In the 1940s Americans celebrated "VE Day", the day that Nazi Germany surrendered to the allies. In that same decade, Americans celebrated "VJ Day", the day Japan surrendered to those same allies.
Tomorrow, September 20, Americans will be able to celebrate VA Day. That will mark the day on which the US government, and its military forces, surrendered to the LGBT community and granted it full rights to openly serve in our military services.
However, we need to be clear that the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell does not mean that Transgender people can serve openly in the military. I will discuss this in detail in a separate NewsFlash.
There are likely to be public celebrations across the country. According to the Service Members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) there will be at least 100 celebrations, of what I would like to call VA Day, across the country. You can see a list of those events by clicking on the following link:
http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/sldn-allies-prepare-to-celebrate-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-in-all-50-states/
SLDN has issued an advisory on what current LGBT service members can do at those celebrations. They say, for example, that current LGBT service members may attend celebrations in their uniforms. They may also speak as individuals about what the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell means to them. However, they should not criticize the military services or their military commanders.
SLDN also said that LGBT members can announce their sexual orientation on September 20 or later.
You can read the full SLDN advisory on this by clicking on the following link:
http://www.sldn.org/blog/archives/guidance-for-service-members-for-participating-in-dadt-repeal-events-on-sep/
LGBT military service members may want to consider this issue seriously before going public. There will undoubtedly be a period of adjustment while military personnel adjust to the new rules. During that time there could be harassment and other extra-legal activities that could make life difficult for LGBT service members.
We will need people to step up and test the administration of the new rules. They should understand that doing so may result in harassment or worse. There is the possibility that they might even have to go to court if they find that the new policy is not being implemented properly.
People whose situation does not allow them to navigate these difficulties may want to wait until the new policy is fully implemented in an acceptable way before they step forward.
None-the-less, September 20 will forever be a major landmark in the LGBT community’s march to full equality in this nation.
Boyce Hinman
California Communities United Institute
