The Human Rights Campaign's Brad Luna tells me that the well-funded gay rights organization will kick off a national tour to repeal DADT -- that's Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the federal policy banning gays from serving in the military.
The tour, which kicks off in Des Moines, IA next Tuesday, will feature the first U.S. soldier injured in Iraq, Eric Alva -- yep, he's gay -- along with other gay vets and one of those Arabic linguists the Republicans were asked to address last night. Iowa State Sen. Maj. Leader Mike Gronstal will also attend, ensuring that the event will earn press coverage and find its way into the presidential conversation there.
The Republicans all favored keeping the policy in place; on Sunday, all the Democrats indicated they'd try to repeal it.
The HRC sent out a video recorded by ex-Marine commander Antonio Agnone
Tour stops include: Phoenix, Orlando, Palm Springs, CA, Seattle and New Hampshire.
Check out HRC president Joe Solomnese's security frame:
Those candidates running to be the next Commander in Chief will have to decide if they believe the sexual orientation of an Arabic linguist is more important than their ability to potentially decode the next piece of intelligence that could finally bring Osama Bin Laden to justice
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I have a story to tell, as well, about being gay and being in the service. This story is for ALL those "Christians" (KKK-ristians) out there who have a problem with us being in the service.
After about three years of marriage, while in the Navy, I was SURE I was gay. I had told my wife I thought I might be gay, or was questioning, BEFORE we married. I couldn't keep that information from her. My wife felt she needed to announce it to a bunch of people, so I got KICKED OUT of the service over it. Oh yeah, I was ALSO the submarine's preacher (Protestant Lay Reader) even though I desperately tried NOT to be because I was afraid eventually someone might find out I was gay, and I didn't want it to "hurt the church." After being ordered to be Protestant Lay Reader from our ship's Executive Officer, I asked EVERY MAN on the boat if he would be the "preacher" and they wouldn't do it.
Therefore, if it hadn't been for a GAY MAN there wouldn't have been PROTESTANT SERVICES onboard a nuclear powered submarine during the Cold War. BUT, gays can't serve because we are some kind of "sexual monsters." Yea, I was SUCH a sexual monster I didn't even MASTURBATE (maybe too much information but this is to make a point) until the Hospital Corpsman told me I had to because I started having major prostate problems. Yea, us GAYS... we sure are uncontrollable sexual monsters, uh huh... unlike those EVANGELICAL METH HEAD PREACHERS like Ted Haggard!
By the way, here is a news article about my experience and having a poem published in the Smithsonian:
http://www2.jsonline.com/news/nat/ap/aug01/ap-smithsonian-gay082701.asp
Gays and Lesbians have SERVED HONORABLY in our military services and deserve to CONTINUE to serve! By not allowing us to serve, it is just one more way to treat us differently and justify discrimination in other areas. Those who argue against allowing us to serve KNOW if we openly serve in the military, they will start losing their arguments that we somehow don't deserve equal rights in all the other areas of American civil society.
Posted by Timothy Beauchamp | June 6, 2007 8:06 PM