The nation honors the sacrifices of its servicemembers Wednesday, in its annual observance of Veterans Day. But for many LGBT servicemembers, it's a bittersweet day.
LGB troops, finally freed from the shackles of "don't ask, don't tell," still must fight to have their dishonorable discharges reversed, while some GOP presidential candidates are endorsing a return of DADT. And a ban remains on open transgender service, though a military working group is exploring an end to the prohibition.
Barbara Satin, National LGBTQ Task Force Assistant Faith Work Director and former U.S. Air Force officer (pictured above), released the following statement on the trans military ban:
“On Veterans Day, as we honor those who’ve served in the military, let us also lift up the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) service members. For decades, courageous and dedicated LGBTQ people served in the U.S. military while hiding their true identity out of fear of being discharged. Today, while we have made significant strides with the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’, transgender people are still denied the opportunity to serve openly in the military. That is why we’re again calling on the Defense Department to expedite their repeal of the ban of transgender people in the military.”
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