Hey Guys and Girls,
I joined years ago, but just got back to paying attention to what's going on here, so you don't know me yet. Anyway, I'm older than any of you (class of '60), so I'm going to act like your granny and lecture a little.
From just now checking out the legal defense network stuff, it seems to me that there are several things we should be working on - at least be discussing.
First, as a transsexual (MTF post-op) I was curious about what might be the reaction in a barracks if someone with drag queen tendencies cross-dressed and some redneck or other hostile type objected. Somebody should be thinking about what the group's stance on gender-bending should be, seeing as the repeal of DADT should be just the first step in a long, tedious process of unraveling the other restrictions on LGBT people, and we don't want to mess this thing up do we? I mean, you realize that how you play it out in the military will determine how fast the house of cards which stymies many other minorities from realizing their full potential in society, and a cross-dresser in the service will be playing with fire. Hell, someone might think they're a transsexual.
The other minorities I'm thinking of include, besides transgendered people, atheists, agnostics, humanists, D & S practitioners (including BDSM and S & M), prostitutes, fat or ugly people, and any others whose looks, actions or beliefs differ from the general public's and do not really hurt anybody. I know that many of you have prejudices against one or more of those groups, so I'll say here that "just because you're in a minority doesn't mean you're not a bigot." As a bisexual atheist, former dominatrix and escort, I feel particularly qualified to defend those groups.
Second, what about the defense of marriage act (no caps on purpose) denying benefits to the spouse of someone in the service? I think that as soon as someone with a same-sex partner gets in and their partner is denied VA benefits, they should run, not walk, to the nearest federal courthouse to file suit, since the courts take forever to decide anything and people will be treated badly until they do. And of course getting rid of DOMA would be even better.
Third, I was particularly disappointed to read that the so-called education of the troops concerning DADT, particularly in the marine corps (no caps on purpose, based on the way they're acting) is perfunctory at best. and hostile to gays and lesbians at worst. I know the younger generations are less hostile to gays and lesbians than mine, but still, there is from what I saw on the legal site nothing being done to really change people's attitudes about homosexuality and the rest, and there should be.
And for your information, I am dealing with the VA hospital in Decatur, GA regularly now, since I have a superbug in my right eye and will likely lose it, the VA has strict privacy rules, which from what I've seen at that hospital are rigidly adhered to. They have been scrupulous in not letting the people I deal with there know about my post-op status. So once a gay former or active duty service member enters the VA world, from my experiences I think they should expect their privacy to be honored.
I've made my phone number and email addresses available, so let me know what you think about my points if you feel in the mood. And I wish you guys who go back in or come behind well. All of us deserve better than we've gotten.
Regards, Sabra