Gays and the Military - Life after DADT

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Mids describe smooth transition from 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'
By Matthew Hay Brown, The Baltimore Sun



Eight months after the repeal, midshipmen both gay and straight describe a quiet but significant transformation at the Naval Academy. Gay midshipmen are seeking recognition for a student club. Last month, for the first time, faculty members and staff attended an off-campus dinner that had been organized secretly every year by and for gay midshipmen.

And Atwill and his boyfriend, classmate Nick Bonsall, pictured above, planned to go together Saturday to the Ring Dance, a formal ball held each spring for third-year midshipmen.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-naval-academy-gay-20120519,0,86363,full.story

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Does anyone remember Joseph Steffan?

He was discharged from Annapolis after he disclosed he was gay.
He fought it during the period before and after DADT came into
being. He wrote his story in this book:

I had the opportunity to meet and chat with Joseph Steffan at a reading
of the book, followed by a Q&A and book signing at Different Light Bookstore
in West Hollywood.  I really can't believe that this was TWENTY years ago!

WIkipedia info:  As a senior in 1987 he was one of the ten highest-ranking midshipmen in the Academy.  He twice sang the national anthem at the annual Army-Navy football game.  After he told another midshipman and a chaplain that he was homosexual, the academy conducted an investigation and Steffan told a disciplinary board that he was homosexual. The board then changed his performance evaluation from "A" to "F" and recommended that he be discharged. He was expelled from the Academy six weeks before graduation. He never admitted, nor was he accused of, engaging in sex with another man. In a letter to the New York Times dated August 23, 1988, he wrote: "the real problem is not homosexuality, but rather, the military's open and officially supported prejudice against homosexuals who have the desire and capability to serve their country."

Not much info on his activities since the mid 90's.  It appears he may have become a lawyer.
There's a lawyer with this name who is listed working for J.P. Morgan Stanley.  (!)

[Marge_Innavera]

I loved copying-and-pasting this headline:

Pentagon to observe gay pride month for first time

"Nine months after gays, bisexuals and lesbians were allowed to serve openly in the military, the Pentagon plans to honor them with a gay pride month celebration.

"For the first time, the Pentagon will mark gay pride month just as it marks other events honoring racial or ethnic groups, Defense Department officials said.  Officials declined to give details about the event but said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes it’s important to recognize the service of gays in the armed forces."

~      ~      ~      ~

"The Pentagon plans to post a video on its Web site Friday morning from Panetta, thanking gays and lesbians for their service and congratulating the military on a smooth implementation of the repeal."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/pentagon-to-observe-gay-pride-month-for-first-time/2012/06/14/gJQAke62cV_blog.html  (and a number of other sources)

Haven't seen the video, however.

[Lyle (Mooska)]

Wow, Marge, thanks for that post!

I am amazed.

I loved  reading that post!

[fritzkep]

Fan.....tastic!!!!!

Or, as a "favorite" drill sergeant always put it, "Out.....standin!"

[CellarDweller115]

I'm hoping to see some gay service men and women in the NYC Pride parade.

[fritzkep]

That should be great! I expect that Fleet Week this year was quite stimulating!

[jack]

even the THOUGHT of it was stimulating 

[jack]

the speech obama gave at the reception is available pretty much everywhere on the web.  still waiting for a first hand report and snapshots from the most famous (known) marine sgt morgan and his companion dalan wells.  i'm sure SOMEONE here will bring the links or snaps shortly after they surface.

[fritzkep]

Yeah, somebody! 

Anyone else, feel free, I haven't been able to catch up much on Facebook since I got back from the trip west.

[fritzkep]

Loving this LGBT Pride Pentagon Poster!

http://www.joemygod.blogspot.com/2012/06/pentagon-pride-announcement.html

[fritzkep]

Some progress, I suppose.

GOP lawmaker says gays in military issue settled
By DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press – 4 hours ago 
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee said Thursday that allowing gays to serve openly in the military is a settled issue that he won't try to reverse even if Mitt Romney wins the presidency in November and the GOP captures the Senate.
Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon of California said his focus is on restoring money for the military after the latest round of defense cuts — a planned reduction of $487 billion over 10 years that could nearly double if Congress fails to avert automatic, across-the-board cuts that begin in January. Pressed on the divisive issue of gay rights that roiled Congress two years ago, McKeon said he wouldn't revisit it.
"We fought that fight," McKeon told defense reporters at an hourlong breakfast interview. He said his goal is to "get the things that our war-fighters need."
The committee chairman said other GOP lawmakers might try to reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell policy" that was in effect for nearly two decades. "That's not something that I would personally bring up," he said.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLuBTgW5gh0834ze7Pj4PTjy4eEQ?docId=675cb201011440f8882319e265c5a7f2

[Lyle (Mooska)]

The committee chairman said other GOP lawmakers might try to reinstate the "don't ask, don't tell policy" that was in effect for nearly two decades.

Talk about disrupting unit cohesion and morale.

[fritzkep]

Talk about disrupting unit cohesion and morale.

Politicians only give lip service to such military necessities. A promise of bringing back suppression of an enemy supposedly wins votes.

[dejavu]

Does anyone remember Joseph Steffan?

He was discharged from Annapolis after he disclosed he was gay.
He fought it during the period before and after DADT came into
being. He wrote his story in this book:

Oh, yes.  I did have that book once, a long time ago.
Interesting that you had the chance to meet him.