A Melancholy Metaphor On Trans Participation In LGBT Direct Actions
by: Autumn Sandeen
Wed Nov 17, 2010 at 15:00:00 PM EST
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/17998/a-melancholy-metaphor-on-trans-participation-in-lgbt-direct-actionsOn November 15th, I joined 12 activists -- seven of us lesbian, gay, and transgender veterans in military uniform, one veteran not in uniform, and five other lesbian and gay activists -- on the White House Fence. There were many support people behind us doing work out of sight, but their efforts were so vital and important. Before we went on the fence, many of us went to Senator Harry Reid's office, putting forward the question of when he was going to return Lt. Dan Choi's West Point Ring at the successful repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. And before that, we went and honored the work of past gay servicemember activist Leonard Matloveich.
On November 16th, nine of us went to the White House's Common Purpose meeting -- a secret meeting of between the White House and progressive organizations -- seven of us held signs and/or passed out copies of an AmericaBLOG entitled Jim Messina makes a firm commitment on DADT: 'We're going to get that done this year' to confront those who were at the meeting regarding Deputy White House Chief of Staff Jim Messina promising the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) would be repealed before the end 2010 -- before the end of this year.
