Out and Proud to Serve

[groovedaddy]

WASHINGTON — Now it can be told: A prominent gay rights advocate who called himself J. D. Smith is in fact 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, a 25-year-old active-duty Air Force officer. At 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, he dropped the pseudonym, freed from keeping his sexual orientation secret like an estimated tens of thousands of others in the United States military.

“I always had the feeling that I was lying to them and that I couldn’t be part of the military family,” said Lieutenant Seefried, who helped found an undercover group of 4,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender active-duty service members. “I feel like I can get to know my people again. When I go to a Christmas party, I can actually bring the person I’m in a relationship with. And that’s a huge relief.”

The 18-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy officially ended at midnight and with it the discharges that removed more than 13,000 men and women from the military under the old ban on openly gay troops. To mark the historic change, gay rights groups are planning celebrations across the country while Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will usher in the new era at a Pentagon news conference.

The other side will be heard, too: Elaine Donnelly, a longtime opponent of allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces, has already said that “as of Tuesday the commander in chief will own the San Francisco military he has created.” Two top Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee — the chairman, Representative Howard P. McKeon of California, and Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina — have asked the Pentagon to delay the new policy, saying commanders in the field are not ready. But the Pentagon has moved on.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/us/after-toiling-in-shadows-to-end-dont-ask-dont-tell-1st-lt-josh-seefried-greets-a-new-era.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha23

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. A bright new day has dawned!

Thanks to Obama for getting this done.

And those other folks? Time to get with the program! This is the way of the future, and they are out of step.

[Divine Discontent]

2. yes, thanks to the president are in order. And I thank God I won't have to have my friends in the

military, who happen to be Gay, tell me, 'shh, don't say that, someone might find out and report that I'm closeted' anymore!

What a great day for them, and CP, you nailed it - if anyone doesn't approve THEY need to get with the program for being out of step, because it's each individual's right to be who they are and any who oppose it are being insubordinate!


http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719

[KeepItReal]

3. Elaine Donnelly can kiss my heterosexual Black ass

San Francisco is a kick ass town. A national treasure.

Any real American knows that.

Oh yeah, and I'm glad don't ask don't tell is over also. Way to go Mr President and the Armed Forces!

;-)