Category Archives: General Info

AVER Honors American Heroes on Memorial Day in Washington DC

Danny in UniformAVER Honors American Heroes on Memorial Day in Washington DC

by Danny Ingram

Near a quiet intersection in Washington’s Congressional Cemetery, in a plot of land commonly known as the “gay corner,” the gravesite of Leonard Matlovich rests beneath a small tree providing shade to the black granite memorial to one of America’s most prominent LGBT activists. Memorial Day, 2015, marks the 40th anniversary that United States Air Force Technical Sergeant Leonard Matlovich came out in the national press to challenge the military’s policy of discrimination against LGBT service members. A Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart, Leonard Matlovich did more to open the door to LGBT service than perhaps any other individual. Continue reading →

Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Monument to LGBT Veterans Dedication Date

 Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery Monument to LGBT Veterans Dedication Date – May 25, 2015 Memorial Day by James Darby

Chicago Monument

On Monday, May 25, 2015 the Chicago chapter of AVER dedicated a monument to lgbt veterans at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, the largest cemetery in the U.S. in the VA cemetery system. This is the first monument in a National VA cemetery dedicated solely to lgbt veterans by lgbt veterans. It rained heavily in the morning but by noon it cleared up and turned out to be an absolutely beautiful day. More than 100 guests, friends and visitors started streaming into the Valley of Monuments area guided by 35 flag carrying members of Organized Chaos, a Chicago based Women’s Motorcycle Club. A half dozen TV stations had already set up their equipment before everyone got there. ALNC is located 50 miles southwest of Chicago, so AVER Chicago chartered a free bus. Once the bus arrived President Reinhart started the ceremony. Eight members of AV ER posted the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance was done by everyone and the National Anthem was sung by the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. The Invocation was given by three members of the clergy – Father Chris Meyers, a Catholic Priest, Reverend Wayne Bradley, a Protestant Minister and Cindy Enger, a Jewish Rabbi. All three spoke so eloquently that we could see tears flowing from many of those present. It was an extremely emotional experience for everyone. Continue reading →

AVER Chicago Dedicates Monument to LGBT Veterans at the Abraham Lincoln National

AVER Chicago Dedicates Monument to LGBT Veterans at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery by Michael Bedwell                            

Chicago MonumentOn Memorial Day, May 25th, 2015, a long-held dream in our community was realized by AVER Chicago. After four years of intense effort led by Board Member Stanley Jenczyk, the first federally approved memorial exclusively for LGBT veterans was dedicated in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery south of Chicago. In addition to Jenczyk, those attending included current Chapter President Lee Reinhart, founder and former President Jim Darby and his husband, Board Member Patrick Bova, Treasurer Larry Simpson, and Executive Director Victor Salvo and Board Member Lori Cannon of the Legacy Project. The “National Anthem” and “America the Beautiful” were performed by the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus. Speakers included U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly and Bill Foster, as well as representatives of other elected officials, and inspirational remarks were delivered by Rev. Wayne Bradley, Rabbi Cindy Enger, and Father Chris Meyer. Members of Organized Chaos, a Chicago-area women’s motorcycle club, led by Army Major Melinda Rayter, lined either side of the pathway leading to the ceremony with American flags, and, then, formed a circle of flags around the ceremony itself. Color Guard members included Jean Albright, Ed Wosylus, and Travis. The historic event closed with Melissa Terrell and Susan Jones playing “Taps.”

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Veterans Crisis Line: Helping ALL Who Served

Veterans Crisis Line Helping ALL who served

By Denny Meyer

Veterans Affairs Officer American Veterans for Equal Rights and Transgender American Veterans Association

Earlier this year I received a routine promotional e mail from the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), reminding me as a veterans’ advocate that VCL is the VA’s front line of defense against veterans’ suicide, PTSD based personal crises, and other emergencies that constantly confront our nations’ 30 million+ veterans. Knowing that well over one million of those living vets who served from WWII to the present, including me, are LGBT, I wondered how well prepared the Veterans Crisis Line is in serving us.

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Happy Military Freedom Day

This day, September 19th, marks the last day, three years ago, of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Repeal of DADT, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 22, 2010, officially took effect on September 20th, 2011.  As flags were lowered at Retreat ceremonies on United States military posts and warships around the world, the nearly 100 year old ban against gay, lesbian, and bisexual service members became a part of history.  An injustice ended.  America became more free.  

This did not just happen.  It happened because many people worked very hard for a very long time to create the change that made the guardians of America’s freedom the representatives of the liberty they serve to safeguard.  American Veterans for Equal Rights was on the front line of this long engagement from the very start.  We can all be very proud of that accomplishment.  You created change.  You made this happen.  

The past few years have been amazing.  We now have openly gay general officers serving in our military.  The Department of Defense officially recognizes same-sex marriages and offers full benefits to the spouses of our brave warriors.  Marriage equality is sweeping our nation, a social revolution that is quite unlikely to have happened without the repeal of DADT.  Honored warriors, thank you for your hard work.  You made this happen.  This is your legacy.  

There is still work to be done.  The VA still does not offer full benefits to the legally married spouses of LGB service members.  Transgender Americans still cannot serve in the military.  Many states still do not recognize our same-gender marriages.  LGB service members do not have the unit level access to EEO officers to give them immediate protection from harassment and threats from their fellow service members.  Veterans who received less-than-honorable discharges for no other reason than their sexual orientation need to have those discharges upgraded so they can access the benefits they earned for their service.  We have work to do.  

As we near the beginning of our 25th year of service, please consider the accomplishments of this great organization and your role in making America a more free and just society.  This year we said goodbye to one of our founders, Chuck Schoen.  Chuck lived to see the repeal of DADT.  Let’s continue his work, and broaden his legacy to continue the change he started.  

Thank you to all the members of American Veterans for Equal Rights for your service to our nation and your commitment to making the United States military the true representatives of the freedom it exists to protect.  I ask that you continue with us as we step forward into our next quarter century.  American Veterans for Equal Rights remains the respected voice of LGBT military veterans in the United States.  When Congress, the VA, the Commander-In-Chief, and other major government agencies come looking for answers to their questions about LGBT veterans, they come to AVER.  Please keep that voice strong.  

Happy Military Freedom Day.  You did this.  Carry on. 

Danny Ingram, President Emeritus

American Veterans for Equal Rights

VA PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO SAME-SEX MARRIED COUPLES SEEKING BENEFITS

JOINT STATEMENT

VA PROVIDES GUIDANCE TO SAME-SEX MARRIED COUPLES SEEKING BENEFITS

Friday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) released guidance to same-sex married couples seeking benefits to which they are entitled to under current laws and regulations. The announcement was made after working closely with the Department of Justice (DOJ) following the Windsor decision at the Supreme Court. 

Another provision of the law governing VA – 38 U.S.C. § 103(c) – requires that same-sex married couples must reside in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages. This means that same-sex married couples applying for their earned VA benefits will now be processed – provided the couple lives in a marriage equality state. Legally married same-sex couples residing in a non-marriage equality state will not have their applications processed at this time. For the full press release from the VA please visit:http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2562

The Military Partners and Families Coalition, alongside OutServe-Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (OS-SLDN) and American Veterans for Equal Rights, Inc. (AVER), applaud the VA administration on their step forward in equality for all.

“The released guidance is an exciting step forward by the VA and we acknowledge their commitment to the equal treatment of all Veterans and their families, ” said Military Partners and Families Coalition President and Co-Founder, Ariana Bostian-Kentes. “While we celebrate this victory for equality, we remain well aware of the work we have ahead.”

“This is a great step towards equality for all of our lesbian, gay and bisexual veterans. They deserve to be treated fairly and equally for the service they gave to our country. Anything less would not live up to the President’s demand that we take care of our veterans,” says OS-SLDN’s Co-Chairman of the Board, Jeff Mueller. “We still have work to do to bring equality to all of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans and servicemembers and we will continue to work, alongside partner organizations, to gain this equality.

“For 25 years American Veterans for Equal Rights has worked to secure equal treatment for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender service members who defend our nation’s freedom,” said AVER President, Lt. Col. Steve Loomis, USA(ret). “With the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the extension of benefits by the Department of Defense to the same-sex spouses and children of active duty gay and lesbian Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen, our nation’s leadership has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring equality to all the men and women who stand on guard to defend our liberty. As a Veterans Service Organization, AVER strongly believes this commitment must not stop with those who serve on active duty, but be extended to the honored veterans from World War II to Afghanistan who deserve no less for the sacred duty they have performed on behalf of our nation, regardless of where they live or who they love. AVER calls upon all Veterans Service Organizations to support full equal benefits for our nation’s veterans regardless of diversity. Honor all veterans, all the time.” 

OutServe-SLDN provides free legal counseling to service members with legal issues stemming from or relating to the previous DADT law banning military service by lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons, the regulations governing military service by HIV+ people, and the regulations addressing military service by transgender persons. For more information please visit:www.outserve-sldn.org/legal.

The VA calls on Congress to take legislative action to ensure all Veterans and their families are treated equally. “We will work with lawmakers to address the changes that are necessary to allow all veterans and their families to access the benefits they have earned and deserve,” said Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan D. Gibson.

AVER, MPFC, and OS-SLDN are committed to working together to bring full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender veterans and servicemembers. There is still work to be done to ensure everyone in all states has access to the benefits they have earned.

ABOUT AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS: AVER is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, chapter-based Veterans Service Organization of active, reserve, and veteran service members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. For more information visit www.aver.us.

ABOUT MILITARY PARTNERS AND FAMILIES COALITION: MPFC is the leading national organization founded by partners of active duty service members focused on support, education, resource, and advocacy for partners, children, and families of LGBT service members. MPFC is a private non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.milpfc.org.

ABOUT OUTSERVE-SLDN: OutServe-SLDN is the heir to the legacy of providing legal services to service members and veterans since 1993. From representing over 12,000 service members during the era of DADT, leading the fight to repeal DADT, through winning the federal lawsuit, McLaughlin v. Hagel, that provided benefits to same sex partners of military members, OutServe-SLDN has been on the frontlines for over 20 years. For more information, visit www.outserve-sldn.org.