Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

A “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Handbook

Author Melissa Embser-Herbert explores the history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," in a new book just released from Praeger Security International publishing. Embser-Herbert's new work traces the law from its origins in the early 1990s through its evolution and implementation into law in the United States military. She also evaluates the impact of post-9/11 events on the military, the law, and the ongoing debate surrounding the existence of the policy itself as lawmakers consider its repeal. Her three-part history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" begins with a brief look at earlier policies that preceded it, a discussion of events in 1992-1993 that resulted in the passage and implementation of the new law, and an examination of the law's impact on the military. She also compares the policy to that of other nations, such as Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, that eliminated similar restrictions as they sought ways to avoid a potential manpower shortage in their armed forces. Embser-Herbert also examines U.S. experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan and what they can teach about gays and lesbians in the military. She concludes Part I with an analysis of whether the law might be repealed or overturned. Part II of the handbook provides summaries of key legal decisions, and Part III contains key documents, such as the language of the law itself and excerpts from current military regulations and training manuals. The book also includes a chronology of events, glossary of terms, an annotated bibliography and a foreword by SLDN advisory council member Lawrence J. Korb. The U.S. Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy: A Reference Handbook is now available online.

Labels: books

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11-13-07 Comment (0)

Geiselman in the York Daily Record

Retired Captain Sandy Geiselman, a member of SLDN's military advisory council, has a great op-ed in her hometown paper, The York Daily Record, about what it means to "honor every veteran" and the impact that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has on our communities. "Now, more than ever, Veterans Day is a community observance," Geiselman writes. "As small cities and communities like York send their sons and daughters off to war, there is a bind between neighbors that forms out of concern for our extended family and appreciation for the selfless sacrifice of those who serve. As a veteran of the United States Navy who grew up and lived most of my life here, I know how meaningful Veterans Day is to many of you, and I join you today in honoring the service of our men and women in uniform and all those who have served in our nation's fighting forces." "On this Veterans Day, however, there are many service members and vets you may not hear about ... because, like me, they happen to be lesbian or gay." Geiselman, who served for 29 years on active duty and in the Reserves, goes on to say that, "This Veterans Day, we must all commit to honoring every veteran who has served in our armed forces and getting this law off the books. It is an unfair, un-American and unconscionable law to place on those who volunteer to defend our freedoms. And it doesn't just impact our service personnel. Its reach is much broader, and it impacts our families, communities and nation. Its repeal should be of concern to us all." You can read her full op-ed online here. - Steve Ralls

Labels: honor every veteran, in the news, veterans

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11-12-07 Comment (0)

Honor Every Veteran

Serving As Transgender; Honoring Every Veteran When most lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people think about Don't Ask, Don't Tell or the Solomon Amendment, they think about how these impact gay and lesbian service members. Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the Solomon Amendment impact more than just gays and lesbians. There are many who don't see differences between effeminate gay men, drag queens, cross-dressers, and transsexuals -- these groups are seen by many as all just gay men, identified as gay by their gender non-conformity. And, it's equally true that natal women are perceived as lesbian when the look or behave "too masculine." This past week, the Gay & Lesbian Times highlighted my Don't Ask, Don't Tell story in their magazine. I experienced Don't Ask, Don't Tell as a subordinate and to my Executive Officer (XO) on the ship I was serving, who saw me as someone who was likely gay -- identified as such due to my inability to present as a masculine enough man. I wasn't gay, but I was perceived as gay. I experienced male-on-male sexual harassment in the last eight months in the Navy, in a way that was directly related to Don't Ask, Don't Tell rules, and was a closeted transgender person trying to make it through the end of obligated service so that I could retire at 20-years. I love America. I served my country for 20-years in large part because I love my country. And yet, America does herself great disservice by not embracing the idea of letting her LGBT citizens to openly serve their country in the military -- as we are, and not closeted. LGBT service members shouldn't be required to live in fear of discharge due to real or perceived sexual orientation, or due to real or perceived gender non-conformity. Last Saturday night, I met a transgender, active duty service member at a fundraiser for the upcoming http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/">Transgender Day Of Remembrance memorial service. This Petty Officer serves our country honorably, but should the Petty Officer be discovered to be transgender, my nation would "honor" this closeted service member's decade-plus of sacrifice with a discharge indicating a "personality disorder." This isn't a way to honor every service member or a way to honor every veteran. Our nation would best honor our LGBT service members and veterans by allowing our active duty LGBT service members to serve openly as they are. Honoring every veteran is an ideal worth embracing. -Retired Navy Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen You may have missed: Monday - Former Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke Tuesday - Prior US Army Major Jeff McGowan Wednesday - Former Army First Lieutenant Steve Boeckels Thursday - Former Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall Friday - Former Navy Petty Officer Jason Knight Saturday - Former Navy Petty Officer Stephen Benjamin Sunday - Sharon Alexander, Prior US Army Captain Thank you to all of those that have contributed to this blog series and in helping to salute all of our Veterans and their service to our country. -Jason Knight

Labels: autumn sandeen, honor every veteran

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11-12-07 Comment (0)

To Honor Those Who Can Not Serve

I’ve said this before so it’s old news. But I feel that I don’t fit in on this national holiday to honor all the men and women of the Armed Services. When I go to this public ceremony I feel out of place. And that’s because the Armed Services has made me and many other gays and lesbians feel unwanted and undesirable to serve our country. The army didn’t want me many years ago because I was a homosexual. I had a letter from my psychiatrist. So I got a 4-F status on my draft card. Embarrassing. But I lived with it. And now years later the Armed Services is still not allowing gays and lesbians to openly serve their country with policies of discrimination and hate. But many gays and lesbians have served honorably and many have died for this country. And a large number have been dis-honorably discharged in spite of their accomplishments. So I hold these folks in my thoughts on Veteran’s Day But “Don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t work anymore. Because silence equals death. Just as surely as a bullet. -Nick Kelly

Labels: guest blogger, nick kelly

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11-11-07 Comment (0)

Honor Every Veteran

As Jason mentioned in his post yesterday, Mark Twain wrote in one of his journals that, "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Gays and lesbians who serve under the Ban are those patriots. The personal cost can be enormous. Partners and lovers cease to exist, lovers become friends, and genders change in an instant. And to the extreme, fifteen years ago, being a patriot cost PO3 Allen Schindler his life. Yet despite it all and even while condemned to the shadows: We still serve. As the great Dr. Martin Luther King believed, we also believe. We believe that the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice and that one day, our service will be fully honored. Because, in the end, it comes down to one thing, as former Army officer and current SLDN Board Member Jeff Cleghorn has reminded me of many times: Gay blood bleeds as red as straight. That is why it is important to honor EVERY veteran. -Former Navy Petty Officer Stephen Benjamin You may have missed: Monday - Former Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke Tuesday - Prior US Army Major Jeff McGowan Wednesday - Former Army First Lieutenant Steve Boeckels Thursday - Former Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall Friday - Former Navy Petty Officer Jason Knight

Labels: honor every veteran, stephen benjamin

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11-10-07 Comment (0)

Honor Every Veteran

One in a million. That sounds like an incredibly daunting statistic. However, when you put that in context to being one person in the estimated ranks of one million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered veterans, that number steps into a new light. I can only say that it is the deepest honor. Our men and women in uniform have been there since the beginning, selflessly answering the call to duty, and even some - making the ultimate sacrifice! Our Veterans do not go unnoticed or unthought of. Veterans Day, like any other day, is our opportunity to not only thank our LGBT Veterans for forsaking so much, but to honor each and every Veteran that has ever served. "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." ~Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935. -Former Navy Petty Officer Jason Knight You may have missed: Monday - Former Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke Tuesday - Prior US Army Major Jeff McGowan Wednesday - Former Army First Lieutenant Steve Boeckels Thursday - Former Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall

Labels: honor every veteran, jason knight

11-09-07 Comment (2)

The City of Angels Calls for Repeal

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to support City Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s resolution expressing their opposition to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and calling on Congress to adopt The Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1246), legislation which would repeal the military's ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel. “Gays and lesbians have quietly served in the military with honor and distinction throughout American history,” said Rosendahl, a Vietnam-era army veteran. “It is ludicrous to think that if you want to serve your country, you have to lose part of your identity.”

Labels: california, resolutions

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11-09-07 Comment (0)

Landmark Guidelines for Transgender Vets’ Care

Just in time for Veterans Day, the Veteran Affairs (VA) Boston Healthcare System has issued a landmark memo to its employees about providing quality care to transgender veterans who use the medical facility. According to Bay Windows, "The memo mandates that veterans will be addressed and referred to by VA staff according to their self-identified gender both in verbal exchanges and in patient records. Patients will also be given rooming assignments and access to facilities such as restrooms based on their self-identified gender. The memo explains that while federal law prevents the VA from providing patients with sex reassignment surgery, the VA will provide hormone therapy and mental health services to transgender patients according to the accepted standards of care." "Transgender patients will be cared for in an environment of openness, respect and honesty," reads the memo, in part. "A veteran’s physical status, surgical history, hormonal status, and medications are private, but should be available to providers directly involved in the veteran’s care. In this way the veteran is assured quality care, minimized risk of adverse pharmacological events (e.g., in the case of hormonal medication prescriptions), and provided with a supportive environment free of discrimination." Monica Helms, president of the Transgender American Veterans Association (TAVA), told the paper that, "The thing is there are other facilities that are doing what is in this policy. The difference is these other places don’t have a written policy, so it’s almost like the doctors that are there who treat transgender individuals, they decided this is how they’re going to do it, and the only difference is Boston decided to put it down on paper." But the difference is important, too. By putting guidelines for treatment in writing, the hospital shows a concrete willingness to hold accountable hospital staff who do not follow the guidelines, and to being front-and-center about what transgender patients can expect when they seek treatment there. The memo was written by VA clinical psychologist Dr. Jillian Shipherd. Originally, Shipherd worked with others in the Boston area to conduct trainings about transgender healthcare, focused on three areas: General trans healthcare and barriers to care, HIV prevention for trans patients and mental health and substance abuse issues in the trans community, according to Bay Windows. Then, six months ago, she began working on the memo. "I have to tell you I have received nothing but positive and helpful comments. There have been no attempts to block this policy at all," said Shipherd. And that, on this Friday eve of Veterans Day, is very good news for transgender vets who have so bravely served our country. - Steve Ralls

Labels: in the news, TAVA, transgender issues

11-09-07 Comment (1)

Honor Every Veteran

One word comes to mind when I think of Veterans Day. That word is sacrifice. When anyone joins the military, for whatever reason, they are making a sacrifice to our country. As I was thinking about this today I thought about my family members who have served this great country. My grandfather served during WWII, my dad and step-dad both served 20 years in the Air Force, my younger brother is still serving in the Navy, I served in the Air Force, and my uncles and cousins are serving in the Army. Veterans Day is a day to reflect and honor those who have sacrificed. I start by honoring my brother as he heads out on his deployment. He called me this weekend to tell me he was leaving the next day. I will be reflecting on the sacrifice he is making by leaving his wife and two sons at home; once again. He will be missing another year of holidays and birthdays; but proudly does it without out any reservations. Why you ask? Because that is what our country asks of us when we join the military. We chose to sacrifice for the greater good because we love our country and want to ensure the freedoms we have will always be there for the generations to come. I will also be thinking about all of the LGBT service members who have sacrificed for this great country. They have served from the very beginning , serve today, and will continue to serve in the future. I look forward to the day when we will honor their service by repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and allow all Americans to sacrifice for our country equally without prejudice. I conclude by giving a sharp salute to all the sons and daughters of this great country who have sacrificed for each and every one of us. Thank You! -Former Air Force Staff Sergeant David Hall You may have missed: Monday - Former Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke Tuesday - Prior US Army Major Jeff McGowan Wednesday - Former Army First Lieutenant Steve Boeckels

Labels: david hall, honor every veteran

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11-08-07 Comment (0)