As "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to an end, we sent Chris Heath to terview dozens of gay servicemen om the past and prent to fd out what life was really like as Ameri's ary stggled wh s last great inty crisis
Contents:
- ARMY’S FIRST OPENLY GAY GENERAL RETIR AFTER SPIRG OTHERS
- "COMG OUT UNR FIRE": THE STORY OF GAY AND LBIAN SERVICEMEMBERS
- OPENLY GAY AIR FORCE MAND CHIEF AT RAMSTE LENDS VOICE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FOR PRI MONTH
- I'M A GAY ARMY OFFICER—QUEER TROOPS MT FIGHT BACK
- TELL: AN INTIMATE HISTORY OF GAY MEN THE MILARY
ARMY’S FIRST OPENLY GAY GENERAL RETIR AFTER SPIRG OTHERS
Soldiers reprentg the lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer muny virtually celebrated Pri Month Thursday * gay army rosenbom *
Before "don't ask, don't tell" was officially repealed for gay, lbian, and bisexual ary personnel 2011, a photo of a male Mare drag uld have land him hot water. "Lbian, gay, and bisexual ary personnel had been servg our untry for s whout receivg equal protectn, while transgenr troops are still prohibed om servg openly.
"As a gay man, I n relate to what is still the opprsive stigma of homosexualy. Army Rerve, participat a lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer panel discsn June 24, 2021.
WASHINGTON -- Soldiers reprentg the lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer muny virtually celebrated Pri Month Thursday as part of a discsn that marked another step the Army’s growg regnn toward the LGBTQ muny.
"COMG OUT UNR FIRE": THE STORY OF GAY AND LBIAN SERVICEMEMBERS
WASHINGTON -- Sce Maj. Gen. Tammy Smh, the ary’s hight-rankg openly gay officer, me out 2012, she has tried beg an example of livg... * gay army rosenbom *
Every June, Pri Month is a natnal observance that is held to memorate the Stonewall Uprisg Manhattan, New York, 1969, a historic tippg pot wh the gay liberatn movement to empower all LGBTQ Amerins. The directive was a promise measure that barred LGBTQ-intifyg persons om ary service, but also prohibed ary personnel om discrimatg agast, or harassg, closeted gay and lbian troops.
Even 2011, after lawmakers repealed the directive, the repeal only ensured gay, lbian and bisexual troops uld openly serve.
OPENLY GAY AIR FORCE MAND CHIEF AT RAMSTE LENDS VOICE OF PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FOR PRI MONTH
Gay and Lbian soldiers faced extraordary discrimatn durg World War II. Most found new muni of people and thrived spe the opprsn. Disver the film Comg Out Unr Fire that shar their story. * gay army rosenbom *
“I was explicly asked on my [enlistment] forms: Are you gay? Tammy Smh participate a lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer panel discsn June 24, 2021.
“I didn’t know whether the two uld align: me beg gay and servg the Army, ” he said.
I'M A GAY ARMY OFFICER—QUEER TROOPS MT FIGHT BACK
Only 15 years ago, Chief Master Sgt. Jeremiah Grisham never imaged he’d be where he is today: the top enlisted lear for the 521st Air Mobily Operatns Wg at Ramste. As far as he knows, he’s the only openly gay mand chief the Air Force. * gay army rosenbom *
Tammy Smh, the ary’s hight-rankg openly gay officer, me out 2012, she has tried beg an example of livg thentilly while also beg a bean of visibily to other Soldiers and their fai. The policy banned lbians, gay men and bisexuals om servg the ary. It terrified her to e out as gay such a public way, but she felt a rponsibily to do , she said.
As difficult as was for her, g out publicly as gay “may not have been as easy for someone who was at a lower rank, ” Smh said an terview last week.
TELL: AN INTIMATE HISTORY OF GAY MEN THE MILARY
Most lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr service members are still reluctant to disclose their sexual orientatn or inty. * gay army rosenbom *
“When I me durg the 80s, thgs were different for women and gay people, and now 2021, the societal l are different aga.