Don't ask, don't tell

I am thrilled to read of reports that indicate that the Pentagon is close to making some sweeping recommendations for change to this ridiculous policy.

My regular readers will know that for 15 years I was married to a gay man - for five of those years, he also served in the US Army and was deeply closeted for reasons only known to him, though I suspect that much of his conflict and secrecy was due to being married to me.

In order to put this issue into perspective, let's imagine for a moment that your partner/husband/wife/or significant other is serving in a combat zone. They are killed in the line of duty and the Pentagon does not know that you exist (due to Don't ask, Don't tell), and as a result, nor do they tell you of said partner's demise. This is a very real situation for all too many of our servicemembers who are currently in combat zones and living in closeted relationships.

If gays are openly accepted into the military, they can come out of the shadows and live sans fear of reprisals. They can openly love their partners, write letters and call home using real names, not pseudonyms as was reported in a recent 60 minutes story I watched with sorrow.

I am hoping and praying for a speedy and cohesive resolution to this Clinton-era debacle.

Let us all do the same if we consider ourselves to be fair-minded Americans.

Obama to OK benefits for same-sex partners of federal workers

Just recently, I wrote of my disappointment with President Obama over DOMA and other GLBT issues. He has thankfully remembered his promises to GLBT persons over the course of his campaign - even calling himself "a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian Americans."

He is now going to do what Rocky Anderson (former mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah) did - one of my proudest days in his office - sign legislation to extend domestic partner benefits to same sex couples for the city - in Obama's case, for federal workers. This is so encouraging on many levels.

Allies of the GLBT community have long been frustrated with the government's lack of vision concerning our issues. Hate crimes legislation in the name of Matthew Shephard has stalled and DOMA is an accepted fact.

We need to continue to work with our elected officials to ensure that all Americans are treated equally and have access to medical coverage and other benefits that straight people take for granted.

Today the federal government - tomorrow - equality for everyone!

A Bad Call on Gay Rights

I knew that eventually there would be issues coming out of the Obama Administration with which I would not agree - frankly, I had not expected that it would be this soon, nor on this subject. Certainly not given what he stated about being a supporter of gay rights on is campaign trail.

In the 1967 Supreme Court case of Loving vs. Virginia, the Court ruled that a mixed (black and white) couple could indeed be married. It is of interest to note that President Obama, with his mixed heritage does not grasp the connection between this aggregious wrong and the fact that his parents would not have been allowed to be married-hell, he might not even have been born.

I am tired of these lame arguments that judges use to defend DOMA - Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I am tired of my gay brothers and sisters who do not have the opportunity to marry- and now, even in those states where they are allowed to marry legally, those unions are not recognized in other states, nor do they have to be, according to the Administration - not in NY, thanks to the wisdom and foresight of Governor David Paterson.

Please take time to read this poignantly written editorial piece from the NY Times today - and then write to the President: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/16/opinion/16tue1.html?_r=1

Army fired 11 soldiers in January for being gay

"Don't ask, don't tell."

Many of us are familiar with the verbiage - we are, however not necessarily familiar with the concept behind it.

Here is an excerpt from the story, but as always, I encourage you to check out the link and see the story in its entirety as posted on AOL earlier today: http://news.aol.com/article/army-fired-11-soldiers-in-jan-as-openly/380286

Denying ones sexuality, not engaging in homosexuality or gasp - trying to get married. Can you imagine the fallout amongst hetorosexuals were they to be told that for 20 years of their military career, they could not be true to themselves, literally denying their very essence for the sake of political expediency?

For years, women struggled and fought alongside men for the right to be seen as something other than property in order to achieve the right to vote. For years, blacks and whites marched in civil disobedience so that slaves could be free and so that blacks would have the right to vote.

The Gay issue is the civil rights issue of our times - we all know someone - a friend, a family member or even a co worker who is gay - at times like these, we need to stand tall - write to your elected official and tell them enough of this - no more firing good and decent men and women from the armed services simply for daring to be openly gay!