30 Days of Pride!

June 3: Ariana Bostian-Kentes, Co-Founder, Military Partners & Families Coalition

Ariana Bostian-Kentes has become a strong and effective voice for LGBT military spouses and partners whose voices were previously silenced by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) and now face unequal treatment in the face of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). When “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was still the law, Ariana, the partner of an active duty US Army officer, fought fiercely for repeal, sharing her story with the Pentagon Working Group. She went on to co-found the Military Partners and Families Coalition (MPFC) in order to provide a system of support and a way for LGBT military families to share their experiences and voice their concerns. The organization has become a fierce advocate for full LGBT military equality in the post-DADT repeal era, partnering closely with organizations like SLDN and OutServe to ensure a place at the table for the families of LGBT service members. In addition to her work with MPFC, Ariana is the Administrative and Programming Coordinator for the University of Michigan’s Spectrum Center, the oldest LGBT center on a college campus. To learn more about Ariana and the work of MPFC, click here.