[Vision2020] Gay troops OK’d to march at parade in uniform

[Chasuk]

Obama appealed DADT, yes, but, as far as I know, gay married military
couples still aren't eligible for the same benefits as hetero married
military couples.

Chas

On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 4:33 PM, Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com> wrote:
> One question . . .
>
> Huh?
>
> President Barack Obama repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT)
>
> DADT was enacted by President Bill Clinton.  DADT simply stated that a
> service member could not be asked if (s)he is homosexual.  However, if it
> were discovered that a service member is homosexual, (s)he could be
> discharged under "less than honorable" conditions, usually a general
> discharge.
>
> President Obama terminated DADT, thus allowing ALL service members to serve
> proudly, regardless of their sexual preference.
>
> Now, Mr. Arnold . . .
>
> Care to tell us how you feel that President Obama has not done anything.
>
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "If not us, who?
> If not now, when?"
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>
> On Jul 20, 2012, at 16:05, Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> I would like to know why men and women in uniform are denied benefits for
> their family simply because they are gay? It seems unfair that our men and
> women in uniform that put their lives at risk cannot have the same rights as
> other Americans. An executive order by the President could change this, yet
> he doesn't.
>
> Donovan J. Arnold
>
>
>
> From: Tom Hansen <thansen at moscow.com>
> To: Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Friday, July 20, 2012 3:15 PM
> Subject: [Vision2020] Gay troops OK’d to march at parade in uniform
>
> Courtesy of the Army Times at:
>
> http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/07/ap-gay-troops-march-in-uniform-san-diego-pride-parade-071912/
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> Gay troops OK’d to march at parade in uniform
>
>
>
> CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — About 200 active-duty troops participated in last
> year's San Diego gay pride parade, but they wore T-shirts with their
> branch's name, not military dress.
>
> This year for the first time ever, U.S. service members will be able to
> march in a gay pride event decked out in uniform.
>
> In a memorandum sent to all its branches, the Defense Department said it was
> making the allowance for the San Diego parade on Saturday — even though its
> policy generally bars troops from marching in uniform in parades.
>
> The Defense Department said it did so because organizers had encouraged
> military personnel to march in their uniform and the event was getting
> national attention.
>
> Former sailor Sean Sala, who organized the military's participation in the
> parade, said he wanted service members to wear their official uniform this
> year to show there is no longer anything to hide.
>
> "My soul is on fire," he said after hearing the news Thursday. "They don't
> fight in T-shirts. They fight in uniforms. This is about showing who they
> are."
>
> Thursday's move came only weeks after the Pentagon joined the rest of the
> U.S. government for the first time in marking June as gay pride month and
> made an official salute to gay and lesbian service members.
>
> Defense Secretary Leon Panetta vowed in a video message to remove as many
> barriers as possible to making the military a model of equal opportunity and
> said gays and lesbians can be proud in uniform with the repeal last year of
> the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law.
>
> Last year, San Diego's gay pride parade had the nation's largest contingency
> of active-duty troops participate before the military lifted its ban on
> openly gay service members.
>
> The Pentagon said the allowance is only for this year's parade in San Diego
> and does not extend beyond that. Military personnel wearing civilian clothes
> do not need permission to march in any parades.
>
> The Defense Department policy says personnel cannot march in parades in
> uniform unless they receive approval from their commanding officers or other
> Pentagon-approved authorities.
>
> Sala believes there will be no going back after Saturday. He said he has
> reached his dream in seeing the U.S. military sanction participation in a
> gay pride parade, as the armed forces have done in Canada and Great Britain.
>
> Uniformed soldiers in those countries have marched down the streets of
> Toronto and London next to scantily clad men, drag queens and civil rights
> activists.
>
> "I think across the country we will start seeing active-duty members in
> uniform march in pride parades," Sala said.
>
> San Diego Pride Executive Director Dwayne Crenshaw called it an historic
> moment.
>
> "San Diego Pride is honored to have the privilege of celebrating our country
> and our service members with dignity and respect," he said. "The fight for
> equality is not over, and it is not easy, but this is a giant leap in the
> right direction."
>
> Before Thursday, several service members wanting to participate in San
> Diego's parade were told they could not do so in uniform. Others were
> granted permission by their commanding officers.
>
> "I think many people thought after 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was gone,
> discriminatory things would be eradicated," Sala said. "But now these
> parades have become a very sticky subject as far as commanders using their
> own discretion because they are showing either a bias toward a pride parade,
> or the right view, which this is about recognizing who people are."
>
> Before the repeal, gay troops could serve but could be discharged if they
> revealed their sexual orientation. At the same time, a commanding officer
> was prohibited from asking a service member whether he or she was gay.
>
> More than 300 service members have signed up to participate this year in the
> San Diego parade. It was unclear how many will wear their uniform.
>
> The Defense Department said in its message to the service members that they
> should adhere to policy regarding behavior while wearing their uniforms.
>
> Service members in uniform cannot appear to endorse or selectively benefit
> groups or individuals, provide a platform for a political message, or appear
> to be commercially sponsored. They also must ensure their presence in
> uniform is not intended to increase sales and business traffic.
>
> Air Force Officer Joanna Gasca, 47, was among those who risked marching last
> year in a T-shirt. Her commanding officer had given her permission to do so
> this year before Thursday's memorandum was issued.
>
> "It was absolutely thrilling last year to walk down the street," the Air
> Force recruiter said. "But this year — to be able to march in uniform — wow!
> I'm speechless."
>
> ---------------
>
> More than 200 active-duty troops and war veterans marched in San Diego's gay
> pride parade last year. The Pentagon is allowing service members to march in
> the 2012 San Diego parade in uniform, a first for the military.
>
> <image.jpeg>
>
> -----------------------------------
>
> "Free at last, free at last . . . "
>
> Seeya round town, Moscow.
>
> Tom Hansen
> Moscow, Idaho
>
> "If not us, who?
> If not now, when?"
>
> - Unknown
>
>
>
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