Category Archives: News

AVER makes an effort to maintain links to news articles, from around the USA and the world at large, pertaining to the LGBT community, veterans and/or service members. If you find a relevant news article that is not listed, please send us the link via our Contact page, and we will assess the content for inclusion in our News lists.Please note:1. We scour the internet frequently to ensure that our news links are for articles published by media outlets. If you find a dead link, please let us know. For [non-AVER] organizational press releases, please see our Links directory.2. We will sometimes include articles pertaining to legislative matters; however, as a 501(c)(3) organization, we do not post news pertaining to specific political candidates, as this could be misconstrued as endorsement.

Benefits Update

BENEFITS UPDATE
LGBTQ+ Service and VA Benefits Right Now!
The landscape is constantly shifting, but here is the current status as of April 27, 2025.
LGBTQ+ Service. Transgender service members are serving and receiving care, including gender affirming surgeries under the Defense Health Agency. Donald Trump issued an executive order on January 27, 2025, terminating service for anyone with a current or former diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Three lawsuits have been filed, two of which have resulted in a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s EO. The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to enact the ban. Recruitment is open to Transgender individuals. Adult dependents of service members who are Transgender are receiving care. Treatments have been halted for minors 19 and under. No Pride events on military installations. No display of Pride flags. To date there has been no call to end Lebian, Gay, and Bisexual service.
Veterans Care with the VA. The VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program, which mandates an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator in each VA system, is still in place. The VA’s LGBTQ+ website is still up. The VA will begin phasing out all treatment for gender dysphoria except for veterans who have a previous diagnosis while on active duty and veterans already in the VA system with a current diagnosis. No Pride events. No display of Pride flags. The VA had not begun offering gender confirmation surgeries.
Discharge Upgrades. A class action settlement against the Department of Defense in March, 2025, mandates that the DOD will streamline the process for discharge upgrades for all service eras, including discharges before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The update of narrative codes on DD214s, which included descriptions such as “sexual deviance,” are included in this action. The DOD has until August of this year to comply with the settlement.
Danny Ingram
AVER Public Affairs

Highlight: Logan Ireland

Master Sergeant Logan Ireland serves in the US Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) as a Special Agent at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. In his current position, Logan works to identify, neutralize, and exploit threats to the United States. Logan leads over a dozen Special Agents across 16 countries as they conduct counterintelligence operations to keep America safe from terrorist activity worldwide. He has completed multiple overseas tours in Afghanistan, Qatar, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. Logan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Military Studies with dual concentrations in Strategic Leadership and Joint Warfare. He is also a graduate of the US Army Air Assault School. Logan is an accomplished leader within the U.S. Air Force who happens to be transgender.

Logan is one of an estimated thousands of transgender service members currently serving in our US Armed Forces whose critical skills in securing our nation’s national defense are endangered by president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to fire all transgender service members “on day one.” The removal of highly trained members of the military jeopardizes national security at a time when terrorist threats and growing tensions around the world are a genuine and imminent threat both overseas and here at home. It would be irresponsible in the extreme to remove these highly trained military technicians at a time when they are most needed.

As the nation’s oldest Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender veterans service organization, American Veterans for Equal Rights strongly urges the president-elect to reconsider his decision to remove transgender service members from our armed forces. Dedicated and highly skilled military professionals like Master Sergeant Logan Ireland should be honored for their service and valued for the critical contributions they make in defending our nation’s freedom and protecting our citizens from the threat of attack. Transgender soldiers, Marines, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and guardians stand guard around the world with dedication, skill, and perseverance just like every other member of the armed forces. In the interest of fairness, respect, and our nation’s defense, we urgently recommend that they continue to do so.

Anti-LGBTQ+ Provisions Stripped from NDAA

FROM AVER NATIONAL
January 12, 2024

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 9, 2024

RE:  Anti-LGBTQ+ Provisions Stripped from NDAA

Contact:  AVER Public Affairs, 678.596.1311, dannyingram1776@gmail.com
San Antonio, TX “Military City USA” (JAN 9, 2024)

On December 26, 2023, President Biden signed into law H.R. 2670, the “National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.” The version of the must-pass legislation signed by the president had been stripped of a number of controversial anti-LGBTQ+ amendments added to the bill by conservative members of the House. These amendments included bans on gender confirmation treatment to service members and their dependents, bans on displays of Pride flags at DOD facilities, and bans of LGBTQ-positive books in DOD school libraries.

“The passage of the NDAA without anti-LGBTQ+ amendments is a huge victory for LGBTQ+ service members and the United States Military,” said Penn Baker, National President of American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ Veterans Service Organization. “AVER and our allies had worked with members of Congress throughout much of the previous year to remove these harmful sections of the NDAA,” said Baker, AVER’s first Transgender president. “This was a significant accomplishment for us, but we must remain ‘ever-vigilant’ for the return of such harmful legislation, especially in an election year where conservative law makers work to score political points from their base rather than serve the needs of our service members.”

AVER remains committed to Gender Confirmation Treatment, including surgeries and hormone treatment to transgender children, which are therapies approved by the American Pediatric Association, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the World Health Association.

Ever Vigilant

Penn Baker Veteran USN
505-281-2269
AVER National President
We must not stand by and watch another’s civil rights violated and do nothing,
lest we make it more likely our rights will be violated.

 

RE: AVER National Convention, New Board Elected

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 19, 2023

RE:  AVER National Convention, New Board Elected

Contact:  AVER Public Affairs, 678.596.1311, dannyingram1776@gmail.com

San Antonio, TX “Military City USA” (OCTOBER 19, 2023) – American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) held its biennial convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, this past weekend. The Gold Coast Chapter hosted delegates from around the country for “Operation Pushback.” Speakers included representatives from the VA who described the many changes implemented under Secretary Denis McDonough to address healthcare for LGBTQ+ Veterans.

Other speakers included US Navy Commander Emily “Hawking” Shilling, National President of SPARTA, and Cassandra Leigh Williamson, National President of Transgender and Diverse Veterans of America. Much of the convention focused on the current status of women’s and transgender care by the VA, the status of Transgender service, and threats to LGBTQ+ military service in Congress and by conservative politicians across the country. The Truman Amendment, which would codify the current Trans-inclusive military service policy will be a priority for AVER and other LGBTQ+ Military and Veteran Service Organizations in the coming year, along with protecting the gains made since the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.                            (Emily “Hawkling” Shilling, Penn Baker, Cassandra Leigh Williamson)

Penn Baker of Albuquerque, New Mexico, was elected as AVER’s next National President. Penn will be the first Transgender veteran to lead the nation’s oldest LGBTQ+ VSO.

A traditional AVER military banquet was held on Sunday evening. Ft. Lauderdale’s openly gay mayor, The Honorable Dean Trantilis, attended the event and assured delegates that Florida governor and GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ rhetoric did not represent all Floridians.

(Danny Ingram, Fort Lauderdale Mayor The Honorable Dean Trantilis, Joe Zuniga)

Long time military and AIDS activist Joe Zuniga, author of “Soldier of the Year,” delivered the keynote address. Mr. Zuniga currently serves as President of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care and President and CEO of Fast Track Cities Institute which utilizes public health policy to achieve an end to the epidemics of HIV, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis.

Danny Ingram, President Emeritus, received the Leonard Matlovich Medal for Distinguished Service to the LGBTQ+ Military Community.

JOIN THE NATION’S FIRST ALL-LGBTQ HONOR FLIGHT!

ATTENTION TO ORDERS: Time to Continue Your Mission
BE A PART OF HISTORY. JOIN THE NATION’S FIRST ALL-LGBTQ HONOR FLIGHT!
Honor Flight South Florida wants to fill their September 23, 2023, flight with as many LGBTQ veterans as possible.
The Pride Center at Equality Park wants to help promote that effort among the communities we serve. We want to thank our veterans for the commitment they made to serve our country.
Attention LGBTQ Veterans: It’s Time to Continue Your Mission
Your one-day mission to Washington DC on Saturday, September 23, 2023, is to visit and reflect at the memorials built in your honor. Honor Flight provides round-trip airfare, deluxe bus transportation throughout our nation’s capital with a police escort, meals, a commemorative T-shirt, and other amenities needed to travel comfortably.
Upon your return, there will be a homecoming at the airport as you disembark.
Honor Flight provides top priority to the most senior defenders of freedom, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam-era veterans, and those veterans who are terminally ill.
Honor Flight South Florida is a 100% all-volunteer organization, dedicated solely to honoring veterans in Broward, Dade, and Monroe counties by flying these veterans to Washington DC to visit and reflect at the memorials built in their honor. Every veteran flies absolutely free.
Before accepting this mission, please check for compliance with the eligibility and DD214 information below.
Copy this link to Accept Your Mission:
After you have accepted your mission by filling out and submitting the Honor Flight Veteran Application, please contact Paula Lauriano-Stiehm and Shawn White at The Pride Center to identify yourself as an LGBTQ veteran. We want to support Honor Flight’s goal to fill this flight with seventy LGBTQ veterans.
Paula Lauriano-Stiehm
Special Events Coordinator
PLauriano-Stiehm@pridecenterflorida.org
954-463-9005 ext. 301
Shawn White
Active Aging Specialist
SWhite@pridecenterflorida.org
9540463-9005 ext. 114
Eligibilty & DD214 Information
A DD214 form is a certificate of release or discharge from active duty.
Every veteran who has served in the U.S. military is eligible to make an application with Honor Flight. Combat service or foreign deployment is NOT required. The HFSF criteria include 6-months of service in the U.S. military with an honorable discharge, confirmed by the DD214/discharge papers provided by the veteran.
Honor Flight South Florida is currently considering veterans for an honor flight who served between December 7, 1941, and May 7, 1975. Veteran beneficiaries of the Honor Flight program do not pay for any aspect of their Honor Flight trip.
First priority for a trip is given to World War II veterans. Terminally ill veterans of any service period may be given the same priority as WWII veterans (physician statement required.)
Proof of service, such as your DD214 is required. A copy must be submitted one of two ways:
If you have an electronic version (Scan PDF or JPG, etc.) of the DD214, email it to, veterans@honorflightsouthflorida.org
If you prefer to mail in your DD214, mail it to:
• Honor Flight South Florida, Inc.
• PO Box 16821
• Plantation, Florida 33318
If you served between 1941-1975 yet are unable to travel on a flight, we hold periodic “Virtual Honor Flights” where the event is local and around 3 hours in length. To find out more about what Virtual Honor Flight is all about, copy this link:
For information about becoming an Honor Flight Guardian, copy this link:

RE: National Defense Authorization Act Denies Care to Service Members

FROM AVER NATIONAL

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2023

RE:  National Defense Authorization Act Denies Care to Service Members

Contact:  AVER Public Affairs, 678.596.1311, dannyingram1776@gmail.com

San Antonio, TX “Military City USA” (JUL 14, 2023)
“Congress should never pick and choose which service members will be treated for medical conditions and which will not. The denial of critical care based on political grandstanding is a betrayal of a sacred obligation to care for soldiers and their families. Breaking that obligation undermines national security by eroding the trust of the men and women who volunteer to defend our nation’s freedom.”

American Veterans for Equal Rights, the nation’s oldest LGBTQ Veterans Service Organization, joins other VSOs from around the country in expressing anger over the betrayal of a sacred obligation made to the men and women who serve our country in the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act. FY2024 NDAA denies life-saving gender-affirming care not only to Transgender service members but the Transgender children of service members. The American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and American Medical Association support gender-affirming care as critical in the treatment of Gender Dysphoria.

The Department of Defense utilizes evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to care for every service member who seeks care. In addition to world-class healthcare services such as chemical exposure and burn treatment, prosthetic devices, gynecological care and non-selective abortion care, the DOD provides full support for mental disorders such as substance abuse disorders, PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, and Gender Dysphoria.

Using their proven clinical practice guidelines the DOD seeks to develop and provide the very best care they can to every service member and their children. DOD medical services are there to save lives, not to practice politics.

Every man and woman who serves our country deserves the very best treatment available. No exceptions. Thank all who serve. Honor all who serve. Protect all who serve.

Approved by,

Julz Carey
President, AVER
aver.us