Last Thursday 30 July 2015, American Veterans for Equal Rights joined OUTSERVE for the first ever 2d Marine Logistics Group LGBT Pride Event aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The event was attended by 2d MLG Commander Brigadier General Charles G. Chiarotti and other members of his command staff. OUTSERVE members Marine SSgt Monique Clarke and National Treasurer Jeffry Piela-Tam, US Navy Hospital Corpsman, coordinated the event for OUTSERVE. Continue reading
Category Archives: Press Releases
Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality
AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
June 26, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
RE: Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality
Atlanta, GA (JUN 26, 2015) –American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), the nation’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Veterans Service Organization, applauds the decision of the United States Supreme Court in extending the constitutionally mandated legal rights and protections of civil marriage to committed same-sex couples in every state of our nation. As proud military veterans who have sworn an oath to defend America’s freedom, AVER is deeply gratified that “liberty and justice for all” remains an essential element of our country’s core belief in shared equality for every citizen. This decision by the Supreme Court will extend the same benefits and privileges that are provided to the families of our honored veterans by the Department of Veterans Affairs to the married spouses and children of Lesbian and Gay veterans in every part of our country, benefits from which they were previously excluded in states that did not recognize same sex marriages.
Contact:
AVER Public Affairs, Denny Meyer 718.849.5665 publicaffairs@aver.us
AVER President, Steve Loomis, LTC, USA, Ret 505.301.1737
AVER statement on the Indiana Religious Freedom Law
AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
For Immediate Release
March 27, 2015
Re: AVER statement on the Indiana Religious Freedom Law
Contact:
Denny Meyer, AVER Public Affairs, 718 849-5665
Steve Loomis, AVER President, president@aver.us
Atlanta, GA (MAR 27, 2015) – American Veterans for Equal Rights, the nation’s LGBT Veterans Service Organization, joins other civil rights organizations in condemning the so-called “religious freedom” law enacted in Indiana. In signing a law that promotes discrimination against LGBT Americans as a “freedom,” Indiana governor Mike Pence has dishonored the sacrifices of our nation’s gay service men and women based in Indiana who place themselves in harm’s way to defend our freedom overseas and deserve better than a second class citizenship and a sign that says “your kind not welcome here.” Hatred, no matter how sanctimoniously justified, is never a virtue, and a law that promotes discrimination is distinctly unworthy of a free nation where so many patriots have given their lives in defense of “liberty and justice for all.”
aver.us
AVER Consults with Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
American Veterans For Equal Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AVER Consults with Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
Contact:
AVER Public Affairs, Denny Meyer, 718 849 5665, publicaffairs@aver.us AVER President, Steve Loomis, LTC EN USA,(Ret.) sloomis@swcp.com
AVER Consults with Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
by
Steve Loomis, LTC, EN, U.S. Army (Ret.) National President American Veterans for Equal Rights
18 September 2014
American Veterans for Equal Rights has again provided input on legislative issues important to LGBT Veterans to members of the United States Senate. On September 10, 2014, I was invited to represent AVER in a meeting with the US Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee to identify the current legislative issues important to the LGBT veterans community. AVER’s national presence once again insured us a voice at the table for LGBT veterans.
AVER’s most important tasks are Outreach to our veterans, outreach almost to daily to Congress, the Department of Defense, the Veterans Administration, academia, media and other LGBT veteran groups. We must regularly place our goals and concerns before our local and national agencies. This is critical to support our veterans. It is what Danny Ingram as our past President, and Denny Meyer as our public affairs officer have done for many years and what I have now undertaken on your behalf.
In this instance, we met in the Mansfield Room of the Capitol with fifteen Senators, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed; Senator Tammy Baldwin; a military veteran; Senator Coons of DE; Senator Udall of Colorado; and Senator Corey Booker of NJ, among others. While AVER was the only veterans’ group present, many other LGBT groups were represented including American Military Partner Association and Human Rights Campaign.
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Steve Loomis, National President of American Veterans for Equal Rights explains LGBT veterans critical legislative issues to the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee on Capitol Hill. |
Each group identified issues important to the LGBT community nationwide. As President of AVER, our country’s first LGBT veterans group, I indicated our issues came from our members through our national board of directors. The legislative issues important to us as LGBT veterans, were:
√ – 1. That military service must be open to transgender service members by administrative or legislative changes.
√ – 2. It is essential to protect our hard won right, won when Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was repealed, for all patriotic American volunteers to be allowed to serve in our nation’s armed forces regardless of sexual orientation.
√ – 3. Ensure that the Veterans Administration shall consistently serve all veterans equally, with relevant and competent treatment of LGBT veterans.
√ – 4. Since Equal Employment Opportunity protections do not currently cover LGBT military, such protections must be extended as a protected class to LGBT personnel serving in Department of Defense. This will provide LGBT service members access to the EEO officer inside the unit level. Otherwise our service members must rely for protection from threat or harm on the commander who may be the source of such oppression. The VA should then follow the lead of the DOD.
Then issues important to us as members of the larger veterans community were presented. They are:
√ – 1. Continue effective efforts to improve, oversee and adequately fund the Veterans Administration medical service for all veterans.
√ – 2. Ensure Veterans Administration Medical support to our transgender veterans fully complies with the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5.
√ – 3. Reform the rules on Military Sexual Assault as it applies to both men and women, gay and straight. While we should not take away the commander’s review of convictions, their authority to overturn those convictions needs to be limited.
Finally, as citizens serving our country our legislative issues are;
√ – 1. Reversing the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, in order to protect the voice of our citizens,
√ – 2. Pass the Federal Employment Non-discrimination Act (ENDA) with the same religious exemption of Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act. This critical LGBT protection has been delayed in Congress for over a decade.
√ – 3. Finally, improved administrative relief for undocumented immigrants. Over 267,000 immigrants identify as LGBT, and many are fleeing severe and deadly persecution, or seeking unification with their families.
These issues are important and favorable resolution of these issues will go a long way toward equal protection for LGBT Americans, protections that we as LGBT veterans served our country for and deserve along with all those who have gone in harm’s way for our country.
After the meeting adjourned, Senators Booker and Coons both personally approached me and asked for additional information to be provided to their staff on these issues. We will be sending letters with this information to each of the senators present and to my own New Mexico congressional delegation. These are issues important to each of us as citizens, veterans and LGBT veterans and we should also reach out to all our members of Congress through our chapters and advocate for our issues. It is that personal contact from their constituents in their local states that means the most and will sway them to our issues.
With the approach of AVER’s 25th Anniversary, our continued success depends very much on the support of each one of our members. Your financial support gives us the resources to provide this type of vital input at the highest levels, and your membership allows us to speak on your behalf as the honored voices of LGBT US military veterans, a voice that is necessary to bring change not only to our veterans but our active duty service members as well. AVER’s success depends very much on our continued outreach not only to members but to our local leaders through our chapters and to our national leaders through your National Board. Working together we can continue to achieve progress in support of our LGBT veterans, service members, and their families.
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Steve Loomis is the National President of American Veterans for Equal Rights, the first LGBT veterans organization. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, he served as a decorated infantry officer in Vietnam and later as an combat engineer officer.
DONATE to http://aver.us/be-involved/sponsorship
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AVER endorses the Restore Honor to Service Members Act
For Immediate Release
January 31, 2014
Contact: AVER Public Affairs
Denny Meyer 718 849-5665
publicaffairs@aver.us
AVER endorses the Restore Honor to Service Members Act
“Act will streamline the discharge upgrade process”
Albuquerque, NM – American Veterans for Equal Rights supports and endorses the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, introduced in the Senate on January 30th by Senators Shatz (D HI) and Gillibrand (D NY), following the bill’s introduction in the House of Representatives last Summer by Representatives Rangel (D NY) and Pocan (D WI). The act will streamline the discharge upgrade process for those service members discharged “due to homosexuality” since World War II, both before and during the DADT era.
AVER was consulted during the initial development of the bill. As noted in the Senators’ press release below, AVER has long advocated that, “LGBT veterans who served and sacrificed in silence during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as those who served before and during ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ in the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, deserve to see their service recognized and honored at long last.”
AVER President Steve Loomis (LTC Ret.) stated, “It is extremely important that this act be passed to provide correction of less than honorable discharges given during and before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Policy. Now is time to heal the damages that an ill conceived DADT policy did to many of our patriot GLBT veterans. It is the logical completion of the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Streamlined procedures for changing the characterization, narrative and reenlistment codes for discharges for homosexuality will be announced following the passage for this bill. Corrections are necessary to avoid inaccurate assumptions by potential employers or veterans benefits agencies when dealing with GLBT veterans.
Senator Schatz’ Press Release, including AVER’s commentary and a summary of the bill, may be seen at:http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-gillibrand-seek-justice-for-service-members-discharged-due-to-sexual-orientation
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Social Security Administration Begins Processing Same-Sex Claims
AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS
For Immediate Release
AUGUST 9, 2013
Re: Social Security Administration Begins Processing Same-Sex Claims
Contact:
Denny Meyer, AVER Public Affairs, 718 849-5665
Danny Ingram, AVER President, president@aver.us
Atlanta, GA,
Aug 9, 2013 – Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced in a nation-wide telephone conference call today that the Social Security Administration is “beginning to process claims today” for same-sex couples.
American Veterans for Equal Rights joined SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders), the ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security, and dozens of other national organizations in a conference call that raised more questions than provided answers. Acting Commissioner Colvin frequently reiterated that “the Department of Justice is coordinating the implementation of new policies for all federal agencies,” and that any policies established by SSA must be “cleared by Justice.” But she also affirmed boldly that the SSA is “open for business and accepting claims for benefits” from same-sex couples. The Commissioner recommended repeatedly that “anyone who feels that they are due benefits should apply now,” and that there would be” no penalty for claims that may be denied. No one is to be turned away,” she said.
Many questions were asked about how domestic partnerships and civil unions will differ from marriage, specifically since SSA is using the term “same-sex couples” without the use of the word “married,” but there are as yet no answersto these questions or many, many others involving this very complex issue. Additionally, questions concerning the federal benefits of same-sex couples legally married in one state but residing in another where their marriage is not recognized, remain largely unanswered. Commissioner Colvin strongly and frequently encouraged interested individuals to visit the SSA homepage located at www.socialsecurity.gov for unfolding policies and answers to questions. A statement by the Commissioner and a special section entitled “Need Information about the Defense of Marriage Act” already appear on the SSA page.
AVER was invited along with other national organizations to partner with the SSA in helping to disseminate information on this critical issue. The changes to SSA and many other federal agencies on the issue of same-sex couples result from the Supreme Court’s June ruling in the “Windsor Decision,” which overturned the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the law barring federal recognition of same-sex marriages.
AVER is the nation’s LGBT Veterans’ Service Organization, serving militarypersonnel and veterans since 1990.