TWO’s home state of Vermont continues to make LGBT history. Vermont created the civil union, was the first state to legislatively grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry without being forced to by a court, and was the first to override a gubernatorial veto in order to pass marriage equality. And now the state is home to another first: the first military college in the nation to create an LGBT club and host a Pride Week.
According to an article in today’s Burlington Free Press, Norwich University cadet Josh Fontanez convened the first meeting of the academy’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Allies club (NULGBTQA) on September 20, 2011 — the very day that the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” officially went into effect. About 30-35 students regularly attend the weekly meetings, which are held in an “open, glass-walled area” of the campus center, as the school’s website takes care to mention. The group’s motto is “You Are Not Alone.”
Fontanez said that Norwich’s administrators and students have generally reacted positively, but that the group has experienced some backlash: “We still have those ones who openly say that they don’t think that homosexuality is OK, that it’s a mental disease.” He added that many LGBT cadets still don’t feel comfortable enough at Norwich to come out of the closet or hold hands with their significant other in public, and that same-sex couples who wish to share military health benefits still face discrimination.
To raise awareness of these and other LGBT issues, the NULGBTQA is holding a Pride Week next week, from March 26-31. The week’s schedule includes free anti-bullying workshops, HIV testing, and a Queer Prom, along with a keynote address from Charlie Morgan, a chief warrant officer in the New Hampshire National Guard who is battling cancer and has testified before Congress, asking them to repeal the discriminatory “Defense of Marriage Act” which currently prohibits her from passing survivor benefits on to her wife.
What Fontanez and his fellow cadets have done is incredible and inspirational. By forming the nation’s first LGBT club at a military academy and holding the first Pride Week, the trailblazers at the NULGBTQA are helping to challenge and dispel the anti-LGBT stereotypes, misinformation, and bigotry that remain in our nation’s military and create a positive, affirming climate for future cadets of all orientations and identities. Bravo, soldiers!
Antonio, when you do that, “asking to the author what his justification for using this picture” keep in mind my comment will you? Keep in mind Antonio what a person who is gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender feels when they see *their* Rainbow Flag being flown.
I don’t knwo where you live Antonio, but do you know that it is perfectly legal in 31 states to say,
“Sorry we don’t serve faggots here”
That is legal in 31 States
“Oh now that you have come in for an in person interview I can tell that you are a dyke, we don’t hire dykes here.”
That is Legal in 31 States
“Although you have the highest credit score of everyone who has applied we don’t rent to trannies, it would make our existing tenants uncomfortable”
That is Legal in 31 States.
So just maybe taking artistic license with an icon American image, that now included THEM, maybe you could try to not be so offended.
Maybe you can understand that that Rainbow flag is a huge symbol for them, just as our American flag is a symbol for All of us. Maybe, maybe one time Antonio you could yield, and don’t be offended when they take pride in seeing their flag, and want to plant it on every good American symbol.
I guarantee you gay men and lesbian women served in WWII and they gave their all also. Can you imagine going into a restaurant and being told in the Year of Our Lord 2012, that they don’t serve “your kind” there? Maybe Antonio you could see this photograph as simply a declaration that they are going to plant their flag also, as proud gay soldiers. That DADT is now dead and that they can now raise their flag, finally after serving in silence for centuries, finally they can raise their flag. Don’t be so quick to take offense Antonio, please don’t.
Why do you continue with the personal attacks? If I disagree with your views I am some sort of idiot? You don’t understand that I can have a different view and not be a fool? Let me make this plain and clear, I have no problem with gay people have rights, writing articles about gay-pride, or celebrating their views. I do have a problem with the manner in which this particular article attempts to convey your groups messages. Is that reasonable?
If you ask me, what isn’t reasonable is all this ranting and raving and carrying on about a couple of flags. Some people would do well to remember that these flags are SYMBOLS. Sure they stand for something concrete, but I am seeing a ton of overreaction on both sides. Surely there must be something more substantial to get all crazed about.
Antonio – “I do have a problem with the manner in which this particular article attempts to convey your groups messages. Is that reasonable?”
StraightGrandmother = please respond directly to my comments Antonio.
Im a proud gay Viet nam Vet,,,,keep your choice of religious cult bigotry to yourselfs. Gay people will overcome Ignorance like that wicked old grandnother and biggotted military person. Too lat we are real you are uneducated. BYE BYE
Don’t worry I’m done posting here, I am just going straight to the source instead of trying to have a mature discussion on this topic. Clearly MOST (some of you are reasonable) of you are incapable of discussing this without throwing in the bigot card or the homophobic card. I have definitely lost any respect I had for this movement due to the VAST MAJORITY of you reacting like children rather than adults. When you decide to grow up, please let me know I will be more than happy to discuss any issue relating this topic.
I apologize StraightGrandmother I did not see your comment. Thank you for a real response. I understand that gays want a banner to fall behind. I feel that you are not seeing the repercussions of replacing the American flag with the gay-pride flag. This is an iconic photo that Americans can identify with, I see with comments here and around my school that all this has done is further alienate your cause. Let me state this to be clear, I do not have a problem with furthering your gay-pride cause. I just have a problem with the way that you are doing it. As I have said before, what would be wrong with putting a picture of the members of the NUGLBTQA club in uniform up. After isn’t that what this article is all about? Would that not only be directly applicable to the article, but also would show people in uniform AND civilians next to the gay-pride flag, showing a sense of unity under the gay-pride flag despite being civilian or military? To answer some questions as to why I am still posting here, if I did not keep posting then that means I do not care. If I don’t care then what say do I have in the matter? Again, I apologize to StraightGrandmother for not seeing the post before I left my post above.