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highest ranking gay military officer

12 Jan 2025

Retired officers Brig Gens Keh H Kerr and Virgil A Richard and Rear Adm Alan M Steman, srg 'don't ask, don't tell' policy for homosexuals ary, disclose that they are gay; say they are first generals and admiral to e out publicly and urge others to follow; hope to spur dialogue about changg policy; disclosure is part of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network drive to mark 10th anniversary of promise to let homosexuals serve ary; work says nearly 10,000 service members have been discharged for beg gay unr policy; photos (M)

Contents:

THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ARMY SECRETARY U.S. HISTORY
I'M A GAY ARMY OFFICER—QUEER TROOPS MT FIGHT BACK
GAY GENERAL HID PRIVATE LIFE OM ARMY FOR YEARS
GAY EX-OFFICERS SAY 'DON'T ASK' DON'T WORK

THE FIRST OPENLY GAY ARMY SECRETARY U.S. HISTORY

The U.S. Army has announced the promotn of a "gay" officer to the rank of general. by Dave Bohon * highest ranking gay military officer *

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.

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

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.

“When I me durg the 80s, thgs were different for women and gay people, and now 2021, the societal l are different aga.”. “People mt fd fort and ph back some of that ternalized homophobia, and build a b on the journey between hont and thentic.”.

GAY GENERAL HID PRIVATE LIFE OM ARMY FOR YEARS

The First Openly Gay Army Secretary U.

GAY EX-OFFICERS SAY 'DON'T ASK' DON'T WORK

But that omissn is what ma the Senate’s cisn to nfirm Fanng as the 22nd Army secretary this week such a historic moment: Fanng is now the first openly gay lear of a U.

BEAR-MAGAZINE.COM HIGHEST RANKING GAY MILITARY OFFICER

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