News and Events => Opinions & Editorials => Topic started by: Shana A on August 29, 2008, 10:35:58 AM Return to Full Version
Title: The History of SLDN and Transgender Service Members
Post by: Shana A on August 29, 2008, 10:35:58 AM
Post by: Shana A on August 29, 2008, 10:35:58 AM
The History of SLDN and Transgender Service Members
Filed by: Guest Blogger
August 29, 2008 11:00 AM
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/the_history_of_sldn_and_transgender_serv.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/the_history_of_sldn_and_transgender_serv.php)
Editors' note: TAVA president and frequent guest blogger Monica Helms describes the history and upcoming efforts for collaboration between transgender servicemembers and SLDN.
The year was 1993. Clinton was president. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people felt they finally had a friend in the White House. And, even though transgender people officially started the gay movement at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, they only began finding their voices in the equal rights movement in the early 1990's. They had very little visibility and vertically no credibility. We weren't on anyone's radar.
In that year, President Clinton wanted to fulfill a promise by making the US military safe for people, regardless of their sexual orientation. But it didn't turn out the way people wanted. The now infamous Don't Ask, Don't Tell law came into affect and it did not protect people in the military based on their sexual orientation, if that orientation was something other than straight. The law gave commanders a chance to hunt down gay, lesbian and bisexual service member in order to weed them out. Transgender military people didn't ask to be included, but included they were.
Filed by: Guest Blogger
August 29, 2008 11:00 AM
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/the_history_of_sldn_and_transgender_serv.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2008/08/the_history_of_sldn_and_transgender_serv.php)
Editors' note: TAVA president and frequent guest blogger Monica Helms describes the history and upcoming efforts for collaboration between transgender servicemembers and SLDN.
The year was 1993. Clinton was president. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people felt they finally had a friend in the White House. And, even though transgender people officially started the gay movement at the Stonewall Inn in 1969, they only began finding their voices in the equal rights movement in the early 1990's. They had very little visibility and vertically no credibility. We weren't on anyone's radar.
In that year, President Clinton wanted to fulfill a promise by making the US military safe for people, regardless of their sexual orientation. But it didn't turn out the way people wanted. The now infamous Don't Ask, Don't Tell law came into affect and it did not protect people in the military based on their sexual orientation, if that orientation was something other than straight. The law gave commanders a chance to hunt down gay, lesbian and bisexual service member in order to weed them out. Transgender military people didn't ask to be included, but included they were.