2 • The Rainbow Times • www.therainbowtimesmass.com February 7, 2013 - March 6, 2013 Black History Month overshadowed by Does including women in direct ground combat mean a step toward equality? current prejudice and discrimination By: Jason Lydon*/ TRT Columnist Department of Defense is the largest em - By: Nicole Lashomb*/ TRT Editor-in-Chief too-often neglected accomplishments of remember laying in ployer in the world, with approximately 3.2 black Americans in every area of endeavor million employees, a third of which are ac - February kicks off my bed in high school throughout our history.’ That year, fifty tive duty in the Armed Forces. According Black History Iturning the pages of a to the Department of Defense's human re - S years after the first celebration, the associ - Month, a month hardcover copy of “Con - ation held the first African American History sources site, 14 percent of active duty per - designated to pay duct Unbecoming: Gays N Month. Since then each American presi - sonnel are women. There are those who tribute to the gener - and Lesbians in the US dent has issued African American History Military” by Randy Shilts, claim this opening of employment as a O ations of African Month proclamations,” it stated online at huge success in the move toward equal - I Americans who thinking about the men http://1.usa.gov/7oIw4I . ity. A 2012 study by the struggled with ad - and women he was N However, the undeniable significance of American Association versity to achieve full citizenship in writing about. I was I the month is overshadowed by the perva - of University Women American society. quite amused that the The military combat sive and shameful attitudes of anti-black shows that women are P Although the historical context of Pentagon spent sentiment, still decades later. According to jobs ... as shooting still being paid only 82 this month goes back decades and countless hours trying O an article published by USA Today in 2012 percent what their has evolved with time, “The Black to discover who regarding race and the election, holes in the glass male counterparts Awakening” of the Dorothy was as they (http://usat.ly/VQAkGF), make. The military 1960’s not only raised searched for the ring - ceiling for women, nearly half of all Ameri - combat jobs can be the consciousness of leader of the “friends cans still expressed but the fight for seen by some as African Americans It makes me of Dorothy.” Yet as I prejudice against the shooting holes in the about the significance was learning this his - Black community. Simi - equality ignores what glass ceiling for of black history and ashamed of my tory, the United States lar findings were com - women, but the fight the Civil Rights move - military was actively individuals are get - Caucasian counter- parable to the Hispanic for equality ignores ment, it also forced all dropping bombs on community as well. The what individuals are Americans to ac - Iraq and Serbia while ting equal access to. parts who have al- data was gathered from getting equal access knowledge the contri - expanding military surveys conducted with to. butions of African lowed themselves presence in Afghanistan, Sudan, East researchers from Stan - Just days before this announcement, Americans to our his - Timor and Cambodia. As some are cele - to be caught up in ford University, the Uni - tory and culture. brating Defense Secretary Leon E. versity of Michigan and According to the Li - Panetta's announcement ending the ex - See Combat Page 11 this “malarkey.” NORC at the University brary of Congress, clusion of women from direct ground of Chicago. This same the once weekly cele - combat, I find myself remembering my ex - survey concluded that President Obama The Rainbow Times bration was expanded to a month in 1976. citement about learning queer history. could have lost up to 5 percentage points The Freshest LGBT Newspaper “President Gerald R. Ford urged Ameri - Neither the history I learned then, nor the in New England - Boston Based cans to ‘seize the opportunity to honor the celebration of women's inclusion, recog - See Prejudice on page 8 nize that the role of the soldiers is to per - www.therainbowtimesmass.com petuate U.S. imperialism, colonial efforts, protection of US financial interests and the [email protected] Faith, family, and God: The marriage ceremony, deaths of unnamed millions of people [email protected] around the globe. Phone: 617.444.9618 / 413.282.8881 and the importance of choosing a celebrant The announcement by the outgoing De - Fax: 928.437.9618 fense Secretary opens up 237,000 com - By: Paul P. Jesep*/ TRT Columnist with whether to raise bat positions to women. The U.S. Publisher Design ne of the most joyous events in their kids in faith or a religion. Faith and re - Gricel M. Ocasio Prizm Designs the lives of two people is joining Letters to the Editor Editor-In-Chief Webmaster Otogether in marriage. Increas - ligion will continue to Nicole Lashom b Jarred Johnson ingly, more LGBTQ couples are choosing play an expanding Dear Editor, to have their unions blessed or solem - role in the LGBTQ ex - It would be my preference that the author Assistant Editor Columnists nized by ordained clergy. More faiths and perience. refer to me as “he” in all cases. He can say Emily Scagel Lorelei Erisis denominations within those traditions em - Belief in God, de - “as a girl,” but I use he/him/his in all cases. Sales Associates Deja N. Greenlaw brace the holy, sacramental validity of two fined gender neutral, The author never asked. I think it is disre - Chris Gilmore Paul P. Jesep is not interchange - spectful, and I’ve discussed it with Dan after Liz Johnson Jason Lydon persons of the same-gender becoming Wilfred Labiosa committed spouses. able with the flaws the article first came out. I would love for it to Lead Photographer John Verlinden Wedding planning for same-gender and emotional be changed. Glenn Koetzner couples is a big and abuses often associated with formal reli - — Chris Mosier, Online Reporters growing business. gion. Throughout his - Photo/Videography Chuck Colbert Choosing the individ - tory, individuals have Dear Editor, Rob Deza Clara Lefton ual to perform the ac - co-opted religion to ex - Your health issue was markedly informative Sean Sullivan Brook Rosini Lauren Walleser tual ceremony should Belief in God, de - ploit and control oth - and full of topics that were really of interest be no less important ers. These abuses to my transgender boyfriend and myself. The Rainbow Times is published monthly by The Rainbow than the careful se - fined gender neu - reflect human insecuri - Thanks for the valuable input. Times, LLC. TRT is affiliated with the National Lesbian lection of venue, ties, not holiness. —Jarry Markson, Boston, MA & Gay Journalists Association, NLGJA , National Gay tral , is not & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, NGLCC , The Con - guests, wedding The growing accept - necticut Alliance for Business Opportunity, CABO , and planner, or the vows interchangeable ance of marriage Dear Editor, QSyndicate. The articles written by the writers, colum - to be written and ex - equality by religious Is it true that you’re now a Boston paper? My nists, and correspondents solely express their opinion, changed. Ordained with the flaws and leaders and society’s friends and I keep guessing because your and do not represent the endorsement or opinion of The acceptance is divine coverage seems to be more from and out of Rainbow Times, LLC or its owners. Send letters to the ed - clergy does not mean itor with your name, address and phone number to: The someone certificated emotional abuses revelation. It’s Holy Boston, but some other stuff also comes Rainbow Times (address shown above), or e-mail any for a fee through the Sophia (Divine Wis - from the west of the state. And, you keep us comment/s to the editor at: editor@therainbowtimes - mail or online. often associated dom) at work. God informed here in Providence too. mass.com. All submissions will be edited according to Increasingly, does not change. Over —Jason Sullivan, Providence, RI space constraints. The Rainbow Times, LLC reserves the with formal religion . right not to print any or all content, or advertisements for LGBTQ couples are time, individuals and any reason at all. TRT is not responsible for advertising realizing there is a collective society spiri - Dear Jason, content. To receive The Rainbow Times at your home via major difference between religion and be - tually matures, thus permitting the em - The Rainbow Times is Boston-based now al - regular mail, or through electronic delivery, please visit lief in a higher authority. LGBTQ families brace of a larger, holier truth shown by though our operation and many team mem - its website. The whole content and graphics (photos, etc.) Holy Sophia. This enables a deeper ... bers are from all over New England. Thank are the sole property of The Rainbow Times, LLC and that include children (people-children, in - they cannot be reproduced at all without TRT’s written dependent of the furry kind) are grappling See Marriage on page 8 you for noticing. — The Editor consent. February 7, 2013 - March 6, 2013 www.therainbowtimesmass.com • The Rainbow Times • 3 Mass LGBT leaders welcome Cowan’s appointment as interim senator Brown steps back, decides not to run; surprising move from gay former state Senator Richard Tisei By: Chuck Colbert/ TRT Reporter local media. state voiced praise for Cowan’s appoint - while we work to elect a replacement that Massachusetts Governor Deval “I am proud and delighted to appoint ment. similarly carries on the equality legacy of T Patrick has named former aide Mo Cowan,” said the governor in a state - “While we were hoping the governor Sen.