Author Archives: James Apedaile

10th Anniversary of Freedom to Serve

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2021

RE:  10th Anniversary of Freedom to Serve

Contact:  AVER Public Affairs, 678.596.1311 publicaffairs@aver.us

San Antonio, TX “Military City USA” (SEP 15, 2021) – American Veterans for Equal Rights, the nation’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender veterans service organization, joins other progressive patriots from all walks of life in commemorating the 10th anniversary of the September 20, 2011, implementation of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, the law that barred LGBT people from serving in the United States military. AVER celebrates this important civil rights milestone, and we honor the long and determined grassroots effort by service members and veterans, men and women, to overturn the nearly 100-year-old policies that denied the freedom to serve to LGBT Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coastguardsmen. We acknowledge the diverse efforts, strategies, struggles and sacrifices by many individuals and organizations that led to the repeal of the discriminatory DADT law. Work remains. Until protections for LGBT service members are codified into law, the right to serve remains at the whim of politicians. Just as Donald Trump reversed the Obama-era policy that allowed transgender volunteers the right to serve, future commanders-in-chief could change policy at will. The reinstatement of transgender service implemented by President Biden must be protected by law. AVER envisions a military that fully reflects the diversity of the American people, where every individual who serves is free to reach their full potential unburdened by policies that discriminate against any service member for any reason. The defenders of our nation’s liberty must be, first and foremost, the representatives of the freedom they serve to defend.

VA LGBTQ+ Fertility Survey

The VA is conducting a quality improvement project focusing on fertility/infertility needs and services among LGBTQ+ Veterans. We are interested in reaching out to both VA users and LGBTQ+ Veterans in the community about fertility/infertility needs and services.

This is an opportunity to make LGBTQ+ Veterans voices heard about fertility needs and VA services. If you or your Veterans have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the study lead:  Kristin.mattocks@va.gov

Survey link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGBTCare

VA Outreach

Outreach:

The VHA has started a project that seeks to understand Veterans’ healthcare experiences and delivery needs (both within and outside of VA) in a modern world. The project team is seeking to connect specifically with Veterans who identify as belonging to minority communities, and who would be open to sharing their thoughts, experiences and stories. Veterans who currently use VA healthcare, Veterans who have never used VA healthcare, and those who have left VA healthcare: the team wants to hear about your healthcare experiences, good and bad, regardless of where you get your care.

The team will be traveling to: Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, California; Jacksonville, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia in August to meet with Veterans in person* for 90-minute interviews. If you are willing to talk about your experiences, please fill out this form and someone from the team will reach out. Please keep in mind that all information you share will be kept anonymous.

Participation Form

Please reach out to me or Meg from the project team (meroyer@deloitte.com) with any questions.

*Covid-19 precautions for interviews: In-person interactions will require that all participants wear a mask regardless of vaccination status and maintain 6 ft of space while indoors

VA Secretary Announces Full Care for Transgender Vets

AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

For Immediate Release
June 19, 2021

Re: VA Secretary Announces Full Care for Transgender Vets

Contact: AVER Public Affairs 718 849-5665 PublicAffairs@aver.us
AVER President, Julz Carey firstjulz@gmail.com

The executives and membership of American Veterans For Equal Rights celebrate today’s announcement by the Secretary of the Veterans Administration, Denis McDonough, stating that America’s Transgender veterans will now be able to access full medical care including Gender Reassignment Surgery. The procedures may begin after a process of review, commentary, and regulatory bureaucracy.

After having served since the American Revolution, our patriotic veterans will finally be able to have the full affirmation that our Nation owes to every veteran.

Along with the enactment of Juneteenth, announced this past week, our nation’s progress has taken a leap forward in recognizing all Americans more fully for our contribution to this nation.

TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN LIFTED

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JANUARY 25, 2021

RE: TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN LIFTED

Contact:

AVER Public Affairs, Denny Meyer 718.849.5665 publicaffairs@aver.us

San Antonio, TX “Military City USA” (JAN 25, 2021) – American Veterans for Equal Rights, the nation’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender military veterans service organization, thanks President Joseph R. Biden for honoring his promise to lift the ban on Transgender military service imposed by the Trump administration in 2018. Noting that this is the second time the ban on Transgender service has been lifted, the first time under President Barack Obama in 2016, AVER calls for a codified solution regarding gender identity so that future disruptions to our nation’s armed forces by executive order can be avoided.

“We are grateful and pleased that Transgender volunteers are once again allowed to serve in our military,” said AVER National President Julz Carey. “Lifting the ban on Transgender men and women has been part of our stated mission for over 30 years, and today’s action is a major step forward in creating a military that fully reflects our nation’s increasingly diverse population,” she said. “This is a major victory not only for LGBT Americans, but for every individual who dreams of serving in our military. No one who meets basic requirements for military service should be excluded because of who they are.”

www.aver.us

Letter to President Biden and VP Harris

Joseph Biden
President, United States of America
Kamala Harris
Vice President, United States of America

Re : Congratulations; LGBT military/veterans’ rights

President Biden, Vice President Harris,

American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) is our nation’s LGBT veterans’ service organization advocating for the rights and benefits of our veterans, reservists, and active service members. On behalf of our members and National board, I would like to heartily congratulate you on becoming America’s President and Vice President. As a woman of Hispanic heritage , and as a veteran, I am both inspired and hopeful for our country. AVER stands ready to support the new administration in its effort to lead and unify the nation towards a more equitable future for all Americans.

In the previous Obama-Biden administration, Congressional legislation repealing the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy, ensured the right of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Americans to serve our country in freedom and equality. Executive orders went a long way to ensuring the same rights for Transgender American patriots who have served our nation valiantly since the Civil War, in great personal peril to themselves.

We were greatly heartened by your new administration’s statements on your first day in office, assuring us regarding your intention to give equal rights to Transgender Americans and those who want to serve in our armed forces. We urge you to guarantee full equal rights and benefits to Transgender volunteers to serve openly and proudly, including full medical benefits. We wish to remind you that our Transgender veterans are still denied benefits such as sexual reassignment surgery provided by the Veterans Administration. We urge you to rectify these discriminatory policies first by Executive Order followed by Congressional legislation.

Thank you again for boldly stepping forward to lead our nation.

Sincerely,
Julz Carey, Chief Petty Officer (Ret), United States Coast Guard
President, American Veterans For Equal Rights AVER.us

Download PDF version of letter here: AVER Congratulatory letter to the new administration