gays in the military

COMMENTARY: Not cool, Secretary Hagel, not cool

I recognize that there are big items on the agenda for our Department of Defense and specifically, for Secretary Chuck Hagel. Budget cuts. An historic draw down of troops. Mounting concerns in Syria. So it's understandable why the Pentagon's leadership may have felt this week that a controversial pastor leading its Day of Prayer event was just not at the top of the list to receive its attention. But here's why it should have been.

Lt. Dan Choi on trial

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 He is on trial for contesting and questioning Don't Ask Don't Tell, which was later repealed, yet now he has to go to court, and face some possibly harsh consequences, for speaking out against it years ago.

HRC calls on Defense Secretary to extend benefits to gay and lesbian troops and spouses

WASHINGTON -- As part of the Human Rights Campaign’s ongoing effort to achieve full equality for gay and lesbian service members and their families, HRC is, in addition to calling on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to issue military IDs to same-sex spouses, urging him to extend every possible benefit not specifically barred by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The revisions would ensure same-sex spouses in the military receive the same benefits afforded all other service members.

Smooth transition, unfinished business mark first anniversary of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal

WASHINGTON — Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and OutServe, the association of actively serving LGBT military personnel, on Thursday applauded and celebrated the one-year anniversary of repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” praising the smooth transition the military has made in allowing gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans to serve openly in the military, and called on the White House, Pentagon, and Congress to embrace and advance the final work necessary to achieve full LGBT equality in the Armed Forces.

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

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.

Featured Listing

Commentary: How DOMA affects my Navy family

(Editor's note: Jonathan Holmes is a member of the American Military Partner Association, the nation’s resource and support network for the partners and spouses of LGBT servicemembers and veterans. He and his partner, an active duty sailor stationed at Camp Pendleton, live in Temecula, Calif.)

Featured Listing

New study on DADT repeal: Openly gay service has worked

(Editor's note: Aaron Belkin is a blogger at Huffington Post Gay Voices, a media partner of SDGLN, and author of "How We Won: Progressive Lessons From The Repeal Of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'")

GOP platform cuts gay rights in military

President Obama's expansion of gay rights in the military, including on-base same sex marriage and wearing uniforms in gay pride parades, would be radically yanked back in a Mitt Romney administration, according to Republican platform positions taking shape in Tampa and OK'd by the candidate.

"We're pushing back," said Elaine Donnelly, of the conservative Center for Military Readiness. "This is pretty big."

Troops marching in uniform to make history today at San Diego Pride Parade

SAN DIEGO – Upwards of 200,000 spectators today will witness history in the making when hundreds of America’s active duty service members will be allowed for the first time to march in their uniforms at a gay pride parade.

San Diego Pride Parade’s military contingent will include active duty members and veterans representing the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. The contingent is expected to get the loudest applause from Pride celebrants today.

BREAKING NEWS: All branches of military granted permission to march in uniform at San Diego Pride Parade

SAN DIEGO -- Any service member of the Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force can march proudly in uniform in the military contingent at San Diego Pride on Saturday.

The official word came down from the Defense Department this afternoon giving a blanket permission for all branches of the military to march while dressed in their uniforms.

Visit our Media Partners

Visit the San Diego Pix WebsiteVisit the FlawLes websiteVisit the Hillcrest Business Association websiteVisit the GLAAD websiteVisit the Uptown News websiteVisit the Gay San Diego websiteVisit the LavenderLens websiteVisit The Huffington Post websiteChicago PhoenixJust My Ticket