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.
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Julia Thoron is co-chair of the PFLAG San Francisco chapter. For more information on PFLAG, please visit PFLAG’s website.
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.
posted by SLDN at
2:50 PM
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