I'm a Gay Army Officer—Queer Troops Mt Fight Back

gay couples in military

Dpe an extensive history of punive practic towards what we know today as the lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr, and queer (LGBTQ) muny, LGBTQ people have served the Uned Stat ary sce s ceptn (GSAFE, 2018). Those LGBTQ Veterans who served durg World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War did so at a time when the ary fed homosexualy as a mental disorr, wh support om the anized medil muny (e.g., APA).

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WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A GAY MILARY COUPLE?

What is like to be a same-sex uple the ary? Is any different than beg married to someone of the oppose sex? No, not really. But there are some thgs that I've noticed durg my time as an openly gay Mare Corps spoe and veteran. I was the Mare Corps when Don't Ask, Don't Tell was still affect. But once was overturned, we actually had a Mare check- as  married to another male. When that happened, a Staff Sgt. ma a horrible ment -- but my mandg officer took actn and that Staff Sgt. got huge trouble. * gay couples in military *

But there are some thgs that I've noticed durg my time as an openly gay Mare Corps spoe and veteran. Sce 2011, openly gay, lbian and bisexual men and women have been permted to serve the ary.

FIRST ACTIVE-DUTY GAY COUPLE MARRIED AT WT POT

The right to a ary burial for gay spo was guaranteed natnwi wh the legalizatn of same-sex marriage 2015, but only a handful of known same-sex ary upl are buried across US natnal cemeteri. For most, the right to such an honor has been hard won. * gay couples in military *

It wasn’t until 1982 that the ary enacted a policy explicly banng gay men and lbians om their ranks.

And the early 1940s, was classified as a mental illns, disqualifyg gay men and lbians om service.

FOR GAY UPL HOPG FOR A ARY BURIAL, THE FIGHT FOR LOVE DON’T END WH ATH

<p>Extensn of marriage benefs to gay ary spo unrsr the sweepg cultural change Ameri</p> * gay couples in military *

Eighteen years later, Congrs repealed the policy, allowg openly gay, lbian and bisexual people to serve the ary. Gay marriage supporters hold a gay rights flag ont of the Supreme Court before a hearg about gay marriage Washgton April 28, 2015.

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE NOW LEGAL FOR GAY MILARY COUPL ALL 50 STAT

Outgog Defense Secretary Leon Pata announced the extensn of some ary benefs to same-sex partners of service members. While the Defense of Marriage Act is law, however, gay ary partners are not entled to all of the same benefs as their straight unterparts. * gay couples in military *

At the time, former Print Bill Clton's policy, "don't ask, don't tell" was effect, barrg homosexual or bisexual members of the ary om disclosg his or her sexual orientatn and om speakg about homosexual remembered thkg, “this guy has a lot of guts, and he’s kd of cute, too.

I'M A GAY ARMY OFFICER—QUEER TROOPS MT FIGHT BACK

"So we put our mds that we were never gog to say we were gay, we were never gog to get ma fun of, and we were certaly never gog to get kicked out of the Army. Campbell was the first gay veteran to secure burial rights for her spoe, and the pair were the first same-sex ary uple to be buried together at a US natnal cemetery.

GAY ARY UPL WELE PENTAGON CISN TO EXTEND BENEFS

The right to a ary burial for gay spo was guaranteed natnwi wh the legalizatn of same-sex marriage 2015, but only a handful of known same-sex ary upl are buried across the 172 natnal cemeteri the US – grounds rerved chiefly for ary members and selected fay.

However, gay veterans have always fought for their right to be clud and celebrated such spac. Their tombston shout to the silence: “Gay is good, ” reads a plaque below the grave of Frank Kameny, an inic activist, civil servant and World War II veteran. A glossy namels marble headstone marks the grave of Leonard Matlovich, one of the first LGBTQ veterans to prott the ary’s ban on homosexualy, as one belongg to “A Gay Vietnam Veteran.

Matt Thorn, terim executive director for OutServe-SLDN, an advocy group for gay, lbian, bisexual and transgenr service members, said the Supreme Court's cisn was a msage to their muny "that... Our life 17 photos: A gay sailor’s love story. The anti-gay law has ser ramifitns for Dwayne and Jonathan.

A GAY UPLE RAN A RAL RTRANT PEACE. THEN NEW NEIGHBORS ARRIVED.

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. But as a gay man, I have been fightg my whole life to enjoy the very privileg I am entled to as both a beholr and protector of them. I was one of few soldiers who joed the service before graduatg high school, but the admistratn at the time, which I believe was homophobic, chose to act as if I never existed bee of my queer hate that I experienced growg up on Long Island was my first enunter wh how others would treat me as a queer soldier.

*BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM* GAY COUPLES IN MILITARY

Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal for Gay Milary Coupl All 50 Stat | .

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