Sacrifices of Service

This is the final installment in our week-long salute to LGBT veterans by their heterosexual colleagues.

The following entry was sent to us by a straight service member who is currently serving in the U.S. Coast Guard who wishes to remain anonymous.

Veterans Day celebrates great American heroes who put service to country above all to protect the freedoms that we enjoy today. Their stories, replete with acts of honor, sacrifice and devotion to duty, represent that which makes our country great. Amongst the millions of Americans who have served are gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coastguardsmen. And yet, we have burdened them with an additional sacrifice – we have asked them to relinquish their personal integrity by keeping their sexual orientation a secret, to serve honorably, but deny themselves a most basic freedom – to be true to themselves and to be open with their fellow service members.

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a travesty, personally for each of them, and collectively, for the country, and must be repealed. Our gay and lesbian veterans and active duty and reserve members are an integral component to the success of our Armed Forces. Let them serve with the dignity and honor they so ably deserve.

-Steve Ralls

Leveling the Playing Fields

The following entry was sent to us by a straight, African-American female Sergeant First Class who recently successfully completed a drill sergeant duty at basic training. She has asked to remain anonymous because she is still on active duty.

In my family, we were taught to be tolerant and accepting of everyone; it was a very open environment. It wasn’t until I joined the Army in 1989 that I realized that not everyone is as tolerant and accepting. For the first time, I faced and worked with individuals with narrow-minded attitudes. As a young E-3, I remember meeting an older Sergeant Major who made it very clear to me that he thought a woman’s place was at home and that the Army had no use for mothers. It was quite a blow for me as a young mother. It was a hard lesson for someone who grew up in a tolerant and open environment.

In the Army we’re taught that everyone is equal, yet when I became a drill sergeant, I made sure to instill in my soldiers many of the lessons that my family taught me and the lessons I had learned as an enlisted soldier coming up through the ranks: an understanding that the prejudices in the military are the same as the prejudices in the civilian world, and that there is a need to be tolerant of others who are different. I tried to make the playing field for all the new enlisted soldiers as equal as possible.

As a drill sergeant, I worked with men and women, gay and straight. In basic training, we had many soldiers come out as gay—some to simply get out, and others, because they couldn’t handle hiding anymore. I remember one young man who was discharged under the Homosexual Conduct Policy (commonly known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”). He was Hispanic, brought up in a Catholic family. When he came out as gay to his family, they cut him off. He then joined the Army as a way to prove himself. Yet when he got to basic training, he realized he couldn’t handle hiding who he was and he knew that he could not live with the policy. My colleagues and I spoke with him after he declared his sexual orientation to us, and he told us that he loved the military and what we were teaching him, yet he realized that he could not live with the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for 20 years. He was a wonderful soldier, a quick learner and had no disciplinary problems while at basic training. He would have been a wonderful asset to the military; it was hard for all of us to let him go.

When I think about his story, about my experiences as an African-American woman, and about the experiences of those, generations ago, who were in segregated military units because of race or gender, I realize the similarities. The military’s Homosexual Conduct Policy is akin to the segregation of black soldiers and to the pre-1979 segregation of women soldiers. It is a discriminatory policy that asks gay and lesbian service members to deny who they are. We should accept everyone as human beings and acknowledge their contributions. This Veterans Day, I’d like to ask everyone to do just that.

-Rebecca Sawyer

Diversity and Faith

A portion of a sermon I had given on July 3, 2005 at Mt Vernon Unitarian Church, Alexandria, VA on "Diversity and Faith," which I ended my sermon addressing the issue of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" --

"Today, I continue with the focus on my faith and our importance to promote the understanding of diversity. I took a rather bold move immediately after retiring in 2002 (as Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard - the senior ranking enlisted member of the service), to join an organization called, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which I am also an honorary member of their board of directors. Also known by the acronym ‘SLDN,’ the organization believes in allowing people who serve in today’s military without regard to sexual orientation, to be open and honest about who they are. SLDN assists military members who are being processed for discharge on the Department of Defense policy known as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” helping them fight their discharges, and assuring that those who are separated are not given derogatory discharge codes that prevent them for access to veteran benefits. SLDN has also prepared a legal brief for future presentation to the U. S. Supreme Court to address that this policy is unconstitutional on the grounds of discrimination.

It most certainly is considered a ‘bold move’ for me to become part of this organization, given the high-ranking status in my last position on active duty, and was required to enforce the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” where gay and lesbian military personnel are allowed to serve, but not openly. I didn’t agree with the policy while I was on active duty, and I certainly don’t agree with it now, and have chosen to continue to follow the words of my mother and the heart of my faith to a part of change.

According to SLDN, almost 10,000 military personnel have been separated in the last ten years under this policy, simply because of their sexual orientation. As a taxpayer, I’m outraged, as the vast majority of these people discharged have been trained in highly technical and operational skills costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. As an American, I am disappointed and bothered that there are able minded and talented people who should be given the same opportunities that I have enjoyed in my military career. As an African American, I see discrimination, not in the same sense as I have endured because of the color of my skin, but the denial of an opportunity to serve because of bigotry. As a Unitarian Universalist, I am following the values of my faith, and become a part of the solution.

All of our military services’ core values includes the words ‘Honor’ or ‘Integrity,’ meaning, as part of a military service member’s condition of employment, they must be open, honest and truthful. Yet at the same time, a military policy exists to tell these very same servicemembers to lie if they are gay or lesbian.

It’s a dilemma; no make that a contradiction in terms that clearly goes against the service’s condition of employment. Most surprising to me is how today, we are having difficulty in attracting and recruiting young people to serve in the military, where they take an oath of allegiance to “…support and defend the Constitution of the United States…” exclude a group of Americans solely because of their sexual orientation. What worse, I find it rather appalling that this very policy restricts intelligent and physically capable people who WANT to serve.

Now, my point here is not to make a political stand on the pulpit – but rather re-state what was said from the very beginning of this sermon with a quote from the Reverend Dr. John Buehrens,

". . .while we are called upon, individually, to face the question, ‘What do I believe?' the question we should face together isn't the creedal one, 'What do we believe in common?' In what hope? And with what sources of support, inspiration, and judgment as to our faithfulness?' "

The inspiring words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., recited earlier this morning by Jacki Arnold.

“Our world is a neighborhood. We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”

And I will continue to be inspired by my mother, Elizabeth Patton’s words:

“Change will never come, if you aren’t part of the reason for change.”

Blessed be. Amen."

____________
MCPOCG Vincent W. Patton, III, USCG (ret.) is a member of SLDN’s honorary board.

A PFLAG Salute

On a certain day every November we honor our military veterans with speeches and parades, but there is one group within the veterans’ community that we do not honor. Those are the lesbian and gay members of our armed forces who have been required to serve silently or leave under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” edict.

This Veterans Day, the San Francisco chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) is working with SLDN supporters, Huong Nguyen and Zoe Dunning, to honor all veterans. During our November 13th meeting, we will discuss “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and its harmful effects on service members and their families. We are looking forward to hearing from Huong and Zoe and learning more of the challenges they have faced because of this discriminating edict. Our military has lost the services and talents of these two exceptional people along with so many more who were discharged solely on the basis of sexual orientation.

How difficult it is for the service members’ families to see their children suffer for something that they can’t change and must, effectively, hide. PFLAG is a welcoming place for those families to come for support and acceptance – a place they can talk and be completely understood. It is a place where those family members do not have to be silent.

PFLAG’s mission includes support for families in the coming out process, education on issues of concern, and advocacy for equal rights. Addressing the harmful effects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is one of the many issues that PFLAG’s members feel strongly about. PFLAG is supporting behind the bill (the Military Readiness Enhancement Act) now in the House of Representatives that will eliminate this discriminatory policy. Only by eliminating this policy can we truly honor all our veterans this Veterans Day.


____________
Julia Thoron is co-chair of the PFLAG San Francisco chapter. For more information on PFLAG, please visit PFLAG’s website.

A Soldier First

Today, SLDN begins a week-long blog series by heterosexual service members and veterans. These men and women will be speaking out, all week, in support of LGBT veterans and military personnel. Their voices are an important reminder that, despite the ongoing debate about gays in the military, straight military personnel are ready and willing to serve with openly gay troops. And, on Veterans Day week, they provide an important salute to the 1 million gay veterans now living in the United States.

Our blog series begins with Jon Evans.
____________

Three and a half years ago, I was homeless and without a high school diploma. I saw no way out of this dead-end street. One day, I walked into a recruiting station and met SFC Stacy Vasquez. She was friendly and professional. She encouraged me to get my GED so that I could join the Army and asked my dad to help pay for the classes and testing—all things that were not a part of her job description. She did anything and everything she could to give me an opportunity for something better. In the end, it was SFC Vasquez who helped me turn my life around.

Later, I found out the Army discharged SFC Vasquez under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I had no idea that she was gay; she had always been extremely professional and had kept her personal life private. What they did to her was wrong, and what they do to hundreds of other gay service members is wrong.

Even though SFC Vasquez is no longer in the Army, she will always be SFC Vasquez to me. In the Army, one is always a soldier first. What matters is not the sexual orientation of a service member, but that they do their job to the best of their ability. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is nonsense; it is just another form of discrimination. It is a discriminatory policy that should be repealed because you never know who you’re going to lose. And we cannot afford to lose important recruiters like SFC Vasquez.

Does being gay undo the service, the medals and achievements of a decorated World War II veteran? Should we strip that person of his or her medals just because they’re gay? As a soldier, if you’re getting shot at, you’ll either fight or die—it’s all the same and sexual orientation has absolutely nothing to do with it.

As a straight soldier whose life was completely changed by a meeting with a wonderful recruiter named SFC Vasquez, I am willing to stand up and say that enough is enough. This Veterans Day, I salute SFC Vasquez and other gay service members and veterans for their service to our country. Isn’t it time that all of us honored the selfless and patriotic service of gay service members and veterans by repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”?


____
Specialist Jon Evans is a mechanic in the United States Army. He has been in the Army for 3 ½ years.

$26 Million in Savings

According to Congress Daily, “As part of a government-wide effort to control spending and trim the federal deficit, the military services are poring over their books, attempting to cut budgets on some big-ticket procurement items to help the department find about $15 billion in cuts for fiscal 2007, analysts and former department officials said.”

We’ve got an idea. Congress can start by saving $26 million per year, simply by passing HR 1059, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act.

According to the Government Accounting Office (GAO), discharging service members under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” costs the military an average of $26 million per year. Now that may seem to some as a drop in the bucket when you’re trying to cut $15 billion in spending. But saving $26 million a year by letting qualified Americans who also happen to be gay serve in the military without the obstacles presented by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is surely a step in the right direction toward both controlling spending and trimming the deficit.

Individual members of Congress tend to shy away from spending cuts that negatively impact their constituents. But “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is different. Nobody benefits from “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” – not the military, not individual constituents, and certainly not our national security.

For fiscal conservatives interested in reducing the deficit and controlling spending, repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” should be a no brainer.

-Ray A. Quintero

"That All May Freely Serve"

As the United States Methodist Church sparks debate by its decision to defrock an openly lesbian minister, we were reminded recently that other congregations and denominations are reaching out to welcome members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

On October 21, Patricia Kutteles, mother of PFC Barry Winchell, spoke at the That All May Freely Serve annual dinner in Detroit. A transcript of her remarks follows:

"Tonight, each of you here are a testimony to the fact that people of faith are also people of grace. I want to begin by commending the Presbyterian congregations from across the country that have opened their arms, hearts and church doors to people from all walks of life. When we all come together, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or any other characteristic, we represent the best of what faith, spirituality and religion are all about: unconditional acceptance and bonds made stronger by the diversity of life we bring to our congregations and communities.

As we gather this evening, some people of faith are in the headlines for denouncing gay and lesbian people, literally hunting them down in churches. It isn’t right when the military forces people into a closet for fear of retribution and it isn’t right when our religious institutions do it, either. And that’s why the Presbyterian churches – by welcoming everyone, rather than turning away some – set the standard in truly epitomizing what our deeply held religious beliefs should be all about. Again, I am honored to be among such good company this evening.

In preparing to join you tonight, I was reminded of a famous Presbyterian, Dr. Samuel Hopkins, and one of his great moral principles, which still resonates with us today: “Every moral agent choosing right has the natural power to choose wrong, and, choosing wrong, has the natural power to choose right.”

Our national story, like the great stories of literature, boils down to a simple, yet undeniably important, battle: that of right and wrong. Everything we debate in our country – wars, the economy, social progress and the freedom of our people – can be framed in this timeless debate that is steered by a collective moral compass which, history tells us, inevitably steers in the direction of right over wrong.

There are moments, however, when the collective will is hijacked by a few and the will of many – the will of right over wrong – is temporarily steered off-course. In those moments we are called upon to remember Dr. Hopkins and remind those who have hijacked our course that in “choosing wrong,” they also have “the natural power to choose right.”

We have arrived at such a moment in our history. The moments that have led each of us here are particular to own circumstance and there are as many stories as there are people in our country tonight. My particular moment came just over six years ago at an Army base in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

My son, Barry Winchell, was attacked while sleeping on a cot in his barracks. Two of his fellow soldiers, on July 4th weekend, wielded a baseball bat and ended Barry’s life. Barry’s moral compass was ceaselessly strong. It steered him to serve our country and better himself through a life of service. The compass of those who killed him was steered by senseless hatred, dangerous stereotypes and a deadly message from our own government that second-class citizenship is not only alive and well – but acceptable – in our country today.

You see, Barry’s killers attacked him because they believed he was gay. It didn’t matter that Barry was the best marksman in his company. That he loved the Army and the men and women he served alongside. That he continued our family’s long tradition of military service. Or that the only thing he wanted to do was the best job he could. By the time Barry was attacked and murdered at Fort Campbell, the moral compass of our armed forces had already been hijacked by powers that had chosen wrong over right and put into place a reprehensible policy of exclusion, discrimination and shame for lesbian, gay and bisexual service members.

‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ isn’t just dangerous. Isn’t just unacceptable. Isn’t just backwards and counter-productive. It is morally inexcusable, wrong in every sense of the word and it must be repealed today. The collective will of our people demands it and those in Congress who steer this great ship of our nation cannot proclaim to embody equality or preserve the dignity of our people until this law disappears.

We are not a free people when we compromise the freedom of the minority for the comfort and convenience of the majority. Freedom is not a right that can be compromised and it is morally wrong to deny that right in favor of political gain. There is no one among us – here, in Washington or anywhere on this earth – who has the moral authority to take away the right to live freely, as we choose, without judgment.

It is time to take back the control of our nation’s moral compass and to define morality as the inherent right of every person to live with dignity and without hateful persecution in the name of a God that true God-fearing people do not recognize.

The same people who would tell me that Barry undermined the cohesion of the armed forces have made ‘government-by-favor’ an art form the likes of which has not been seen in the entirety of our nation’s history. Those same people – the ones who failed to protect our people in the face of a natural disaster; the ones who appoint friends rather than professionals for the most important jobs in our country; the ones who cannot find any right to liberty and freedom in the constitution of our great nation – those same people have no moral authority to tell any one of us that our son, or our daughter, is not fit to serve our country. It is only qualification – and not favoritism based on whatever prejudice – that should matter when it comes to selecting those who defend our freedoms.

The time has come to speak. The time has come to tell.

We have a duty, as parents, Americans and free people, to once again steer this country toward the choice of right over wrong. When we send our fighting forces to liberate the people of foreign lands, those forces should themselves be comprised of liberated men and women. When we tear down walls of obstruction half way across the world, our view of the horizon should not be blocked by our own obstructive wall. And when we lift up our neighbors from oppression to freedom, we should not be weighted down by the oppression of our own leaders. We may have temporarily been steered in direction of ‘wrong,’ but we have the moral obligation to remind those at the controls that we demand, and insist upon, moving in the direction of ‘right.’

The time has come to live as a community of equals and to place human dignity first and foremost in our communities, our churches, our families and our government. Tonight, as you leave, make a promise to yourself, your children and the men and women who, as we end our day, are just beginning theirs in Iraq or Afghanistan. Promise them that, before another day passes, you will write, call or email your Member of Congress and not just ask for – but demand – a military that embodies the liberating spirit it fights for. Promise that you will take it upon yourself to fight for an end to the military’s dangerous ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. And promise that you will remind the world, and our people, that, though we have temporarily chosen the wrong direction, it is but a reminder of the natural ability to choose the right.

The freedom to serve our nation, just like the freedom to serve our church and our God, is a freedom that should not be limited by sexual orientation. “The purpose of freedom,” Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison once said, “is to free somebody else.” Tonight, please join me in making a solemn pledge to free not just those who are in bondage abroad, but also those who suffer in bondage right here at home."

-Steve Ralls