Air Force Cancels Gay Vets Event

Two organizations of gay military personnel and their supporters that scheduled a dinner at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., were notified their event was canceled by the academy's alumni organization.

OutServe, a network of gay active troops, and gay academy alumni group Blue Alliance submitted a contract and deposit to celebrate Veterans Day on campus, according to a press release from OutServe. However, the school's Association of Graduates, which governs Doolittle Hall, the event's location, reversed its decision to allow the dinner.

J.D. Smith, OutServe's codirector, said the point was to honor the "most ignored veterans in our country: gays and lesbians. It was made clear this dinner was not to be an event regarding 'don't ask, don't tell,' it was to be a night to honor the LGBT history in the Air Force. All in attendance would fully comply with Air Force policy — including 'don't ask, don't tell.'"

Ty Walrod, another codirector of OutServe, said whether or not the move was intentional, "this sends a message that their sacrifices were not, and are not, valued."