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President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
For the past month, we have sent you personal letters from those harmed by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” With the votes in the House and the Senate Armed Services Committee, we are bringing our series to a close. The final letter we are sharing with you was written by a World War II soldier to another service member. It is a love letter penned on the occasion of their anniversary.
The letter, which follows below, was published in September 1961 by ONE Magazine – an early gay magazine based out of Los Angeles. In 2000, Bob Connelly, an adjunct professor of LGBT studies at American University, found a copy of the letter in the Library of Congress. He brought the letter to the attention of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network last month.
We sincerely thank Mr. Connelly for his research and the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives for granting permission for the letter to be republished.
Please accept this letter on the behalf of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members on active-duty, in the reserve and in the National Guard; those who have been discharged; and those who didn’t enlist because of the discriminatory law now being dismantled.
With great respect,
Former Specialist 4th Class Aubrey Sarvis
United States Army
The letter as published by ONE Magazine:
Love Letter to a G.I.
May 28, 2010
Click Image To Enlarge
Dear Dave,
This is in memory of an anniversary – the anniversary of October 27th, 1943, when I first heard you singing in North Africa. That song brings memories of the happiest times I’ve ever known. Memories of a GI show troop – curtains made from barrage balloons – spotlights made from cocoa cans – rehearsals that ran late into the evenings – and a handsome boy with a wonderful tenor voice. Opening night at a theatre in Canastel – perhaps a bit too much muscatel, and someone who understood. Exciting days playing in the beautiful and stately Municipal Opera House in Oran – a misunderstanding – an understanding in the wings just before opening chorus.
Drinks at “Coq d’or” – dinner at the “Auberge” – a ring and promise given. The show 1st Armoured – muscatel, scotch, wine – someone who had to be carried from the truck and put to bed in his tent. A night of pouring rain and two very soaked GIs beneath a solitary tree on an African plain. A borrowed French convertible – a warm sulphur spring, the cool Mediterranean, and a picnic of “rations” and hot cokes. Two lieutenants who were smart enough to know the score, but not smart enough to realize that we wanted to be alone. A screwball piano player – competition – miserable days and lonely nights. The cold, windy night we crawled through the window of a GI theatre and fell asleep on a cot backstage, locked in each other’s arms – the shock when we awoke and realized that miraculously we hadn’t been discovered. A fast drive to a cliff above the sea – pictures taken, and a stop amid the purple grapes and cool leaves of a vineyard.
The happiness when told we were going home – and the misery when we learned that we would not be going together. Fond goodbyes on a secluded beach beneath the star-studded velvet of an African night, and the tears that would not be stopped as I stood atop the sea-wall and watched your convoy disappear over the horizon.
We vowed we’d be together again “back home,” but fate knew better – you never got there. And so, Dave, I hope that where ever you are these memories are as precious to you as they are to me.
Goodnight, sleep well my love.
Brian Keith
1
When Dink Flamingo found the Speedo Student story making its way around the Internet, he contacted the University of Hawaii student and struck up a deal. Before long, Speedo Student was on a plane to Southern California to marry his love of Speedos with two of Active Duty’s hottest men: Shawn and Kaden.
In the upcoming release from Dirty Bird Pictures, entitled “Speedoboys,” Dink Flamingo directs a new type of feature for the studio wherein the now famous Speedo Student narrates his experiences with the military hunks of Active Duty.
In a Huffington Post article, his campus adventures were described as follows:
The SpeedoBoy Story
When Dink Flamingo found the Speedo Student story making its way around the Internet, he contacted the University of Hawaii student and struck up a deal. Before long, Speedo Student was on a plane to Southern California to marry his love of Speedos with two of Active Duty’s hottest men: Shawn and Kaden.
In the upcoming release from Dirty Bird Pictures, entitled “Speedoboys,” Dink Flamingo directs a new type of feature for the studio wherein the now famous Speedo Student narrates his experiences with the military hunks of Active Duty.
In a Huffington Post article, his campus adventures were described as follows:
Since at least January, Tim, a gay 22-year-old senior at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, has been recording himself masturbating, and uploading the videos to Xtube. He goes by the username "SpeedoStudent," which represents his fetish for all things Speedos, Lycra, and jocks; he got his first Speedo at age 19 and has been hooked ever since.Tim has caused a ruckus on campus by filming some of his endeavors in school buildings, prompting the school to issue a warning in the student newspaper:
A UH student has been endangering students by leaving his body fluids on desks in many classrooms. His blog, Hawaii Speedo Student, shows pictures and videos of himself masturbating in buildings such as Kuykendall, Moore, Webster, Physical Science, Watanabe and possibly more. He is currently being investigated for violating student conduct codes. Please take appropriate precautions like disinfecting desks and washing hands frequently. He is self-described as 5 foot 7 inches with frizzy blond hair, blue eyes and a slim build. Do not attempt to approach the student. If you notice him or anyone else exhibiting sexually deviant and psychotic behavior, call Campus Security at (808) 956-6911.But Queerty reports that Tim sees his project as sexual art:
"After I came out earlier this year [2009], I discovered I love showing off in front of a camera. Taking naked or nearly naked pictures is both arousing and artistic for me. I enjoy doing it and I enjoy the thought that other guys might be getting off on it too." He chose his username, not surprisingly, because "I have a big fetish for speedos. I always tan and swim in them and wear them as underwear most of the time. Most of what I put up here will hopefully have to do with speedos, but I'll make sure there are plenty of nude pics too."He writes a blog where you can learn more about him. His blog includes pictures from his weekend in So Cal as well as his own story about how he was persecuted on campus for his “extracurricular activities.”
1
Sexy David Townsend - What A Hot Marine He Is!
0
President Barack Obama is expected to talk about the "Don't ask, don't tell" rule that bars openly gay Americans from serving in the military during his State of the Union address this week, a senior lawmaker said on Monday.
During his 2008 campaign for the presidency, Obama vowed to end the rule discriminating against gays and he renewed that pledge in a speech last year.
"We were told by the Pentagon that they expected the president to say something in the State of the Union on it," said Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, referring to the speech Obama will deliver on Wednesday evening to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
But Levin added: "I have no idea" what Obama will say.
The rule, which dates to the presidency of Bill Clinton, requires homosexuals to keep quiet about their true sexual orientation if they want to be in the U.S. military. It also stops recruiters or commanders from asking members of the armed forces whether they are gay.
It was a compromise signed into law by Clinton in 1993 after the military objected to his calls for welcoming openly gay Americans into their ranks.
Levin, a Democrat, is among members of Congress who favor ending the policy and allowing gays to serve openly in military ranks.
Levin plans to hold a hearing of his committee on the policy by early February, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. He had considered holding the hearing in late January, but the Obama administration asked him to hold off until after the State of the Union speech.
In his speech at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Obama will lay out the challenges and set the tone for his administration in 2010.
Critics charge that having gays openly serve in the military would undermine morale and discipline. Any such proposal from Obama is likely to be controversial.
Some key lawmakers oppose repealing the ban, including House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, Levin's counterpart. Gay rights advocates have accused Obama of dragging his feet about keeping a campaign pledge.
(Reporting by Rutgers)
Obama To Talk About Gays In The Military In State of the Union Address
President Barack Obama is expected to talk about the "Don't ask, don't tell" rule that bars openly gay Americans from serving in the military during his State of the Union address this week, a senior lawmaker said on Monday.
During his 2008 campaign for the presidency, Obama vowed to end the rule discriminating against gays and he renewed that pledge in a speech last year.
"We were told by the Pentagon that they expected the president to say something in the State of the Union on it," said Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, referring to the speech Obama will deliver on Wednesday evening to a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
But Levin added: "I have no idea" what Obama will say.
The rule, which dates to the presidency of Bill Clinton, requires homosexuals to keep quiet about their true sexual orientation if they want to be in the U.S. military. It also stops recruiters or commanders from asking members of the armed forces whether they are gay.
It was a compromise signed into law by Clinton in 1993 after the military objected to his calls for welcoming openly gay Americans into their ranks.
Levin, a Democrat, is among members of Congress who favor ending the policy and allowing gays to serve openly in military ranks.
Levin plans to hold a hearing of his committee on the policy by early February, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. He had considered holding the hearing in late January, but the Obama administration asked him to hold off until after the State of the Union speech.
In his speech at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Obama will lay out the challenges and set the tone for his administration in 2010.
Critics charge that having gays openly serve in the military would undermine morale and discipline. Any such proposal from Obama is likely to be controversial.
Some key lawmakers oppose repealing the ban, including House of Representatives Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton, Levin's counterpart. Gay rights advocates have accused Obama of dragging his feet about keeping a campaign pledge.
(Reporting by Rutgers)1
Gay service members who reveal their sexual orientations during congressional testimony would be immune from forced discharges under a bill introduced Wednesday, as lawmakers prepare to consider repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military.
The legislation's author, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said the bill is needed to ensure that Congress has reliable and relevant witnesses at its disposal if the House holds hearings next year on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
The bill also would protect from retaliatory personnel actions any members of the military who testify for or against lifting the 16-year ban.
"How can there be anything more important than a gay member of the service having the right to testify before the Armed Services Committee of the Congress that he is under the aegis of," Hastings told The Associated Press. "But if they come and testify, that testimony could be used against them under 'don't ask, don't tell.' In my judgment, it's just a question of fairness."
Hastings so far has secured 27 Democratic co-sponsors for his "Honest and Open Testimony Act." But the measure also has met surprising opposition from leading gay veterans groups and other Democrats who have been at the forefront of the movement to repeal the policy.
Alexander Nichols, executive director of Servicemembers United, an advocacy group for gay Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, said the legislation is good in theory but on a practical level would not protect gay service members who out themselves to Congress from becoming pariahs within their units.
"This proposal is, of course, well-intentioned and the idea behind it is certainly noble, but I believe it is a bit naive in its conceit and doesn't reflect a thoughtfulness on what this would mean for gay and lesbian service members," Nichols said. He thinks it is better for gay veterans to share their experiences than to put active duty service members at risk.
Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a think tank devoted to gays in the military at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said that if the bill passes, it would be the first dent in "don't ask, don't tell" since the policy prohibiting service members from acknowledging they are gay was adopted in 1993. As such, it represents an important step toward full repeal, Belkin said.
Bill Would Allow Gay Service Members To Testify Openly In US Congress
Gay service members who reveal their sexual orientations during congressional testimony would be immune from forced discharges under a bill introduced Wednesday, as lawmakers prepare to consider repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military.
The legislation's author, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., said the bill is needed to ensure that Congress has reliable and relevant witnesses at its disposal if the House holds hearings next year on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
The bill also would protect from retaliatory personnel actions any members of the military who testify for or against lifting the 16-year ban.
"How can there be anything more important than a gay member of the service having the right to testify before the Armed Services Committee of the Congress that he is under the aegis of," Hastings told The Associated Press. "But if they come and testify, that testimony could be used against them under 'don't ask, don't tell.' In my judgment, it's just a question of fairness."
Hastings so far has secured 27 Democratic co-sponsors for his "Honest and Open Testimony Act." But the measure also has met surprising opposition from leading gay veterans groups and other Democrats who have been at the forefront of the movement to repeal the policy.
Alexander Nichols, executive director of Servicemembers United, an advocacy group for gay Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, said the legislation is good in theory but on a practical level would not protect gay service members who out themselves to Congress from becoming pariahs within their units.
"This proposal is, of course, well-intentioned and the idea behind it is certainly noble, but I believe it is a bit naive in its conceit and doesn't reflect a thoughtfulness on what this would mean for gay and lesbian service members," Nichols said. He thinks it is better for gay veterans to share their experiences than to put active duty service members at risk.
Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Center, a think tank devoted to gays in the military at the University of California, Santa Barbara, said that if the bill passes, it would be the first dent in "don't ask, don't tell" since the policy prohibiting service members from acknowledging they are gay was adopted in 1993. As such, it represents an important step toward full repeal, Belkin said.
"I don't think there is any down side," he said. "Politically, it is a very poignant thing to put a gay person on the stand because that is shining a spotlight on the lie that structures the whole policy. The move, in and of itself, before they even say anything, is powerful ammunition."Since "don't ask, don't tell" took effect, nearly 13,000 troops have been dismissed because it became known they were gay. President Barack Obama said he favors lifting the ban but has asked for more time to persuade opponents in the Pentagon. U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Pa., the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, has been shepherding a "don't ask, don't tell" repeal bill toward hearings in the House, but he was not among the lawmakers who signed onto Hastings' measure. Story: The Associated Press
5
The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and declared that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities.
The nation's largest doctors' group stopped short of saying it would seek to overturn marriage bans, but its new stance angered conservative activists and provides a fresh boost to lobbying efforts by gay-rights advocates.
"It's highly significant that the AMA as one of this country's leading professional associations has taken a position on both of these issues," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a Washington-based advocacy group.
The health disparities measure "in the long run, will certainly help efforts to win marriage equality," Carey said.
Whether the AMA's lobbying power will hasten efforts to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" law remains to be seen. President Barack Obama has said he is working with congressional leaders to end the policy, and the AMA's stance will likely help, although gay rights issues have been upstaged by Obama's health care overhaul battle.
The AMA's vote took place at the group's interim policy-making meeting in Houston, a day after AMA delegates voted to affirm their support for health reform.
The health disparities policy is based on evidence showing that married couples are more likely to have health insurance, and that the uninsured have a high risk for "living sicker and dying younger," said Dr. Peter Carmel, an AMA board member.
Same-sex families lack other benefits afforded married couples, including tax breaks, spouse benefits under retirement plans and Social Security survivor benefits — all of which can put their health at risk, according to an AMA council report presented at the meeting.
But Jenny Tyree, a marriage analyst for Focus on the Family Action, a conservative advocacy group, called it a health insurance problem, not a marriage problem. "We all know there are problems with health care so let's solve the problem of the uninsured, rather than messing with marriage," she said.
Doctors who pushed the group to oppose "don't ask, don't tell" say the policy forcing gay service members to keep their sexual orientation secret has "a chilling effect" on open communication between gays and their doctors.
"A law which makes people lie to their physicians is a bad law," said Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor who attended the meeting.
In other action Tuesday, the AMA moved closer to supporting medical marijuana, adopting a measure urging a federal review of marijuana's status as a controlled substance. That would make it easier to do research, which the AMA said could lead to development of marijuana-based medications that don't require smoking. The group said its position doesn't mean it supports legalizing marijuana.
AMA: http://www.ama-assn.org
Story From Associated Press
AMA Votes To Seek Repeal of 'Don't Ask,Don't Tell'
The American Medical Association on Tuesday voted to oppose the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, and declared that gay marriage bans contribute to health disparities.
The nation's largest doctors' group stopped short of saying it would seek to overturn marriage bans, but its new stance angered conservative activists and provides a fresh boost to lobbying efforts by gay-rights advocates.
"It's highly significant that the AMA as one of this country's leading professional associations has taken a position on both of these issues," said Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a Washington-based advocacy group.
The health disparities measure "in the long run, will certainly help efforts to win marriage equality," Carey said.
Whether the AMA's lobbying power will hasten efforts to overturn the "don't ask, don't tell" law remains to be seen. President Barack Obama has said he is working with congressional leaders to end the policy, and the AMA's stance will likely help, although gay rights issues have been upstaged by Obama's health care overhaul battle.
The AMA's vote took place at the group's interim policy-making meeting in Houston, a day after AMA delegates voted to affirm their support for health reform.
The health disparities policy is based on evidence showing that married couples are more likely to have health insurance, and that the uninsured have a high risk for "living sicker and dying younger," said Dr. Peter Carmel, an AMA board member.
Same-sex families lack other benefits afforded married couples, including tax breaks, spouse benefits under retirement plans and Social Security survivor benefits — all of which can put their health at risk, according to an AMA council report presented at the meeting.
But Jenny Tyree, a marriage analyst for Focus on the Family Action, a conservative advocacy group, called it a health insurance problem, not a marriage problem. "We all know there are problems with health care so let's solve the problem of the uninsured, rather than messing with marriage," she said.
Doctors who pushed the group to oppose "don't ask, don't tell" say the policy forcing gay service members to keep their sexual orientation secret has "a chilling effect" on open communication between gays and their doctors.
"A law which makes people lie to their physicians is a bad law," said Dr. David Fassler, a University of Vermont psychiatry professor who attended the meeting.
In other action Tuesday, the AMA moved closer to supporting medical marijuana, adopting a measure urging a federal review of marijuana's status as a controlled substance. That would make it easier to do research, which the AMA said could lead to development of marijuana-based medications that don't require smoking. The group said its position doesn't mean it supports legalizing marijuana.
On the Net:
9
While Barack Obama plunges his country into a controversial debate about gays in the U.S. military, he could perhaps find comfort in the Canadian experience which celebrates an anniversary milestone next week.
The U.S. president has promised to repeal America's policy of, 'Don't ask, don't tell,' reviving a heated debate in his country that has not made a ripple in Canada since Oct. 27, 1992.
On that day Canada's Federal Court ruled that barring homosexuals from military service violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a landmark verdict that prompted more openly gay men and women to join the ranks of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
In the last 17 years, many have risen to the top in their respective fields - an otherwise impossible feat under rules that once barred the promotion of enlisted individuals who'd been outed.
Luc Cassivi is one of them.
He certainly didn't talk about his sexual orientation when he joined the Canadian Navy in 1983. He's now the highest-ranking sailor aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec, a commander in the Navy, and he's no longer shy about who he is.
"I've been openly gay for a number of years. My friends and my co-workers know it and it surely has not been an impediment for me progressing," Cassivi said in an interview aboard his Halifax-based frigate.
"I'm not saying that things have always been rosy. There were periods when things were difficult for a lot of people. . . But I think we're well past that at this point."
According to the Palm Centre, a California-based think tank focused on research related to gender, sexuality and the military, Canada is a leader among the 25 countries that now permit military service by openly gay people.
Canadian Forces chaplains have been blessing same-sex weddings on military bases since 2005 and, over the last four years, military recruiters have participated in gay-pride festivals in Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver.
Cassivi spent 15 years in tight quarters as a submariner. He said he's experienced his share of awkward moments and uncomfortable jokes. There were even times he considered leaving the military.
But once the rules changed, he says, so did the culture. Opportunities began to surface. These days, Cassivi says, success is dictated by performance.
"It's not colour, cultural background, gender or the like. It's (whether) you are competent at what you do," he said. "If you're competent at what you do, then the team will take you in and fully integrate you."
Cassivi said coming out with his colleagues merely simplified his life. He doesn't see himself as a champion for gay rights and says this is the first time he's ever spoken in the media about his sexuality. What he's most concerned about, he says, is getting the best out of his crew.
"I believe in the power of the people who work for me. It's really about them at the end of the day," he said.
"I try to do the best job I can and if somebody sees me as a role model, good for them. If what I do inspires them to carry on and achieve their full potential, that's great, but that's for them to judge, not me."
Michelle Douglas is heartened to learn just how much things have changed for her fellow homosexuals.
The 45-year-old public servant was inadvertently thrust into the spotlight when she was discharged from the military police in 1989 because she was - in their words - "not advantageously employable due to homosexuality."
She had no idea at the time the historic impact her legal challenge would have, but as the anniversary of that fateful victory approaches, Douglas said she's thrilled to have played a "small part" in the rights movement.
"It was a real turning point for equality rights for gay and lesbian people in Canada," she said.
"To have such an institution as the military now be open to gay and lesbian service members was an important victory."
While she never did return to the Canadian Forces, she was pleased to see service members marching for the first time at Toronto's pride festival in 2008.
"I approached them and told them who I was. They kind of had heard of my case but for them it was really something they saw as history," she said.
"It was heartwarming to me to know that there had been such advances. . . that it could now be viewed as history and people could just get on with their lives and serve their country proudly and openly."
Megan MacLean, a spokeswoman for Canada's Department of National Defence, said the military keeps no statistics regarding homosexual members but says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people serve in all three branches of the military.
Since the rules changed in 1992, she said, incidents of discrimination and harassment have been "extremely rare."
She touted Canada as a global leader when it comes to inclusiveness. She noted, however, that the Obama administration had not sought any Canadian advice on how to tackle the thorny subject.
Nathaniel Frank, a senior researcher in the U.S. with the Palm Centre, said that's not an unlikely proposition.
Every time the debate surfaces in the U.S., he said officials look to more liberal countries like Canada and Britain. While American conservatives often dismiss Canada and Western Europe as too laissez-faire, Frank said that's inaccurate.
There was actually plenty of political opposition before the Canadian ban was lifted, he said, and a majority of male soldiers polled prior to 1992 said they'd refuse to shower, undress, or sleep in the same room as a gay comrade.
"The same kinds of rhetoric we heard here (in the U.S.) during our debate in the early 1990s and since - that this would never work, that it would undermine morale and cohesion, that the military would suffer and that it's too big a risk - were also heard in Canada," Frank said.
But a 2000 study of the Canadian experience by the University of California research group found no basis for the allegations.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered soldiers reported good working relationships with their peers; incidences of sexual harassment among women dropped; and not a single assault could be attributed to gay-bashing.
The study concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay members had no bearing on military performance, unit cohesion, or discipline.
He expects the same would be true if the U.S. dropped its 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy and says he's optimistic nay-sayers won't be able to stave off change for much longer.
"We know we're standing on the right side of history," he said.
While Barack Obama plunges his country into a controversial debate about gays in the U.S. military, he could perhaps find comfort in the Canadian experience which celebrates an anniversary milestone next week.
The U.S. president has promised to repeal America's policy of, 'Don't ask, don't tell,' reviving a heated debate in his country that has not made a ripple in Canada since Oct. 27, 1992.
On that day Canada's Federal Court ruled that barring homosexuals from military service violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a landmark verdict that prompted more openly gay men and women to join the ranks of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
In the last 17 years, many have risen to the top in their respective fields - an otherwise impossible feat under rules that once barred the promotion of enlisted individuals who'd been outed.
Luc Cassivi is one of them.
He certainly didn't talk about his sexual orientation when he joined the Canadian Navy in 1983. He's now the highest-ranking sailor aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec, a commander in the Navy, and he's no longer shy about who he is.
"I've been openly gay for a number of years. My friends and my co-workers know it and it surely has not been an impediment for me progressing," Cassivi said in an interview aboard his Halifax-based frigate.
"I'm not saying that things have always been rosy. There were periods when things were difficult for a lot of people. . . But I think we're well past that at this point."
According to the Palm Centre, a California-based think tank focused on research related to gender, sexuality and the military, Canada is a leader among the 25 countries that now permit military service by openly gay people.
Canadian Forces chaplains have been blessing same-sex weddings on military bases since 2005 and, over the last four years, military recruiters have participated in gay-pride festivals in Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver.
Cassivi spent 15 years in tight quarters as a submariner. He said he's experienced his share of awkward moments and uncomfortable jokes. There were even times he considered leaving the military.
But once the rules changed, he says, so did the culture. Opportunities began to surface. These days, Cassivi says, success is dictated by performance.
"It's not colour, cultural background, gender or the like. It's (whether) you are competent at what you do," he said. "If you're competent at what you do, then the team will take you in and fully integrate you."
Cassivi said coming out with his colleagues merely simplified his life. He doesn't see himself as a champion for gay rights and says this is the first time he's ever spoken in the media about his sexuality. What he's most concerned about, he says, is getting the best out of his crew.
"I believe in the power of the people who work for me. It's really about them at the end of the day," he said.
"I try to do the best job I can and if somebody sees me as a role model, good for them. If what I do inspires them to carry on and achieve their full potential, that's great, but that's for them to judge, not me."
Michelle Douglas is heartened to learn just how much things have changed for her fellow homosexuals.
The 45-year-old public servant was inadvertently thrust into the spotlight when she was discharged from the military police in 1989 because she was - in their words - "not advantageously employable due to homosexuality."
She had no idea at the time the historic impact her legal challenge would have, but as the anniversary of that fateful victory approaches, Douglas said she's thrilled to have played a "small part" in the rights movement.
"It was a real turning point for equality rights for gay and lesbian people in Canada," she said.
"To have such an institution as the military now be open to gay and lesbian service members was an important victory."
While she never did return to the Canadian Forces, she was pleased to see service members marching for the first time at Toronto's pride festival in 2008.
"I approached them and told them who I was. They kind of had heard of my case but for them it was really something they saw as history," she said.
"It was heartwarming to me to know that there had been such advances. . . that it could now be viewed as history and people could just get on with their lives and serve their country proudly and openly."
Megan MacLean, a spokeswoman for Canada's Department of National Defence, said the military keeps no statistics regarding homosexual members but says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people serve in all three branches of the military.
Since the rules changed in 1992, she said, incidents of discrimination and harassment have been "extremely rare."
She touted Canada as a global leader when it comes to inclusiveness. She noted, however, that the Obama administration had not sought any Canadian advice on how to tackle the thorny subject.
Nathaniel Frank, a senior researcher in the U.S. with the Palm Centre, said that's not an unlikely proposition.
Every time the debate surfaces in the U.S., he said officials look to more liberal countries like Canada and Britain. While American conservatives often dismiss Canada and Western Europe as too laissez-faire, Frank said that's inaccurate.
There was actually plenty of political opposition before the Canadian ban was lifted, he said, and a majority of male soldiers polled prior to 1992 said they'd refuse to shower, undress, or sleep in the same room as a gay comrade.
"The same kinds of rhetoric we heard here (in the U.S.) during our debate in the early 1990s and since - that this would never work, that it would undermine morale and cohesion, that the military would suffer and that it's too big a risk - were also heard in Canada," Frank said.
But a 2000 study of the Canadian experience by the University of California research group found no basis for the allegations.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered soldiers reported good working relationships with their peers; incidences of sexual harassment among women dropped; and not a single assault could be attributed to gay-bashing.
The study concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay members had no bearing on military performance, unit cohesion, or discipline.
He expects the same would be true if the U.S. dropped its 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy and says he's optimistic nay-sayers won't be able to stave off change for much longer.
"We know we're standing on the right side of history," he said.
Canada Quietly Marks Anniversary For Gays In Military While U.S. Debate Rages
While Barack Obama plunges his country into a controversial debate about gays in the U.S. military, he could perhaps find comfort in the Canadian experience which celebrates an anniversary milestone next week.
The U.S. president has promised to repeal America's policy of, 'Don't ask, don't tell,' reviving a heated debate in his country that has not made a ripple in Canada since Oct. 27, 1992.
On that day Canada's Federal Court ruled that barring homosexuals from military service violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a landmark verdict that prompted more openly gay men and women to join the ranks of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
In the last 17 years, many have risen to the top in their respective fields - an otherwise impossible feat under rules that once barred the promotion of enlisted individuals who'd been outed.
Luc Cassivi is one of them.
He certainly didn't talk about his sexual orientation when he joined the Canadian Navy in 1983. He's now the highest-ranking sailor aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec, a commander in the Navy, and he's no longer shy about who he is.
"I've been openly gay for a number of years. My friends and my co-workers know it and it surely has not been an impediment for me progressing," Cassivi said in an interview aboard his Halifax-based frigate.
"I'm not saying that things have always been rosy. There were periods when things were difficult for a lot of people. . . But I think we're well past that at this point."
According to the Palm Centre, a California-based think tank focused on research related to gender, sexuality and the military, Canada is a leader among the 25 countries that now permit military service by openly gay people.
Canadian Forces chaplains have been blessing same-sex weddings on military bases since 2005 and, over the last four years, military recruiters have participated in gay-pride festivals in Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver.
Cassivi spent 15 years in tight quarters as a submariner. He said he's experienced his share of awkward moments and uncomfortable jokes. There were even times he considered leaving the military.
But once the rules changed, he says, so did the culture. Opportunities began to surface. These days, Cassivi says, success is dictated by performance.
"It's not colour, cultural background, gender or the like. It's (whether) you are competent at what you do," he said. "If you're competent at what you do, then the team will take you in and fully integrate you."
Cassivi said coming out with his colleagues merely simplified his life. He doesn't see himself as a champion for gay rights and says this is the first time he's ever spoken in the media about his sexuality. What he's most concerned about, he says, is getting the best out of his crew.
"I believe in the power of the people who work for me. It's really about them at the end of the day," he said.
"I try to do the best job I can and if somebody sees me as a role model, good for them. If what I do inspires them to carry on and achieve their full potential, that's great, but that's for them to judge, not me."
Michelle Douglas is heartened to learn just how much things have changed for her fellow homosexuals.
The 45-year-old public servant was inadvertently thrust into the spotlight when she was discharged from the military police in 1989 because she was - in their words - "not advantageously employable due to homosexuality."
She had no idea at the time the historic impact her legal challenge would have, but as the anniversary of that fateful victory approaches, Douglas said she's thrilled to have played a "small part" in the rights movement.
"It was a real turning point for equality rights for gay and lesbian people in Canada," she said.
"To have such an institution as the military now be open to gay and lesbian service members was an important victory."
While she never did return to the Canadian Forces, she was pleased to see service members marching for the first time at Toronto's pride festival in 2008.
"I approached them and told them who I was. They kind of had heard of my case but for them it was really something they saw as history," she said.
"It was heartwarming to me to know that there had been such advances. . . that it could now be viewed as history and people could just get on with their lives and serve their country proudly and openly."
Megan MacLean, a spokeswoman for Canada's Department of National Defence, said the military keeps no statistics regarding homosexual members but says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people serve in all three branches of the military.
Since the rules changed in 1992, she said, incidents of discrimination and harassment have been "extremely rare."
She touted Canada as a global leader when it comes to inclusiveness. She noted, however, that the Obama administration had not sought any Canadian advice on how to tackle the thorny subject.
Nathaniel Frank, a senior researcher in the U.S. with the Palm Centre, said that's not an unlikely proposition.
Every time the debate surfaces in the U.S., he said officials look to more liberal countries like Canada and Britain. While American conservatives often dismiss Canada and Western Europe as too laissez-faire, Frank said that's inaccurate.
There was actually plenty of political opposition before the Canadian ban was lifted, he said, and a majority of male soldiers polled prior to 1992 said they'd refuse to shower, undress, or sleep in the same room as a gay comrade.
"The same kinds of rhetoric we heard here (in the U.S.) during our debate in the early 1990s and since - that this would never work, that it would undermine morale and cohesion, that the military would suffer and that it's too big a risk - were also heard in Canada," Frank said.
But a 2000 study of the Canadian experience by the University of California research group found no basis for the allegations.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered soldiers reported good working relationships with their peers; incidences of sexual harassment among women dropped; and not a single assault could be attributed to gay-bashing.
The study concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay members had no bearing on military performance, unit cohesion, or discipline.
He expects the same would be true if the U.S. dropped its 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy and says he's optimistic nay-sayers won't be able to stave off change for much longer.
"We know we're standing on the right side of history," he said.
While Barack Obama plunges his country into a controversial debate about gays in the U.S. military, he could perhaps find comfort in the Canadian experience which celebrates an anniversary milestone next week.
The U.S. president has promised to repeal America's policy of, 'Don't ask, don't tell,' reviving a heated debate in his country that has not made a ripple in Canada since Oct. 27, 1992.
On that day Canada's Federal Court ruled that barring homosexuals from military service violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a landmark verdict that prompted more openly gay men and women to join the ranks of the Army, Air Force and Navy.
In the last 17 years, many have risen to the top in their respective fields - an otherwise impossible feat under rules that once barred the promotion of enlisted individuals who'd been outed.
Luc Cassivi is one of them.
He certainly didn't talk about his sexual orientation when he joined the Canadian Navy in 1983. He's now the highest-ranking sailor aboard HMCS Ville de Quebec, a commander in the Navy, and he's no longer shy about who he is.
"I've been openly gay for a number of years. My friends and my co-workers know it and it surely has not been an impediment for me progressing," Cassivi said in an interview aboard his Halifax-based frigate.
"I'm not saying that things have always been rosy. There were periods when things were difficult for a lot of people. . . But I think we're well past that at this point."
According to the Palm Centre, a California-based think tank focused on research related to gender, sexuality and the military, Canada is a leader among the 25 countries that now permit military service by openly gay people.
Canadian Forces chaplains have been blessing same-sex weddings on military bases since 2005 and, over the last four years, military recruiters have participated in gay-pride festivals in Toronto, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver.
Cassivi spent 15 years in tight quarters as a submariner. He said he's experienced his share of awkward moments and uncomfortable jokes. There were even times he considered leaving the military.
But once the rules changed, he says, so did the culture. Opportunities began to surface. These days, Cassivi says, success is dictated by performance.
"It's not colour, cultural background, gender or the like. It's (whether) you are competent at what you do," he said. "If you're competent at what you do, then the team will take you in and fully integrate you."
Cassivi said coming out with his colleagues merely simplified his life. He doesn't see himself as a champion for gay rights and says this is the first time he's ever spoken in the media about his sexuality. What he's most concerned about, he says, is getting the best out of his crew.
"I believe in the power of the people who work for me. It's really about them at the end of the day," he said.
"I try to do the best job I can and if somebody sees me as a role model, good for them. If what I do inspires them to carry on and achieve their full potential, that's great, but that's for them to judge, not me."
Michelle Douglas is heartened to learn just how much things have changed for her fellow homosexuals.
The 45-year-old public servant was inadvertently thrust into the spotlight when she was discharged from the military police in 1989 because she was - in their words - "not advantageously employable due to homosexuality."
She had no idea at the time the historic impact her legal challenge would have, but as the anniversary of that fateful victory approaches, Douglas said she's thrilled to have played a "small part" in the rights movement.
"It was a real turning point for equality rights for gay and lesbian people in Canada," she said.
"To have such an institution as the military now be open to gay and lesbian service members was an important victory."
While she never did return to the Canadian Forces, she was pleased to see service members marching for the first time at Toronto's pride festival in 2008.
"I approached them and told them who I was. They kind of had heard of my case but for them it was really something they saw as history," she said.
"It was heartwarming to me to know that there had been such advances. . . that it could now be viewed as history and people could just get on with their lives and serve their country proudly and openly."
Megan MacLean, a spokeswoman for Canada's Department of National Defence, said the military keeps no statistics regarding homosexual members but says gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people serve in all three branches of the military.
Since the rules changed in 1992, she said, incidents of discrimination and harassment have been "extremely rare."
She touted Canada as a global leader when it comes to inclusiveness. She noted, however, that the Obama administration had not sought any Canadian advice on how to tackle the thorny subject.
Nathaniel Frank, a senior researcher in the U.S. with the Palm Centre, said that's not an unlikely proposition.
Every time the debate surfaces in the U.S., he said officials look to more liberal countries like Canada and Britain. While American conservatives often dismiss Canada and Western Europe as too laissez-faire, Frank said that's inaccurate.
There was actually plenty of political opposition before the Canadian ban was lifted, he said, and a majority of male soldiers polled prior to 1992 said they'd refuse to shower, undress, or sleep in the same room as a gay comrade.
"The same kinds of rhetoric we heard here (in the U.S.) during our debate in the early 1990s and since - that this would never work, that it would undermine morale and cohesion, that the military would suffer and that it's too big a risk - were also heard in Canada," Frank said.
But a 2000 study of the Canadian experience by the University of California research group found no basis for the allegations.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered soldiers reported good working relationships with their peers; incidences of sexual harassment among women dropped; and not a single assault could be attributed to gay-bashing.
The study concluded that lifting the ban on openly gay members had no bearing on military performance, unit cohesion, or discipline.
He expects the same would be true if the U.S. dropped its 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy and says he's optimistic nay-sayers won't be able to stave off change for much longer.
"We know we're standing on the right side of history," he said.0
August Provost, a sailor from Houston, was found shot in a guard booth on the base early Tuesday, June 30th. The murderer also tried to set the booth on fire in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Military officials are holding a suspect in the brig at Miramar while they investigate.
A candlelight vigil is being planned to honor August Provost, the gay sailor who was murdered at Camp Pendleton last week. The vigil will take place in front of Camp Pendleton this Friday, July 10 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
The tragedy of Provost's death has gained wide attention from the gay community. Provost was gay and was out to many of his fellow servicemembers. He had also complained to his sister, Akalia, that he had been recently harassed in regards to his sexuality. Provost's family encouraged him to report the harassment to superiors, but that was probably not an option. Under the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, Provost could have been discharged if he acknowledged his sexuality to his superiors.
Despite this, military officials have stated that there is nothing in the case to suggest the murder was a hate crime. They have also said that terrorism and gang violence were not motives. No reason for the murder has been released yet, leaving many people to wonder what really happened the night Provost was murdered.
Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chairman of San Diego's Human Rights Commission, is asking for an inquiry into whether Provost was killed because of his sexual orientation.
Honoring Seaman Provost
August Provost, a sailor from Houston, was found shot in a guard booth on the base early Tuesday, June 30th. The murderer also tried to set the booth on fire in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Military officials are holding a suspect in the brig at Miramar while they investigate.
A candlelight vigil is being planned to honor August Provost, the gay sailor who was murdered at Camp Pendleton last week. The vigil will take place in front of Camp Pendleton this Friday, July 10 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
The tragedy of Provost's death has gained wide attention from the gay community. Provost was gay and was out to many of his fellow servicemembers. He had also complained to his sister, Akalia, that he had been recently harassed in regards to his sexuality. Provost's family encouraged him to report the harassment to superiors, but that was probably not an option. Under the military's discriminatory Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, Provost could have been discharged if he acknowledged his sexuality to his superiors.
Despite this, military officials have stated that there is nothing in the case to suggest the murder was a hate crime. They have also said that terrorism and gang violence were not motives. No reason for the murder has been released yet, leaving many people to wonder what really happened the night Provost was murdered.
Nicole Murray-Ramirez, chairman of San Diego's Human Rights Commission, is asking for an inquiry into whether Provost was killed because of his sexual orientation.
"We respect the military, but we want to ensure that there is full disclosure, to see if this was a hate crime," Murray-Ramirez said. "A member of our community has been killed."Friday's candlelight vigil is being organized by DOD Fed Globe, a group that supports the rights of the LGBT Armed Forces and Civil Service, those who wish to serve, and friends and family of servicemembers. For more info: Sailor questioned in seaman's death Info on the candlelight vigil
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Active Duty's new release Double Time 2 is streaming for you now, and I had the chance to watch the final scene with DJ and Gage. DJ is a ruggedly handsome marine and Gage is a cute blonde with a chiseled six-pack. DJ has been wanting him a piece of Gage since he started with Active Duty, but things have never worked out until now. Today, DJ gets his wish and Gage seems thrilled that someone so hot has been wanting him so badly. They joke around about popularity contests and Gage says if he's gotta' be popular he'll need a brand new Mustang. Dink offers up a stallion instead and Gage seems fine with that. They get a lot of laughs in before things heat up and these two go at it.
Active Duty's - Double Time 2
Active Duty's new release Double Time 2 is streaming for you now, and I had the chance to watch the final scene with DJ and Gage. DJ is a ruggedly handsome marine and Gage is a cute blonde with a chiseled six-pack. DJ has been wanting him a piece of Gage since he started with Active Duty, but things have never worked out until now. Today, DJ gets his wish and Gage seems thrilled that someone so hot has been wanting him so badly. They joke around about popularity contests and Gage says if he's gotta' be popular he'll need a brand new Mustang. Dink offers up a stallion instead and Gage seems fine with that. They get a lot of laughs in before things heat up and these two go at it.
Join Active Duty now to see this scene streaming, along with 8 other full-length exclusive movies!
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Lt. Dan Choi, an Arab linguist, is being fired under Don't Ask Don't Tell. He spoke to CNN's Carol Costello on American Morning. Lt. Choi will be a guest on CNN’s Anderson Copper's 360 Tuesday night beginning at 10pm ET. This is an open letter to Congress and President Obama written by Lt. Dan Choi:
Please Don't Fire Me
Lt. Dan Choi, an Arab linguist, is being fired under Don't Ask Don't Tell. He spoke to CNN's Carol Costello on American Morning. Lt. Choi will be a guest on CNN’s Anderson Copper's 360 Tuesday night beginning at 10pm ET. This is an open letter to Congress and President Obama written by Lt. Dan Choi:
I have learned many lessons in the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country. The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important. At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught us to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.” The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort. Following the Honor Code never bowed to comfortable timing or popularity. Honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why I refuse to lie about my identity. I have personally served for a decade under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: an immoral law and policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception and lying. These values are completely opposed to anything I learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force. As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates. I demand honesty and courage from my soldiers. They should demand the same from me. I am committed to applying the leadership lessons I learned at West Point. With 60 other LGBT West Point graduates, I helped form our organization, Knights Out, to fight for the repeal of this discriminatory law and educate cadets and soldiers after the repeal occurs. When I receive emails from deployed soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone, and even suicidal because the torment of rejection and discrimination, I remember my leadership training: soldiers cannot feel alone, especially in combat. Leaders must reach out. They can never diminish the fighting spirit of a soldier by tolerating discrimination and isolation. Leaders respect the honor of service. Respecting each soldier’s service is my personal promise. The Department of the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23rd. I will not lie to you; the letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me. It is a slap in the face to my soldiers, peers and leaders who have demonstrated that an infantry unit can be professional enough to accept diversity, to accept capable leaders, to accept skilled soldiers. My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professional. Further, they are respectable infantrymen who work as a team. Many told me that they respect me even more because I trusted them enough to let them know the truth. Trust is the foundation of unit cohesion. After I publicly announced that I am gay, I reported for training and led rifle marksmanship. I ordered hundreds of soldiers to fire live rounds and qualify on their weapons. I qualified on my own weapon. I showered after training and slept in an open bay with 40 other infantrymen. I cannot understand the claim that I “negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard.” I refuse to accept this statement as true. As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism. When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for. Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me. Very Respectfully, Daniel W. Choi 1LT, IN New York Army National Guard
