Don't Ask Don't Tell

Lt. Dan Choi on trial

Margaret Cho - Huffpost Gay Voices blogger
March 25th, 2013

When Lt. Dan Choi finishes up with his trial, which will take place on Thursday, March 28, in Washington, D.C., he and I are headed to Jeju Island, South Korea's own little island paradise. Dan needs some paradise right now. He is on trial for contesting and questioning Don't Ask Don't Tell, which was later repealed, yet now he has to go to court, and face some possibly harsh consequences, for speaking out against it years ago.

Former USAF major reaches settlement in DADT discharge

LGBTQ Nation Staff
March 16th, 2013

A former airman who was discharged from the U.S. Air Force under the now repealed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that barred openly gay service members, has settled his lawsuit against the Department of Defense.

Michael Almy, a major in the U.S. Air Force who served in Iraq, was discharged in 2006 after his commanding officer found out he was gay.

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No longer a silent night: Gay chorus servicemembers sing this holiday without fear of losing their jobs

Tom Felkner for the San Diego Gay Men's Chorus
December 14th, 2012

SAN DIEGO -- For most people, an invitation to sing the national anthem at a San Diego Padres baseball game would be the thrill of a lifetime. Not so for Bobby Thompson.

In 2007, with retirement from the Navy just a few years away, singing publicly with the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus meant that he could be fired under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. And not only that, he could lose his retirement benefits after nearly 20 years of service.

So, with a heavy heart, Thompson sat in the stands and remained silent while his friends proudly sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Profiles in Advocacy: With liberty and justice for all- LGBT military after DADT

Ian Morton - Contributor, Gay San Diego
November 16th, 2012

I remember walking down the streets of Knoxville, Tenn. in 1995 and being approached by armed forces recruitment officers. They would usually have a catchy opener and then launch into their sales pitch about the benefits of serving my country. This was right in the thick of my strident coming out period, so we always ended on that note. I was gay and not willing to compromise that part of my life.

First round of LGBT veterans to be inducted onto San Diego wall of honor

SDGLN Staff
November 8th, 2012

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego LGBT Community Center will induct the first set of LGBT veterans to the Benjamin F. Dillingham and Bridge Wilson Wall of Honor at a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 9 at 6 pm.

The wall was unveiled last November.

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VIDEO: Meet LGBT History Month icon Katherine Miller

SDGLN Staff
October 24th, 2012

(Editor's note: October is LGBT History Month, celebrated annually to recognize the notable achievements of LGBT people throughout time. Each day this month, Equality Forum will feature one LGBT icon who has made notable contributions to society and SDGLN will publish the story here in the Causes section.)

Katherine Miller was the last West Point cadet discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT). She is a 2012 Yale graduate. With the repeal of DADT, Miller enlisted in the Army as an officer.

VIDEO: End of DADT was not the end of discrimination in the military

Alexander Nicholson - via Huffpost Gay Voices
September 20th, 2012

It has been a full year since the official end of "don't ask, don't tell" (DADT), and all the catastrophic predictions of those opposed to honest service by gays and lesbians have failed to materialize. Troops now serve our nation openly and proudly, without fear of losing their jobs simply because of the gender of the person they love.

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Jim Winsor's Out & About: Flicks has been sold

Jim Winsor - SDGLN Nightlife Columnist
September 20th, 2012

Flicks, a staple of the San Diego gay nightlife scene for almost 30 years, has been sold.

The new owners are Jeff Jackson, who also owns JT's Pub in Grantville, and his partner Paul. From what I've been told, both are eager and excited to begin a new business adventure catering to a different clientele than they're accustomed to.

TODAY: U.S. military members to participate in SDSU's annual rainbow flag raising ceremony

SDGLN Staff
July 16th, 2012

SAN DIEGO -- Members of the U.S. military will raise the rainbow flag today at San Diego State University's (SDSU) annual rainbow flag ceremony, beginning at 11:30 am. The event, which is a public campus celebration in recognition of diversity and inclusion, will kick off LGBT Pride week in San Diego.

In the aftermath of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," military personnel will participate for the first time in the event's five-year history.

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COMMENTARY: The newest group of military spouses is stuck outside the gates

Jim Cassidy - American Military Partner Association
April 23rd, 2012

Let’s all celebrate! Not so fast.

Military Spouse Day has been observed since May 23, 1984, when a proclamation by President Ronald Reagan recognized the profound importance of spouse commitment to the readiness and well-being of military members. The US Secretary of Defense standardized the date by declaring the Friday preceding Mother’s Day as Military Spouse Day.