Moment of Silence for Trans Service Members on September 20
Filed By Guest Blogger | August 22, 2011 12:00 PM
Editors' note: Monica F. Helms is the president of the Transgender Americans Veterans Association.
http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/moment_of_silence_for_trans_service_members_on_sep.php (http://www.bilerico.com/2011/08/moment_of_silence_for_trans_service_members_on_sep.php)
also cross posted at transgriot http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2011/09/upcoming-trans-day-of-silence-on-dadt.html (http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2011/09/upcoming-trans-day-of-silence-on-dadt.html)
September 20, 2011 will go down as one of the most pivotal days in LGB history. On that day, gay, lesbian and bisexual service members will no longer have to hide their sexual orientation from the US military. LGB people will be allowed to enlist (or reenlist) in the military, and those already serving will be able to openly say who they love . . . if they wish to.
However, for the trans community, September 20 will be a bittersweet day. The "sweet" will be because we will all be thrilled to see another wall of discrimination crumble into history. We will celebrate along with our LGB brothers and sisters, and thank all of those who have served our country proudly. Our thanks will also go out to those who will step forward to join their ranks. Tears of joy will flow that day from all of us.
Hopefully, the next logical step comes sooner rather than later.
Pam's House Blend
A Moment of Silence for Trans Service Members on September 20, 2011
by: Laurel Ramseyer
Thu Aug 25, 2011 at 18:56:29 PM EDT
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/19778/a-moment-of-silence-for-trans-service-members-on-september-20-2011 (http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/19778/a-moment-of-silence-for-trans-service-members-on-september-20-2011)
Note from Laurel: On 9/20 I invite you to join us for a moment of silence to honor our transgender brothers and sisters who, despite the repeal of DADT, are still forced to serve in silence. Let's let them know that they are not forgotten and that we LGBT people are as committed to their open service as they were to ours, and as we are to our own.
Over A Thousand People Now Supporting A DADT Moment Of Silence For Trans Servicemembers
By: Autumn Sandeen Thursday September 1, 2011 3:30 pm
http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2011/09/01/over-a-thousand-people-now-supporting-a-dadt-moment-of-silence-for-trans-servicemembers/ (http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2011/09/01/over-a-thousand-people-now-supporting-a-dadt-moment-of-silence-for-trans-servicemembers/)
The Transgender American Veterans Association's president, Monica Helms, has a Facebook page up, entitled A Moment of Silence for Trans Service Members on September 20, 2011. As of today, over a thousand people have signed up to participate in a moment of silence for the trans service members — trans servicemembers who will still be serving in silence when lesbian, gay, and bisexual servicemembers will at last be able to serve openly on September 20, 2011.