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the Forward Observer T h e N a t i o n a l N e w s l e tt e r o f A m e r i c a n V e t e r a n s f o r E q u a l R i g h t s , I n c . V o l u m e 4 I s s u e 2 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 0 New Officers

Danny Ingram Julz Carey Nick Jackman Mark LaFontaine President Vice-President Secretary Treasurer AVER National Convention AVER Veterans March Across America on Veterans Day

Chicago

Alburquerque New York

Chicago Palm Springs AVER 20th Anniversary-May 2010 Contents TheForward Observer is the official quarterly newsletter of From the President’s Corner 3 News from National Committees 7 American Veterans for Equal From the Managing Editor 4 Chapter Reports 8 Rights, Inc. 501(c)(3) AVER 15th National Convention 5 20-Year Anniversary of AVER 10 P. O. Box 1490 Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell 5 Miriam Ben Shalom 11 2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW National Equality March 6 Taps 11 Washington, DC 20006 Arlington Cemetery Wreathlaying 6  Congressional Cemetery Wreathlaying 6 Forward Observer Committee General Contact [email protected] Chapter Directory Editor-in-Chief California New Mexico AVER President Managing Editor Palm Springs Chapter AVER Bataan Chapter President - Mel Tips Contact Steve Loomis James Darby P.O. Box 5012 6027 Black Ridge Drive, NE [email protected] Palm Springs, CA 92263-5012 Albuquerque, NM 87120-2181 Editorial Staff 760 329 6560 505 301 1737 Bill Beaman Sacramento Valley Veterans Chapter Web site: www.orgsites.com/nm/bataan-glbva/ [email protected] President - Raymond Allen New York James Apedaile Web site: www.sacvalleyveterans.org AVER New York Chapter [email protected] San Diego Chapter President - Denny Meyer Staff Advisers President - Ben Gomez P.O. Box 150160 Chief Julz Carey, Denny Meyer 4038 Texas St. #2  San Diego, CA 92104 Kew Gardens, NY 11415 Web site: www.orgsites.com/ca/aversandiego/ 718 849 5665 AVER Executive Board District of Columbia Web site: [email protected] President Danny Ingram National Capital Chapter Ohio [email protected] Vice President Julz Carey Gary Collins - 202 832 9019 NEOAVER Chapter Florida President Marie Bohusch [email protected] AVER - Florida Gold Coast Chapter [email protected] Secretary Nick Jackman President - Mark LaFontaine Web site: www.neoaver.org [email protected] P.O. Box 11247 Treasurer Mark LaFontaine Tennessee Fort Lauderdale, FL 33339 [email protected] President - Tim Smith 954 537 3582 Past-President James Donovan Web site: www.aver.fgc.us Web site: [email protected] [email protected] Georgia Texas Volume 4, Issue 2, Forward Observer. AVER Georgia Chapter AVER-SA Chapter Published quarterly by American President - Danny Ingram President - Robert Weeks P.O. Box 2115 Veterans for Equal Rights, Inc., a P.O. Box 15642 Decatur, GA 30031 501(c)(3) non-proﬁt org. ©2010 404 378 3240 San Antonio, TX 78212 AVER. All rights reserved, except Web site: www.avergeorgia.org 210 558 78212 where otherwise credited. AVER Web site: www.aversantonio.com Hawaii national web site is www.aver.us. AVER Hawaii Chapter Washington The Forward Observer is available for President - Sean Smith AVER Puget Sound Chapter download via the AVER national Web 2092 Kuhio Ave, #1705 President - Nick Jackman site. AVER is not responsible for the Honolulu, HI 96815 10115 Greenwood Ave N 808 497 0650 claims of any sponsor advertisements PMB Box 145 which may appear herein. Web site: www.averhawaii.com Seattle, WA 98133 Change of Address: When notify- Illinois 206 428 1975 ing a change of address, send former Gay Veterans Chicago Chapter Web site:www.averpugetsound.org President - James C. Darby as well as new address, including zip P.O. Box 29317 AVER chapters are being formed in Austin, code, to: AVER Membership, P.O. Chicago, IL 60629 Texas, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, Los Box 97, Plainville, IL 62365. To up- 773 752 0058 Angeles, California, Indianapolis, Indiana, and date either postal or eMail addresses Web site: www.averchicago.org St. Louis, Missouri. via eMail, send both former and new addresses to: [email protected].

2 | The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us From The President’s Corner

It is my honor to have been elected as the new national president of American Veterans for Equal Rights. Your additional national officers are Julz Carey as VP, Nick Jackman as Secretary, and Mark LaFontaine who was reelected to another term as Treasurer. I am sure I join all my fellow officers in thanking everyone who supported us in this election. We are here to serve you, and I mean that. In the past you may have felt that your voice was not heard and your wishes were disrespected. We are here to listen to each of you as together we face the upcoming second battle of the ban and the transition of AVER to a true veterans service organization. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a moral evil that jeopardizes national security and the lives of our soldiers by removing qualified service members as we fight the war on terror. The policy undermines the very mission of the military which is to defend the constitution and uphold America's vision of a just and free society. Each of us took an oath to defend the constitution. Black, white, Asian, Latino, straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender, young and old, the oath we took to defend our freedom is what brings us together and unites us in this cause. Each of us in time received the torch of freedom and passed it along to those who came after us, but no one ever withdrew their oath of service to defend the constitution. You are needed now. Your country is calling again. Our freedom is under attack, and I call upon each of you to remember your oath. We are tired. We are old. Many of us are broken and wounded. Still, we are called, and we must do what soldiers do. In Ft. Lauderdale we performed a taps ceremony and I invited each of the participants to remember. I invite you all to do the same. Remember our fallen. Remember those we have lost along the way. Weep for them. Honor them. Miss them. Rage for them. Later that evening we celebrated. We celebrated who we are, where we have been. What we have accomplished. We celebrated our heritage, our honor. We wore our uniforms and proudly displayed our flags and battle streamers. We feasted. We laughed and drank together. Tomorrow comes the trumpet call. Tomorrow comes the muster. Tomorrow we draw the battle lines and we prepare to do what soldiers do. I promise to be there with you and help hold that line to the best of my abilities. I do not promise I will be perfect. I do promise I will do all that I can. A people who love freedom and value justice will not long suffer the guardians of their liberty to discriminate. I believe the people of America are with us, and I believe we will prevail. The ban will fall whether AVER is in the battle or not. It is the time. My goal is that we will fight this battle with heartfelt compassion and respect for each other both as people and as the honored warriors of our great nation. If we do not accomplish that then we have accomplished nothing. I have met many of you and talked with others on the phone. I care for each of you, and with all the imperfection of my human heart I promise to listen and respect your concerns. Be patient with me. I will need all the help that you can give me. We are a special lot of people. We have stood fast and held the line. Now we are called upon to do so again. Let us do so with courage, conviction, and respect for one another. Prepare. "Keep calm and carry on." I look forward to the coming campaign. Together we will help defend what must be defended. We will restore honor to that which must be honored. And we will return to America a wondrous dream once dreamt and a vision never beyond the sight of those who have kept faithful watch for the promise of the dawn. Respectfully, Danny Ingram, National President American Veterans for Equal Rights [email protected] 404 8945518

The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us | 3 From The Managing Editor

Greetings, First, let me thank all the loyal members of AVER who have renewed their memberships. Some of you are new, but most of you have been around since the mid 90’s. I'm sure that none of us expected this to be such a long journey. But we are still here, and we all know that this is the year that the ban will be lifted and anyone who wants to serve this country will be able to do so, openly and honestly. This year GLBVA/AVER will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. GLBVA was founded in 1990 by six gay, lesbian and bisexual veterans. One of the original founders, Bill Lake, First Officer of Veterans C.A.R.E, L.A., has passed on. But we are fortunate that the other five are still with us. Plans are underway to celebrate this historic Anniversary in Washington, DC this year. Information will be posted on the website and also the spring issue of The Forward Observer. Please continue to forward to us the stories and photos of what you and your chapter are doing. This is your newsletter and we want to share this information, not only with other chapters but with as many people in this country as we can. Thank you for continuing to serve your country.

Respectfully, Jim Darby Managing Editor AVER, P.O. Box 29317, Chicago, IL 60629 [email protected] 773-752-0058

A Victory For LGBT who were discharged under honorable funded veterans’ benefits as well. conditions. The Attorney General’s Here is a summary of some of the Veterans opinion goes on to state that the ben- benefits available to LGBTI veterans In a major ruling that benefits efits may even be available to some who and their domestic partners. LGBTI veterans and their domestic had been discharged from the military • Direct low cost loans to acquire partners, The California Attorney Gen- because of their sexual orientation. It homes and farms. eral has ruled that LGBTI veterans who says that “Discharge for homosexual • Rehabilitative and medical care at reside in California, and their domestic conduct is characterized as other than the California Veterans’ Homes. partners are eligible for all the same vet- honorable only when there are aggravat- • Veterans’ preferences in state civil eran’s benefits (that are provided by the ing circumstances in connection with service examinations. state of California) that are available to one or more completed, attempted, or • College tuition fee waivers for veter- heterosexual veterans and their spouses. solicited homosexual acts.” The rul- ans and their dependents. The ruling came as the result of a ing then went on to say “A discharge • Disabled veterans’ business enter- request for a ruling sent to the Attorney premised solely on the member’s prise opportunities. General by the California Commission sexual orientation or gender would not • Waived or reduced fees for hunting on the Status of Women. disqualify him or her for state funded and sport fishing licenses/permits for The ruling said the benefits would veterans’ benefits.” disabled veterans. be available to LGBT veterans who had The ruling also specifically says that Boyce Hinman been given an honorable discharge, or transgender veterans can receive state

4 | The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us AVER 15th National panionship. Julz Carey from the Seattle Chapter Don’t Ask, Don’t Convention introduced a new fund-raising project- Tell Ft. Lauderdale, the AVER Chocolate Soldier. The Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is a moral Florida Soldier was designed and is produced by evil that jeopardizes national security October 14 - 18, Julz, and this is a fundraiser for AVER. and the lives of our soldiers by remov- 2009 The Soldiers are available for $5.00 from ing qualified service members as we www.aver.us fight the war on terror. The policy -un This is my 15th Annual Conven- Two carloads of attendees headed dermines the very mission of the mili- tion of GLBVA/AVER. My first was in out for an afternoon at “Billie’s Swamp tary which is to defend the Constitu- Baltimore in 1992, and I haven’t missed Safari.” (Isn’t that what everyone does tion and uphold America’s vision of a one since. Always exciting and always when they go to Florida?) This adven- just and free society. Each of us took invigorating, this year’s Convention was ture included a buggy and an air boat an oath to defend the Constitution. one of the best. My only regret is that ride on the Seminole Indian Reservation Black, white, Asian, Latino, straight, I only got into the pool once and the in the Everglades National Park. And, gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender, ocean once. yes, we did see plenty of alligators. young and old, the oath we took to The Florida Gold Coast Chapter There were booksignings by both defend our freedom is what brings us truly worked very hard to make this Nathaniel Frank, Unfriendly Fire and together and unites us in this cause. event such a success and I know that all Fr. John McNeil, The Church and the Each of us in time received the torch attendees left fully charged to do what- Homosexual at the Stonewall Library. of freedom and passed it along to ever it takes to end the Don’t Ask, Don’t On Saturday evening the Military those who came after us, but no one Tell policy. Ball was held at the local American Le- ever withdrew from their oath of We will only cover some of the gion Post. Numerous awards were given service to defend the Constitution. highlights of the Convention. out at the ball. LT. LeAnna Bradley You are needed now. Your country is There were four days of workshops, finally received her two Purple Hearts. calling again. Our freedom is under presentations, lectures, personal stories, Dinner, dancing and a great deal of attack, and I call upon each of you visits from a number of local politicians camaraderie was enjoyed by all. to remember your oath. We are tired. and VA Representatives. That is not to The new officers of AVER are: We are old. Many of us are broken say that we didn’t enjoy ourselves and President Danny Ingram, Atlanta, GA, and wounded. Still, we are called and have some fun like all conventioneers. Vice President Julz Carey, Seattle, WA, we must do what soldiers do. The first night there was a Welcom- Secretary, Nick Jackman, Seattle, WA Tomorrow comes the trumpet ing Cocktail Reception and Dinner at and Treasurer, Mark LaFontaine, Ft. call. Tomorrow comes the muster. Rosie’s, a local Wilton Manors gather- Lauderdale, FL. The voting was unani- Tomorrow we draw the battle lines ing place, and guests received a warm mous. I must add that I am extremely and we prepare to do what soldiers welcome from Mayor Gary Resnick and pleased with the newly elected officers, do. I promise to be there with you Commissioner Tom Green. and we can look forward to great things and to help hold that line to the best On Thursday morning a wonderful happening for AVER. of my abilities. I do not promise that breakfast was hosted by the Courtyard Danny Ingram and Julz Carey were I will be perfect. I do promised that I Café, another local LGBT establish- sworn in by Fr. John McNeill. Fr. Mc- will do all that I can. I believe that the ment. Neill is a WWII Veteran who served in people of America are with us and I The Chicago Chapter gave a slide General George Patton’s Third Army, a believe that we will prevail. presentation on The History of the Gay Purple Heart recipient, a former Catho- Veterans Movement going back to 1776 lic Priest, a Prisoner of War captured in Danny Ingram, President, AVER, Octo- when Baron Von Steuben came to the the Battle of the Bulge, and a member ber 21, 2009, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, U.S. to help found the Continental of AVER. Fr. McNeil is the author of a AVER National Convention. Army. And, as we all know, the Baron number of books dealing with gays and brought his young Frenchman for com- the church.

The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us | 5 National Equality This March was organized by young female. I felt frozen in time-a precious people who probably weren’t old enough moment in history. March in to attend any of the previous marches. Washington, DC on Along the way we were joined by Congressional Lt. Dan Choi, who recently left the October 10 and 11, military. He also spoke at several events Cemetery 2009 during the weekend. Wreathlaying at Sgt. The younger generation descended We were also joined by Sgt. Joseph Leonard Matlovich’s on the nation’s capital October 11 to de- Rocha, who also recently left the mili- mand Equal rights in all matters governed tary. The Washington Post ran an article Grave on October by civil law in all 50 states -NOW! on Sgt. Rocha the day of the parade. 10, 2009 The National Equality March lead Sgt. Rocha was a dog trainer in Bahrain. Immediately following that cer- During his time there he was repeat- organizer Cleve Jones estimated the emony, we hopped on the Metro to the edly hazed and abused because he was turnout at 200,000 to 250,000. The Congressional Cemetery for two more police gave the same estimate, unlike perceived to be gay. He couldn’t respond events. Many of the same attendees and much lower police estimates at past to the accusations because of the Don’t same emotions joined a larger crowd. A marches. Ask, Don’t Tell policy. Eventually Sgt. series of speakers spoke about Sgt. Leon- No matter the number, this was a Rocha left the military. Like so many big march. Veterans were very close to others, this was such a great loss to this ard Matlovich, who came out in 1975 the front of the 2.3 mile route. When country. with the hope of ending the discrimina- we arrived at the Capitol building, the tion against gay people serving in the area in front was already filled. Turning Arlington Cemetery military. Too many names to mention around you could still see thousands of Wreathlaying here, but the list included Lt. Choi, people along Pennsylvania Avenue and Capt. Mike Rankin, David Mixner, the Mall. And they just came streaming Ceremony on Frank Kameny, Sgt. Jose Zuniga, Rev. in for hours. Saturday, October Troy Perry, Cleve Jones, Lt. Tracy Chicago AVER, San Diego AVER 10, 2009 Thorne and Alex Nicholson. and Albuquerque AVER were there with After the event, along with a color their banners. Other vets and veterans HERE RESTS guard, everyone proceeded down the groups joined us. Knights Out also IN HONORED GLORY hill to Sgt. Matlovich’s grave. Capt had a banner and the three banners AN AMERICAN SOLDIER Rankin and Lt. Choi placed a wreath at stretched across Pennsylvania Ave. It was KNOWN BUT TO GOD Leonard’s grave. an impressive sight. Carved on Sgt. Leonard Matlovich’s Some of the veterans started singing Two major events for veterans were Tombstone are the following words the National Anthem, and everyone held the day before the March. On Sat- joined in. Then they sang “America, the urday, October 10, at noon, there was a WHEN I WAS IN THE MILI- Beautiful” amid shouts of “Written by a classic changing of the honor guard who TARY THEY GAVE ME A MEDAL protect the Tomb of the Unknowns 24 lesbian” from many in the crowd. Then FOR KILLING TWO MEN AND A hours a day, every day of the year. they sang “This Land is Your Land.” DISCHARGE FOR LOVING ONE. This was repeated many times through- A light rain was falling when Lt. out the march. Dan Choi, Retired Navy Captain Mike Calling cadence was absolutely Rankin, former Army Major Andrea wild. I will have to check my video for Hollen, and former Army Lt. Anthony some of them, but I do remember “Join Woods joined the guard host to bring Attention Readers! the Army and go to Iraq/As soon as they the wreath down the stairs to be placed Please send us your e-mail address find out you’re gay they send you back/ at the Tomb of the Unknowns. I have to receive The Forward Observer Sound off.” seen this event countless times, and I online. The March for Equality in Wash- am always transfixed by the solemnity of Simply send an e-mail with ington, DC, meant many things to the occasion. This day, the participants “My E-mail Address” in the subject many people. Having attended the truly made up a cross section of our line to community-Asian, Caucasian, African- Marches in 1987, 1993 and 2000, I can [email protected] see the differences and the similarities. American, Jewish, Baptist, male and

6 | The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us News from closely and the AVER Public Affairs of- Washington DC, filed a complaint, and AVER’s National ficer is also the TAVA Media Director. asked for resolution. Committees Denny Meyer, AVER Public Affairs We receive inquires from VA counselors regarding assuring the confidentiality of client records for LGBT active Public Affairs Veterans Affairs duty personnel and have coordinated with VA personnel to prevent disclosure AVER Veterans Affairs receives a from being recorded and resulting in AVER Public Affairs sits on the steady stream of inquiries by phone and involuntary discharge. Our courageous Right To Serve Roundtable (a monthly e mail about veterans benefits from both volunteers should be able to receive vi- telecon, hosted by SLDN, in which LGBT and straight veterans across the able counseling for PTSD without their all organizations dealing with DADT country. We also file complaints with confidentiality being compromised. repeal advocacy provide input and re- the VA and work to resolve serious is- AVER Veterans Affairs also men- ceive updates on congressional action), sues of discrimination and misinforma- tors LGBT active duty enlisted and the SAGE Roundtable (a telecon and tion regarding LGBT Veterans eligibility officer personnel and ROTC students, egroup, and annual convention, hosted for benefits. AVER Veterans Affairs providing support, encouragement, and by national SAGE and The Task Force, works closely with TAVA on similar referral for legal (SLDN) and guidance dealing with issues affecting LGBT issues. issues. For example, a lesbian ROTC seniors, to which AVER Public Affairs Several recent episodes exemplify officer candidate was recently referred to provides input on issues affecting senior the need for AVER as a veterans service a former female officer for guidance on LGBT veterans), and is regularly inter- organization representing the needs of the sacrifices and personal life rewards of viewed by national and international our LGBT veterans and service mem- accepting a commission versus coming media regarding DADT and its effect bers. A college veterans organization in out and leaving the program. on LGBT service members and veterans the Midwest, serving returning Iraq and For the past year, AVER Veterans (most recently by French and German Afghan combat vets who have returned Affairs has served as a conduit help- news media). We also are asked to pro- to school, was recently falsely told by ing to coordinate contact between VA vide input and interviewees for planned a Veterans Center Team Leader that psychologists and counselors around the documentaries about DADT and if veterans comes out as gay they will country who are working with LGBT LGBT service (most recently we worked loose all VA benefits. This statement veterans suffering from PTSD and simi- with HBO on details of a planned is entirely wrong. It appeared as if the lar traumatic wounds from their service. production). The AVER Public Affairs VA employee was imposing her own Denny Meyer, AVER Veterans Affairs officer also is editor of the independent prejudices onto VA policy, with the Gay Military Signal monthly webzine potential of actually denying benefits (GayMilitarySignal.com), featuring Pro- to gay combat veterans seeking help Chocolate Soldiers files inPatriotism about LGBT veterans, Julz Carey, National Vice President for at a Vet Center. After correcting the commentary by senior out gay retired AVER has designed a chocolate AVER information and making it clear that the Soldier as a fundraiser for AVER. This military personnel, and interviews with benefits a veteran has earned may not be is a very unique item. Itt sells for $5.00 senators and representatives in con- denied due to sexual orientation, AVER a bar, and the chocolate is delicious. gress. AVER and TAVA (Transgender Order some for yourselves and also for Public Affairs contacted the office of Vet American Veterans Associatiotion) work your friends. http://www.zippyfish.com Center Programs at VA headquarters in

The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us | 7 at Arlington Cemetery by four LGBT Chapter Reports veterans and then proceeded to the Congressional Cemetery for two more ceremonies. One ceremony was held Albuquerque at the Cemetery Chapel with a line-up of stellar speakers, and then everyone Our thanks to all those who partici- proceeded down the avenue to Sgt. pated in a great Albuquerque Veterans Leonard Matlovich’s grave for another Day Parade on the 11th. It was our wreathlaying ceremony. It was quite an Bataan chapter of AVER’s very first time historic day. to march in the parade and we were Chicago veterans then drove on to th very well received. There were a lot of Ft. Lauderdale for AVER’s 15 Na- “thank you” salutes to our American flag tional Convention. We will not mention and applause and not one bad word the anything here about the Convention be- entire parade route. cause there is enough coverage through- Our Color Guard members were Steven out the newsletter-except to say that it Scalf, Ron Freeney, Penn Baker and was one of best conventions ever. Gary Smith, who carried our gold- TV ABC, who reported that we were Veterans Day in Chicago has trimmed rainbow, New Mexico and the first openly gay veterans’ group to become Veterans Month because of all march in the parade, and KOB-TV the activities that take place. We are very NBC and the local Alibi paper. fortunate that Mayor Daley has been -Steve Loomis, President, Bataan so supportive of all Veterans causes. On Chapter Tuesday, November 10, many members of AVER attended the Mayor’s Reception for all veterans groups. On Chicago Chapter Wednesday, November 11, members attended the City of Chicago’s Annual Veterans Day Ceremony which was held at 11:00 a.m. at Soldier Field. As always, it is great a patriotic celebration with military bands, choruses and dozens of Chapter flags alongside our national brass from every branch of the military. colors. Their pride shown through and Also on Veterans Day the Chicago As usual, it has been an extremely th with the help of the Naval ROTC Sea Chapter held its 17 Annual Veterans busy fall for the Chicago Chapter. In Cadet band just ahead of us, we man- Day Dinner at Ann Sathers Restaurant. September all three officers of the Chi- aged to stay mostly in step. Right on! There was a great turnout for all the cago Chapter were re-elected-President With our banner in front carried by festivities. An open bar, a great Silent Jim Darby, VP/Treasurer travis and VP/ Dorothee Baker and Jon Arnold, other Auction and over 60 guests were in Secretary Bill Beaman. A number of gay vets joined behind the Color Guard attendance. But the highlight of the eve- members participated in the Annual for a memorable morning. See photos to ning was our guest speaker, Lt. LeAnna AIDS Walk, remembering the many see just how much gays add to military veterans who have passed on. service and “pageantry.” Our banner In October, several Chicago said it all, “From Valley Forge to Bagh- members drove to Washington, DC to dad, We Proudly Serve.!” meet up with other members and other Jimmy James followed with his new chapters for the March on Washington. bright red Mustang tricked out to recog- Three LGBT veterans groups stretched nize the “Wounded Warrior” project. their banners across Pennsylvania We were joined by a dozen mostly Avenue-AVER Chicago, AVER Albu- straight veterans who asked if they could querque and Knights Out. It was quite march along just behind us. Prominent an impressive sight. All members also news coverage was given by KOAT- attended the wreathlaying ceremony

8 | The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us Bradley, who served this country in the posted on their calendar for the upcom- with peace and good health to all in the U.S. Navy for 37 years. LeAnna served ing December Yule-Tide Season. coming New Year. as a male, and transitioned to become a On Tuesday, December 8th, Board -Andy Eddy, Secretary, Florida female after leaving the military. With member Richard Crowner arranged for Gold Coast Chapter nine rows of ribbons, including two Chapter members and friends to socially Purple Hearts, LeAnna completely gather for dinner and some holiday ex- On November 11, 2009, AVER-NY wowed the audience with her tales of citement at the Pompano Golden Cor- marched in the New York City Veter- her experiences while serving this coun- ral Restaurant. Each participant chooses ans Day Parade as we have since 2002. try. She received a standing ovation as what they would enjoy eating and pays Joining us this year were out gay New the Chicago Chapter honored her with for their own meal. The Restaurant York City Councilmember Rosie Men- the “Happy Warriors Award.” She is has been very supportive of veterans, dez and Councilmember-elect Danny truly one of our heroes. is reasonably priced, and it's not out The Chicago Chapter ended the of reach for those members living on a New York year by attending the Mayor’s Annual fixed income. It is located at 2100 West Pearl Harbor Ceremony at Navy Pier, Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach. and then on to an annual Holiday Party On Wednesday, Dec, 2nd Dan on the south side. Murphy and Marshall Belmaine made -Jim Darby, President, Chicago arrangements for AVER volunteers to Chapter visit the Ninninger Vets Home. Our Still recovering from Convention fe- volunteers escorted 20 homebound vets ver, it’s been a busy time for the Florida on a bus trip to the Pompano Isles Ca- Gold Coast Chapter. sino in vans supplied by the adult living facility. The volunteers assisted some of Florida those who are physically challenged and made the trip an outstanding and pleas- Dromm. Our Disabled Veterans Vehicle ant experience for all. AVER picked up was provided by Matthew Bissell who the tab for the dinner and also gave each braved driving in the city despite his vet $5.00 for a quick spin at the penny preference for never leaving suburbia. As slots after lunch. usual, we had to contend with discrimi- Thanks to member Clay Drexler, nation from the parade organizers. We the Florida Gold Coast AVER Chapter, had requested to be separated from an in cooperation with American Moms extremely hostile anti-war group that is Broward Veterans’ Council Meetings supporting our troops overseas, has aggressively opposed to AVER’s advo- Nov 16 and Dec 14 funded the shipment of gift boxes to cacy of the Right to Serve. As no other As part of its continued outreach the men and women serving in dis- veterans group wants to be near them and educational efforts, AVER represen- tant lands. This season’s outreach effort either, the bigoted parade committee tatives attended the Broward Veterans hopefully demonstrates to those who put them right behind us at the last mo- Council Meetings. The meetings were have served and are serving that they ment after having promised not to do held at the VA Outpatient Clinic, 2009 have not been forgotten. so. Because I have 49 years of experience Commercial Blvd. Dr. Greenberg, AVER’s Board of Directors wishes as an activist, and the presence of our CMO of the VA Clinic was the mod- each and every member, their family, all two City Council members, the parade erator. Some items on the agenda in- our friends and generous benefactors a organizers backed down when faced cluded: National and State Legislation, joyous and bountiful holiday season with my ballistic protest behavior in AFA Seeing Eye Dog Presentations, front of a TV camera that we had with State Veterans Nursing Home Discus- us for that purpose. But, we should not sions, Homeless coalitions and more. have to deal with this discrimination AVER members were very pleased to be year after year. included. The New York chapter hopes to December Holidays with AVER Vets have a university sociology intern with and Friends us, starting in January 2010, helping The Florida Gold Coast Chapter with organizing and fundraising. He had three wonderful items of interest

The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us | 9 is a straight-A student (yes, a double and Bisexual Veterans of America trav- entrendre) determined to work for the eled to Washington, DC to give oral tes- repeal of DADT. timony at the U.S. House Subcommit- The chapter has continued to tee on Oversight and Veterans Affairs. engage in endorsing LGBT rights, In 1990 six veterans who were in particularly Marriage in New York State, attendance at the NGLTF Creating at rallies and forums in the New York Change Conference in Minneapolis in metropolitan region. February gathered together to form a -Denny Meyer, President, AVER-NY national GLBT veterans organization. Most of these veterans came from local GLBT veterans groups. Palm Springs On Thursday, May 17, 1990, the National Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Vet- erans of America was founded in Wash- The local chapter of AVER now ington, DC by the lesbian veteran activ- meets the second Friday of every month ist and former US Army SSgt. Miriam at 1:00 p.m. at the Golden Rainbow Ben-Shalom, along with the assistance Senior Center, 700 E. Tahquitz Canyon of four gay veterans and a bisexual vet- Way. eran.Those co-founder military veterans On September 29th members of 20-Year Anniversary included: Former Navy Ensign, Jim Palm Springs AVER attended and met Woodward, President, San Diego Veter- with members of the Human Rights of AVER:1990–2010 ans Association; Bill Lake, First Officer, Campaign at a showing of the filmAsk Although the history of the gay Veterans Council for Equal Rights and Not at the Camelot Theater. veterans movement in this country goes Equality (C.A.R.E.), Los Angeles, CA; On November 8th, 2009, the Palm all the way back to 1776 when Lt. Gott- Ken Huntington (AKA Ron Rasmus- Springs Gay Veterans and AMVETS fried Enslin was kicked out of the Army sen, Jr.), President, Texas Gay Veterans Post 66 marched in the Gay Pride at Valley Forge, we are going to concen- Association; former Navy Chief Petty Parade. Some of the local participants trate on what is generally referred to as Officer, Chuck Schoen, Public Affairs included Mel Tips, Mel Reiser, Charlie the modern gay veterans movement. Officer representing Veterans C.A.R.E Sharples, Randy Schecher, James Swee- We know that there were local gay Redwood Empire, CA, and the predom- ney, Michael Dowd and Janet Potts. veterans organizations forming around inantly gay, American Legion Alexander They received cheering and applause this country at about the same time Hamilton Post 448, San Francisco, CA; from the thousands of spectators along that gay organizations were coming and bisexual US Army veteran Cliff the parade route. into existence. But it was during WWII Arnesen, President, New England Gay A few days later, on November that many gay servicemembers began to Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans, Boston, 11th both groups marched again in the meet each other and to form friendships MA. GLBVA was officially incorporated Veterans Day Parade. Three reviewing and organizations. in the State of Wisconsin. stands reported a resounding welcome Most of these groups were local. Former Army SGT Miriam Ben and tremendous applause. At the first GLBT March on Shalom, Milwaukee, WI was elected as On Sunday, November 15th, most Washington in 1987, GLBT veterans the first President. Groundwork was laid who were meeting other GLBT veterans for the creation of a National Constitu- members of AVER attended the SLDN began to realize the need for and the tion and By-Laws. Miriam traveled the Reception at the Tropicale. Seaman value of having a national GLBT veter- country creating new chapters. By 1992 Joseph Rocha, Col. Robert Barnes, Tom ans organization. Members from across GLBVA had 44 chapters across the Carpenter, Zoe Dunning and many oth- California’s Veterans C.A.R.E. were the country. ers spoke at the event. Seaman Rocha largest group at that March. Returning It will soon be 2010 and GLBVA/ recently left the Navy under the DADT home from the March on Washington, AVER will be celebrating its 20th An- policy. some of these groups began communi- niversary as the oldest National LGBT —Mel Tips, President, Palm cating about forming a national group. Veterans group in America. Springs Chapter In 1989 Cliff Arnesen and Stan Berry from New England Gay, Lesbian

10 | The Forward Observer • January 2010 • www.aver.us Miriam Ben Shalom but rather for her statement that she Taps was a lesbian. Through his ruling, Judge Miriam Ben Shalom is a longtime Evans made clear that the First Amend- activist in the LGBT community. She ment applied to gay and lesbian service Georgia Chapter Ed is the recipient of several awards for her members. The U.S. Army appealed Scruggs community activism and has published this decision, but withdrew its appeal The Georgia Chapter lost one of poetry, short stories and other writings. shortly thereafter. And even though She is currently an Adjunct Teacher with our brothers on November, Korean War Judge Evans had ordered Ben Shalom’s Veteran Ed Scruggs. We will miss him MATC, MIAD and Bryant and Stratton reinstatement, the army simply refused Business College and works with at risk dearly. Several of our members attended to comply with the order. his Memorial Service on November 18 youth. She is a member of the New Eng- Ben Shalom continued to fight the land Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans, and had the honor of meeting his fam- Army, and in 1987, the U.S. Court of ily. National President Danny Ingram of the California Alexander Hamilton Appeals in Chicago supported the lower American Legion Post 448 and a life spoke at the ceremony. The new Com- court’s previous ruling. Still the Army mander of the Georgia Chapter, Alex member of AVER. balked. Only when the court threatened Lopez, and our Treasurer, Sherri Bouch- Miriam Ben Shalom was the first the Army with serious contempt of er, presented the American flag to Ed's gay or lesbian service member to be court fines did it relent. In September sister, which was followed by the playing reinstated to her position in the United 1988, Ben Shalom successfully reen- of Taps by Danny Ingram. We are very States military after being discharged listed and became the first openly gay or thankful to have known Ed Scruggs. for her sexual orientation. Even though lesbian service member to be reinstated. the army eventually forced her out, she However, the Army appealed the deci- Florida Chapter Mary was able to serve successfully in the U.S. sion. In August 1989, a federal appeals Army Reserves as an open lesbian, un- court ruled against Ben Shalom. Judge O’Connor dermining the U.S. military’s argument Harlington Wood, Jr., did not see the Mary O’Connor passed away on that open gays and lesbians pose a threat case as solely about freedom of speech. Tuesday, December 1st, of heart failure. to military effectiveness. Miriam Ben He concluded that since the military Mary helped start SAGE of South Shalom is a lifelong resident of Wis- banned homosexuals, her admission Florida, a Friendly Visitors program, the consin having been born in Waukesha, regardless of her sexual conduct justified newly reorganized Florida Gold Coast WI in 1948, and continues to reside in her discharge. In response, Ben Shalom Chapter of AVER, and many other or- Milwaukee. appealed the case to the United States ganizations. There is a planned Celebra- In 1974, Miriam began serving Supreme Court. On February 26, 1990, tion of Mary’s Life at 1:00 p.m. on Sat, with the 84th Training Division of the the Supreme Court refused to hear her February 27th at the Fort Lauderdale Army Reserves. She also completed drill case, thereby upholding the previous MCC Sunshine Cathedral. All arrange- instructor’s school, and became one of ruling of her discharge. ments have been coordinated through the two first female drill sergeants in Although the supreme Court’s the offices of Rev. Durell Watson, the division. In 1976, she was officially refusal to hear her case ended Ben- Pastor. A church hall reception is being planned by Eileen for Mary’s friends discharged from the Army Reserves for Shalom’s military career, her LGBT and will take place immediately after the declaring and admitting she was a les- activism continued. She founded the Cathedral service. bian. However, she decided to challenge Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of For additional information contact the policy and sue for reinstatement. In America, Inc. (GLBVA) in 1990 serving Eileen at [email protected]. May 1980, Judge Terence Evans of the as its first president. That organization U.S. District Court in Chicago ruled is now known as the American Veter- that Ben Shalom’s discharge violated the ans for Equal Rights (AVER). She also First, Fifth, and Ninth amendments of served as one of the Vice Presidents of the Constitution. He added that sexual the organization that has come to be orientation should be protected from known as PrideFest, and she also contin- governmental regulation, including that ues to be a voice for LGBT equality and of the military. The right to freedom of social justice. speech was central to Ben Shalom’s case. Information gathered from various The Army Reserves did not discharge sources. her because of homosexual conduct,

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