays – much as there are subsets of gay couples in California post-Prop 8. Please click inside to see what I mean.

… The irony of the placement in the speech did not escape me. President Obama, in the same breath, was proposing to allow openly LGBT people to serve their country and to make sure women get fair pay for a day’s work. Why is either of these things even an issue? And why are we still talking about them in major policy speeches?

The simple answer is simple: no matter what promises are made, no matter how far our society advances to accept the concept of women in the workplace and LGBT folks in the military, in practice, structure, and – in the case of LGBT service members – the law, inequality still remains.”…

Scottish poet Sir Walter Scott once wrote: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” Please – I beseech you – try to follow the logic of this Family Research Council minister who tries to make it OK to hate gays, as long as it’s done with Christian love. Pray on it, in fact. FRC sends out regular missives to their Christian “Prayer Warriors” specifying what “targets” to pray at each week. These guys are making it really, really hard to believe that old Sunday School song, “Jesus loves me, this I know – for the Bible tells me so.” You decide.

Dear Praying Friends,

Opposing the radical homosexual rights agenda is distasteful to Bible-believing Christians and leaders. Eager to follow the law of love, they sometimes sympathize with those who accuse opponents of homosexual rights as guilty of “hate.” These believers prefer to hold their tongues regarding this and other cultural sins that Scripture condemns, preferring to preach “grace.” But without God’s law there is no grace. And God’s warnings to society must not be ignored. We genuinely love those caught in this and other aberrant sinful addictions, but we cannot cease to warn society of the consequences of approving such behaviors. We must neither keep silent, nor compromise, nor succumb to those who seek to “normalize” homosexuality. The consequences are simply too great. Bible-believing Christians are motivated by love, not hate. But in a culture in which speaking the truth in love on such matters is viewed as “hate,” we must risk the accusation and speak the truth in love, accompanied by much prayer (see Mt 10:12-42; Eph 6:1-20; 2 Tim 2:24-4:5).

Please click inside for more on the prayer.

Read More →

Don't ask, don't tell, Family Research Council, gays in the military, marriage equality

Be your own Rachel Maddow! Fans of the brilliant MSNBC commentator know that one reason Maddow is so popular is because she confronts lies with the truth. Now LGBTs and their allies can do the same thing when it comes to the debate about the military’s antigay policy, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

On Wednesday, the watchdog group Media Matters for America – founded by openly gay politico David Brock in reaction to the “Republican Noise Machine”– published a special report correcting the myths and lies perpetuated by biased or ignorant journalists – or reporters who slant coverage to keep access to powerful sources. That’s what many of us suspected was the agenda behind NBC’s Lisa Meyers’ devastating coverage of the original gays-in-the-military story in 1993. (See the video of Meyers report as part of this story. )

Consider, for instance, the February 23 edition of Fox News’ Special Report where Bret Baier uncritically reported that Gen. George Casey stated that repeal of the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy “might … adversely affect readiness.”

Lest anyone shrug this off as just another Fox News-Republican spin machine story, remember that the father of modern political conservatism – the late Arizona Republican Sen. Barry Goldwater – also called for lifting the ban against gays serving openly, crystallized in this famous quote: “You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.”

It’s one thing that the Fox News reporter didn’t know about Goldwater. But he should have known and reported that Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central Command, appeared two days earlier (Feb 21) on NBC’ Meet the Press and was asked whether “soldiers on the ground in the field care one way or the other if their comrades in arms are gay or lesbian.” Petraeus said: “I’m not sure that they do….I served, in fact, in combat with individuals who were gay and who were lesbian in combat situations and, frankly, you know, over time you said, ‘Hey, how’s, how’s this guy’s shooting?’ Or ‘How is her analysis,’ or what have you.”

Please click inside to read more and see how you can help.

All this talk about repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – and the spotlight on Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain’s very public and embarrassingly obvious flip-flop over gays and lesbians serving openly in the military made me think about McCain’s predecessor – the late Sen. Barry Goldwater, the political “father” of the conservative movement. Perhaps his most famous quote from the early 1990s is, “You don’t have to be straight to be in the military; you just have to be able to shoot straight.”

But few remember that Goldwater wrote an op-ed calling for the ban on gays serving openly in the military to be lifted immediately. Click inside to read more about Goldwater and his entire op-ed.

The LGBT blogospher exploded Wednesday morning with reaction to the historic Senate Armed Services hearing Tuesday during which Defense Sec. Gates and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mullen announced their desire to repeal the discriminatory Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, pursuant to President Obama’s State of the Union address saying he wanted to repeal DADT this year.

Retired General Colin Powell, the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who supported congressional passage of DADT in 1993, also issued a statement Wednesday saying he supported the new approach.

The reaction to the repeal has been excitement that the end of DADT seems in sight mixed with cautious pushback over why the high commanders didn’t announce a suspension of enforcement while the policy is under review.

But for me – a military brat who’s been covering this issue since David Mixner first raised the prospect of lifting the ban on gays serving openly with presidential candidate Bill Clinton in 1991 – two developments I never thought I’d see also happened Wednesday: Mullen posted his opinion about DADT on his blog on the Joint Chiefs of Staff website (with a link to the full hearing transcript, video is coming) and the Pentagon featured a “straight” news report about DADT.

And here’s Rachel Maddow’s interview with Lt. Col. Fehrenbach:

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Please click inside to read the roundup.