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As of 12:01 am, the repeal of the discriminatory law known as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ finally & formally takes effect. #DADT
The Rev. Sarah Lammert, Director of Ministries and Faith Development, captured the meaning of today so perfectly with these words:
Silence, chosen, deepens prayer, opens the window of the soul.
Silence, imposed, denies the truth of life.
This is a day for celebration for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people and all who value the American principle of Equality. Likewise, today is bitter-sweet for transgender and transsexual people (the T in LGBT) and all who value the American principle of Equality because even with DADT repeal, trans people are still barred from serving openly in the US military. Borrowing Rev. Lammert’s words, trans people must continue to deny the truth of their lives.
I will never forget the sting of watching an ecstatic nation celebrating the election of President Obama (who I voted for too), apparently unaware that at the same time California stripped LGB citizens of the fundamental freedom to marry. I can only imagine that for trans people, today feels something akin to how that day felt for me.
Please join me and thousands more for A Moment of Silence for Trans Service Members today at the time and place of your choosing. Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come without forgetting that we still have farther to go to end LGBT discrimination in the military. Let’s stand in solidarity with the trans community and let them know that we know the fight isn’t over until all discrimination is ended in the US military.
Related:
* A Moment of Silence for Trans Service Members on September 20, 2011
* Over A Thousand People Now Supporting A DADT Moment Of Silence For Trans Servicemembers
6 Comments
Green Mountain Daily, a Democratic-leaning blog in Vermont has a front page item on the marriage of a Navy officer in our fair state at 12:01. Nice photo, too.
I speak only for myself, but I must say that as a trans person, I don’t really care about trans people being able to serve in the military. Of course, I come from a position of never being in the military and never wanting to be. It’s just not an important issue to me. I’m also gay, so today I’m feeling pretty celebratory. If I ever dated or married someone who DID serve in the military, it’d be ok now
Tuodiras, I also never was or wanted to be in the military. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting to see every American institution open to all equally. It’s the principle of the thing. I’m glad you’re feeling celebratory. Me too! But not as celebratory as I would feel if I knew that *all* my brothers and sisters had the same options open to them today.
How would trans people serve openly ? Pre-op or post-op or both ?
Ask the Canadians. They have done it since 1998.
Ok Don’t act surprise, the passing of DADT was never a Trans issue, Gay Inc has thrown the Trans community under the bus, time after time to make sure Gays and Lesbians gets what they wanted, so now, what the hell will Gay Inc. do for the Trans community..?????