Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  WINDY CITY TIMES

LGBT veterans recognized by the City of Chicago
NEWS UPDATE Wednesday, 5 p.m. Aug. 5, 2009
by Jean Albright
2009-08-12

This article shared 4204 times since Wed Aug 12, 2009
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email


For the seventh year running, the City of Chicago has held a ceremony named With Liberty and Justice for all, with a mayoral proclamation recognizing the service of GLBT veterans. It is the only such municipal recognition ceremony in the country.

The proclamation ( see below ) was read by Dana Starks of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations ceremony in Daley Plaza on Aug. 5.

The keynote speaker was Luke Visconti, a veteran, CEO of Diversity Inc, and a member of the U.S. Navy Diversity Senior Advisory Group.

"We haven't done a good job in how we treat our shipmates and wingmen and combat buddies who are LGBT," he said. "We haven't treated them very well and so I'm eager to do a good job here today.

"We veterans have sworn to support and defend the constitution, we've put our lives on the line. We know the bond of service..."

He set forth his view of what defending the constitution means now.

"Keeping liberty is disruptive. Ending slavery was disruptive, as was winning the vote for women, desegragating the military, integrating women into the military. Liberty is fragile and needs care.

"I think it is time for veterans to come to the forefront to defend liberty. I don't mean just LGBT veterans but, I hate to tell you, it always is the oppressed ones who have to carry the water for the trest of us. Oppressed people have to bring society forward, it is the way it has always been. Emancipation of slaves didn't happen without a fight, women's sufferage didn't happen without a fight. People didn't get the civil rights act and voting rights without a fight and this isn't happening without a fight.

"The part of the constitution we have to bring forward is the part that protects us against a state religion but it also protects religion from the state. That means that we can have openly serving members of the military and we can have gay marriage and your church never has to marry two gay men. That's what this country is about.

"I think that it is time for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy to end. The country has moved to that point but I'm afraid that it is the LGBT veterans who are going to have to help us all get to that point.

"We deserve to have a country that allows people to serve as they are. We veterans have to be the ones to say that parsing liberties is the first step toward having a gulag, having concentration camps.

"Tell your representative. If we can get this ball rolling, we can end Don't Ask, Don't Tell this year, have the military follow the orders set forth by Congress, the president will sign it and we'll have this piece of bad history of the US behind us forever.

"Thank you."

Jim Darby, president of the Chicago Chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights ( gay veterans ) thanked the crowd, veterans and officials present for participating in a ceremony that started with a simple wreath laying seven years ago.

"Many GLBT veterans have been kicked out," said Darby. "Many have been told 'We don't love you.' We are here to say we love you. Maybe uncle Sam doesn't appreciate them, but we will."

Congressman Mike Quigley of the 5th district of IL, the featured speaker, said that in his hundred days in office he has sponsored a dozen bills that work for equality for the GLBT community, including the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. He said that in a visit with military troops, he didn't see men, women, gay, lesbian, and transgender, but simply a group of brave Americans.

"It is easy to see that we are fundamentally less safe with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy," he said. "And we are fundamentally less just with the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy." He recalled President Lincoln calling on us to ask ourselves if we meant it when we wrote into our constitution that all are created equal. "Every once in a while we have to really ask ourselves if we really mean it, even if a group is unpopular in some people's minds," said Quigley.

"The Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy is a policy so fundamentally hypocritical, that it encourages people to put their lives on the line to serve a country built on freedom and democracy, but only as long as they lie about who they are."

He then read a statement which he has recently entered into the U.S. Congressional Record, recognizing Chicago AVER for its work on behalf of veterans and those still serving and recognizing Jim Darby, founder of the chapter.

"I promise I will never stop fighting and standing up on your behalf. I am your friend, but you are my hero. Thank you to all AVER members," said Quigley.

A color guard made up of veterans and members of AVER then accompanied a wreath with a pink triangle for placement by the eternal flame maintained in Daley Plaza.

Also speaking at the ceremony were Samuel Miller, chair of the Chicago Commission on Human Relations'Advisory Council; Bill Greaves, Director, Chicago Commission on Human Relations' Advisory Council on LGBT Issues; Steve Lorandos, former Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Navy and LeeAnn Bradley, a former Navy officer. Alderman Tom Tunney and State Representatives Greg Harris and Deb Mell also participated.

Photos by Mel Ferrand and Tracy Baim

******

Office of the Mayor

City of Chicago

Richard M. Daley, Mayor

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, throughout the history of the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans have, side by side with their heterosexual counterparts, defended the principles of the Declaration of Independence and the constitution through their service in the United States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, in 1969, the Stonewall Rebellion sparked the modern resurgence of political activity to gain lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights; and

WHEREAS, in 1990, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans formed a mutually beneficial organization now called American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) for the purpose of recognizing and appreciating their military service; and '

WHEREAS, the Chicago Chapter of AVER has devoted many years to supporting and assisting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans in the Chicago area; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Chicago Chapter of aVER have unselfishly given their time, money and expertise to improve the lives of all veterans:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD M. DALEY, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, do hereby proclaim August 5, 2009, to be LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER VETERANS OF AMERICA DAY and encourage all Chicagoans to recognize these veterans for their dedication to our country and for their contributions to the beterment of Chicago.

Dated this 5th day of August, 2009.

Richard M. Daley, Mayor


This article shared 4204 times since Wed Aug 12, 2009
facebook twitter pin it google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

WORLD Israeli reservist, man detained, Ghana bill, medic denied honor 2024-03-08
- Hanania Ben-Shimon—the gay Israel Defense Forces reservist who was wounded as he killed one of the terrorists in the attack at the A-Za'ayem checkpoint near Ma'ale Adumim recently—published a post in which he pleaded that his ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Chuck Schumer, anti-marriage bill, drag event back on, military doctor 2024-02-23
- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced his support for the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)—and, as a result, several LGBTQ+-advocacy organizations dropped their opposition to it, The Hill ...


Gay News

Col. Jennifer Pritzker comments on military museum move 2024-02-13
- Local transgender philanthropist Col. Jennifer Pritzker commented to Windy City Times about the impending move of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library (PMML), which she founded in 2003, to Wisconsin. "At the end of the day, ...


Gay News

Pritzker Military Library to close in July, move to Wisconsin 2024-02-08
- On Feb. 7, the Pritzker Military Museum & Library announced that it is closing its downtown Chicago location on July 27 and moving to an archives center in Wisconsin later this year, according to The Chicago ...


Gay News

PASSAGES Paris Johnson 2023-12-29
- Paris Johnson, 29, of Chicago's West Loop neighborhood, passed away unexpectedly Nov. 28. He would have celebrated his 30th birthday Dec. 20. Born into a military family in Sacramento, California, Paris moved often in his youth, ...


Gay News

NATIONAL Women's college, banned books, military initiative, Oregon 2023-12-29
- After backlash regarding a decision to update its anti-discrimination policy and open enrollment to some transgender applicants, a Catholic women's college in Indiana will return to its previous admission policy, per The National Catholic Reporter. In ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Music awards, military film, Tom of Finland, Yo-Yo Ma, 'Harley Quinn' 2023-11-17
Video below - Brothers Osborne—a duo that includes gay brother TJ Osborne—won Vocal Duo of the Year for the sixth time at the recent CMA Awards, per a media release. Backstage, TJ told reporters, "I did not expect us ...


Gay News

AVER celebrates LGBTQ+ veterans at annual Veterans Day dinner 2023-11-12
- Writer and historian Owen Keehnen was keynote speaker at the the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) Chicago Chapter's 32nd annual LGBTQ Veterans Day Banquet held on Veterans Day at Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont. Keehnen ...


Gay News

South Korean court upholds military 'sodomy law' 2023-10-28
- For the fourth time, South Korea's constitutional court has upheld two anti-LGBTQ+ laws—including the country's notorious military "sodomy law," The Guardian reported. By a vote of five to four, the court confirmed the constitutionality of ar ...


Gay News

WORLD Couple's win, attack in Beirut, German military, gay ski week 2023-09-08
- In Strasbourg, France, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Bulgaria violated the rights of a same-sex couple (Darina Koilova and Lili Babulkova) by not recognizing their marriage abroad, RFE/RL reported. Rights groups lauded the ...


Gay News

'We've had a ball': Prominent activists Jim Darby and Patrick Bova celebrate 60th anniversary 2023-09-07
- One of the first couples to be legally married in Illinois is celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Jim Darby and Patrick Bova fell in love decades before they became the lead plaintiffs in Lambda Legal's ...


Gay News

SHOWBIZ Military drama, Janelle Monae, Conan Gray, Dylan Mulvaney, Whoopi 2023-08-31
- The LGBTQ+ military drama Eismayer (from Dark Star Pictures and Golden Girls Film) will be out in theaters on Oct. 6, and on DVD and Digital on Oct. 10, per a press release. The plot is ...


Gay News

FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act would undercut equality, Modern Military Assoc of America comments 2023-07-14
--From a press release - Washington D.C. - Anti-equality House members are using the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act to pass dangerous amendments targeting healthcare, gender-affirming care, education, and LGBTQ+ friendly services and resources. The ...


Gay News

WORLD Pride celebrations, puberty blockers, British military, killer sentenced 2023-06-16
- Gay Pride Buenos Aires is slated to take place Oct. 27-Nov. 4, according to GayTravel4U.com. More than 30 organizations and groups host activities that will begin a week before the parade (which is on Nov. 4). ...


Gay News

VIEWPOINT War in the 21st Century: mercenaries, private military companies, private armies 2023-05-20
- In 2022, $407 billion of the Pentagon budget—representing half of that year's funding —were obligated to private contractors, of which a significant number were Private Military Companies (PMCs) involved in ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS






Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.