Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Group seeks to clean up paperwork for outed troops

By Leo Shane

Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — For the last 18 years, Ross Peterson was reluctant to share his military discharge paperwork with anyone.

“For job interviews, for veterans preference, for veterans benefits, they all want to see your DD-214,” the Army veteran said. “But mine was stamped less-than-honorable with ‘engaged in homosexual acts’ across it. So every time I had to show it, I was outing myself.”

To read the entire article click here

 

By Leo Shane
Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — For the last 18 years, Ross Peterson was reluctant to share his military discharge paperwork with anyone.
“For job interviews, for veterans preference, for veterans benefits, they all want to see your DD-214,” the Army veteran said. “But mine was stamped less-than-honorable with ‘engaged in homosexual acts’ across it. So every time I had to show it, I was outing myself.”
To read the entire article click hereBy Leo Shane
Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — For the last 18 years, Ross Peterson was reluctant to share his military discharge paperwork with anyone.
“For job interviews, for veterans preference, for veterans benefits, they all want to see your DD-214,” the Army veteran said. “But mine was stamped less-than-honorable with ‘engaged in homosexual acts’ across it. So every time I had to show it, I was outing myself.”
To read the entire article click hereBy Leo Shane
Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — For the last 18 years, Ross Peterson was reluctant to share his military discharge paperwork with anyone.
“For job interviews, for veterans preference, for veterans benefits, they all want to see your DD-214,” the Army veteran said. “But mine was stamped less-than-honorable with ‘engaged in homosexual acts’ across it. So every time I had to show it, I was outing myself.”
To read the entire article click hereBy Leo Shane
Stars and Stripes
WASHINGTON — For the last 18 years, Ross Peterson was reluctant to share his military discharge paperwork with anyone.
“For job interviews, for veterans preference, for veterans benefits, they all want to see your DD-214,” the Army veteran said. “But mine was stamped less-than-honorable with ‘engaged in homosexual acts’ across it. So every time I had to show it, I was outing myself.”
To read the entire article click 

10-22-12 Comment (0)

OutServe & SLDN Issue Uniform Guidance for Upcoming Conference

We are looking forward to the upcoming OutServe-SLDN International Leadership Conference taking place in Orlando, FL, October 25-28. A number of attendees have asked for dress and uniform guidance for the conference, and we are happy to provide the following. 

For the conference itself, including associated meals and side events, attendees should dress in casual to business-casual attire. Service members should wear civilian attire. For the gala dinner on Saturday night, attendees should be in business attire. Service members may wear the equivalent uniform if they choose. For each service, the equivalent uniform is:

  • United States Army - The Army Service Uniform (ASU), or equivalent Class A (“greens”) if you do not have the ASU.
  • United States Navy - Service Dress Blues
  • United States Air Force - Service Dress Uniform
  • United States Marine Corps - Blue Dress “B”
  • United States Coast Guard - Service Dress Blue

All uniforms should be worn with appropriate ribbons and badges, if permitted. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando later this month! If you haven't yet registered, there's still time. Just visit www.outserve.org to reserve your space.

10-16-12 By David McKean, SLDN Legal Director | Comment (0)

Coming Out: Muted Reflections

By Brynn Tannehill

Despite leaving the Navy twoyears ago, my life still revolves around the military. I work with my adopted Air Force brothers and sisters, and my involvement with OutServe keeps me in touch with a wide variety of people from different branches. Some are enlisted, some are officers, and they come from many different career fields.
In an online discussion, the topic of what we all loved about our jobs came up, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about the almost Zen-like feeling of a good day flying the helo. Others chimed in, and it wasn’t hard to see the pride, passion, and dedication everyone found in what they did and who they worked with. What they wrote put me right there in the moment, and helped me see why they love being a part the profession of arms. My spouse suggested I share these stories in my blog, and I agreed others should hear them. Some are funny. Some are about camaraderie. Some are about being good at what you do. They all make you proud to have such dedicated Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines out there “standing on the wall.”

Despite leaving the Navy twoyears ago, my life still revolves around the military. I work with my adopted Air Force brothers and sisters, and my involvement with OutServe keeps me in touch with a wide variety of people from different branches. Some are enlisted, some are officers, and they come from many different career fields.

In an online discussion, the topic of what we all loved about our jobs came up, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about the almost Zen-like feeling of a good day flying the helo. Others chimed in, and it wasn’t hard to see the pride, passion, and dedication everyone found in what they did and who they worked with. What they wrote put me right there in the moment, and helped me see why they love being a part the profession of arms. My spouse suggested I share these stories in my blog, and I agreed others should hear them. Some are funny. Some are about camaraderie. Some are about being good at what you do. They all make you proud to have such dedicated Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines out there “standing on the wall.”

To read the entire article click here

 

10-11-12 Comment (0)

‘Tis the Season for the Combined Federal Campaign!

The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is upon us. This means military personnel, as well as federal and state employees, have the opportunity to help organizations like SLDN through this once-a-year initiative. You can find us under the Military, Veteran & Patriotic Service Organization section, #12111.

If you are currently using the CFC to make your charitable donations, we urge you to list Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and help fund our ongoing work to ensure full LGBT equality in our military. With “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) now in the history books, we need your help more than ever as we continue our work on behalf of the nation’s LGBT service members. That includes:

- Advocating for legally married service members to receive the same family support and benefits as their straight married counterpart
- Litigating in the courts, as necessary and timely, to advance equality
- Assisting veterans to correct or upgrade their discharge paperwork
- Representing and defending those who may face harassment or discrimination as we oversee implementation of DADT repeal
- Fighting for full LGBT equality in America’s military

But remember, the CFC is just one way to support the work of equality. You can also make a direct gift to help us today by clicking here.

Regardless of how you choose to support SLDN as we head into the final months of 2012, we thank you for your continued support.

10-03-12 By David Hall, SLDN Development Director | Comment (0)


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