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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Gay/Lesbian Issues in the Military A Dedication to Fallen Gay Soldiers|
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Highly Experienced Member |
A Dedication to Fallen Gay Soldiers
Hundreds of LGBT activists and allies gathered at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Arlington National Cemetery to watch Lt. Dan Choi, an Arabic linguist who was discharged from the Army for being gay, dedicate a wreath to gay and lesbian soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty. “There’s so many soldiers that haven’t been able to be recognized for so long, so many service members that continue serving in silence,” Choi told The Advocate following the ceremony. Asked what was going through his mind during the solemn dedication, Choi added, “All of the messages that I’ve gotten from people saying that they don’t know how to go on while they’re still serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is for them.” The event was considered an official military ceremony, and it was not the first time gay and lesbian veterans have been recognized at the site. Michael Bedwell, who helped assemble the application for the wreath laying, said gay vets groups hold a similar event every year on Memorial Day. Nonetheless, Capt. Michael Rankin, a retired Navy officer who participated in the ceremony with Lieutenant Choi, called the event “incredibly moving.” Rankin served for 32 years -- closeted throughout his entire tenure. “I was gay the whole 32 years,” he said with a smile. “I reported to a Naval Academy in 1964, and to imagine then what this was all about today is just unbelievable. It’s very encouraging, because there were so many young people here who came out and said, we’re the next generation and we’re going to win this battle.” One of the next generation included a 15-year-old straight ROTC student, Cadet Master Sgt. Daniel Torres Jr., who traveled from New York for the weekend. “I wanted to pay respects to those who have fallen and have not been found yet or are prisoners of war,” he said, after getting his picture taken with Choi. “And I believe that what Lieutenant Choi has done is honor the spirits of them and I feel very moved and touched that he would do such a thing.” Anthony Woods, who attended West Point with Choi and recently lost a congressional bid in California, said he was particularly proud of the message Choi continues to send even after being discharged. “The thing that is so powerful about Dan is that most people, once they get kicked out of the military, feel like, ‘I was kicked out of the military, it was taken away from me, I’m no longer a veteran,’” said the 29-year-old Woods, who was also discharged under the gay ban. “I think Dan is doing a good job of -- and I’m proud to stand by his side as he does it -- making it known that we are veterans, we’ve served our country too, and that’s what this wreath laying was about today.” More at... >>>http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2009/10/10/Arlington_Wreath_Laying/ |
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Member |
Today, there are at least 65,000 gay Americans serving on active duty and 1,000,000 gay veterans in the United States, according to the Urban Institute.
***http://sldn.3cdn.net/fe43f21197373a459a_e0m6iygki.pd**** My sincerest thanks to those who are serving and those that have served. |
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Greater admiration is due Rankin for having served the latter part of his career honoring the spirit of DADT. Choi wasn't discharged for being gay; he was discharged for failing to live up to his oath to abide by the UCMJ. |
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I can't help but wonder why Choi doesn't think that recognition of military casualties doesn't include ALL, regardless of orientation. 'Spose he thinks that SPECIAL recognition is due gay & lesbian deaths?
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New Member |
I serve in silence too...because my sexuality is private, and nobodies business but my own. When you go to the company, or platoon office/area, you are at work! As such, who you are sleeping with isnt an issue that is appropriate to discuss. If you are gay, keep it to yourself in the workplace, if you are straight, shut the hell up too. Its an EO violation anyway. Furthermore, the argument that gay and lesbian service members are outstanding soldiers is weakened when Choi says so many "people (are) saying they dont know how to go on while they're still serving in iraq and afghanistan." Do they suffer more than other soldiers? What exactly makes keeping bedroom proclivities personal and private so intolerable? Stop putting up fences between us! If there is no differance between the abilities of gay and straight service members, than stop making divisions between us. You complain that gays are excluded, yet there you are excluding straight soldiers...how does that make sense?
When you put on the uniform, you give up certain rights enjoyed by civilians. The military is a values based organization, loyalty to your unit..and if a leader your subordinate soldiers, should trump your desire to dispense information about yourself that has no pertanance on mission accomplishment. My accomplishments and the content of my character define who I am...not my sexuality! |
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New Member |
I agree, but I also don't wish to be subject to discharge because someone sees me walk out of a gay bar. I would like to know that I'm not going to be discharged if it is discovered that I'm dating someone on my off duty hours, away from post (say somebody notices that I'm holding hands with another female in a movie, albeit discretely). Lets end this "ban" on homosexuality and allow everyone to serve under the same EXACT contract! Then we shall all TRULY be judged by the content of our character and not by our sexual orientations! |
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If one is TRULY discreet, then NO one notices. |
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Member |
Under DADT, the only way to be "truly discreet" is to be SILENT, CELIBATE and INVISIBLE.
Tell me, all those who support keeping DADT, would you like to live your life that way? When you put your life on the line in defense of your country, do you have to lie to your buddies and to your command about your loved ones, your family, your friends? Do you have to live in fear that if the wrong person finds out about you, you'll be kicked out, lose your job and career? Do you have to be totally celibate (according to the UCMJ)? When you're concerned about illness or tragedy or crisis in your family and you're deployed to a war zone, do you have to avoid talking to a chaplain or doctor for fear you'll be kicked out? Do you have to fear asking for emergency leave in that circumstance because you fear you'll lose your career? Repeal of DADT simply allows ALL service men and women to serve under the exact same rules and regulations of conduct. What an amazing concept! |
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New Member |
I know this is probably not the correct forum for this post however there is another point to be made.
I was in the Army in the early 80's long before DADT, back then we used to call them the witch hunts because if one person was investigated then most of the people they associated with were also. This is what caused my early departure from the military (still my personal biggest regret in life). I was not discharged due to being gay however; I was at then end of my first enlistment and was encouraged not to reenlist. My main point is though if I were not in the middle of that and was able to make the career I wanted in the Army, when I met my partner 17 years ago and made a life together, I would have been found out when my next security clearance investigation came around. Even though DADT made some good changes from the way things were when I was in, if you meet someone it is still virtually impossible to share a true life together (i.e owning a joint home together). |
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Member |
kpmac, exactly right! Only gays in the military are forbidden from having a family, from being able to share their life with a loved one, and, theoretically, from having any kind of sex life (even off duty and off base). Somehow opponents of gays in the military fail to appreciate that. They think all you have to do is not "tell" your buddies or the command. Of course, that also entails lying to your buddies and to the command, if they happen to ask a simple, everyday question like, "what'd you do last weekend?" or "do you have a girlfriend?" And forget about having a picture of your loved one in your duffle bag, locker, on your desk; and forget about being able to be honest with your battle buddies. Those are all costs of DADT that only gay patriotic Americans who want to serve their country have to bear.
BTW, the security clearances no longer ask about sexual orientation. And gays are allowed to serve openly in the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, and every police and fire department across our great nation. |
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Military.com Forums Hot Topics & Current Events Gay/Lesbian Issues in the Military A Dedication to Fallen Gay Soldiers
