OREGON S LESBIAN/GAY/BI/TRANS/QUEER NEWSMAGAZINE
mermann felt that, “In some ways
I was still living under that policy
even though I was out, because I
wasn’t standing up for myself.”
The National Veterans Lobby
Day, held Tuesday, May 11, marked
the perfect opportunity for him
to do just that. While somewhat
reluctant and anxious to speak on
behalf o f gay service personnel,
Zimmermann soon realized, “For
the first time since I got out of
the military I felt like I was doing
something worthwhile. I felt like
myself.”
Even more illuminating were
the chances he got to speak with
other veterans. “We felt this sense
o f fellowship, camaraderie and sup
port that we had been missing in
our own units because we couldn’t
*
tell them what we were going
through,” he explains.
As part o f the Oregon del
egation, Zimmermann was tasked
with speaking to state representa
tives. All o f Oregon’s Democratic
representatives are co-sponsors o f
the repeal. Thus, his meeting with
the staff o f the state’s lone Repub
lican congressman, Greg Walden,
proved to be the most eye-opening
encounter. Speaking with one o f Walden’s
staffers, Zimmermann was told that while
the congressman would maintain an open
mind about the then upcoming vote, his
district’s constituents were not as progressive
as the congressman.
Zimmermann realized that Walden had
no reason to vote for repeal, and was at a
loss for what it would take to give him that
motivation.
The experience provided Zimmermann
with a purpose— and grasp o f the political
reality—that has informed his recent work
for Veterans for Human Rights. One o f the
Portland-based organization’s goals is to for
mulate a plan to obtain discharge upgrades
for veterans dishonorably discharged for be
ing gay. Because o f rules surrounding dishon
orable discharges, these vets cannot receive
JUNE <1. 2010
W
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illamette Financial
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• evaluating your current portfolio
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Floreid W alker* ChFC®
C om m itted to client success since 1 9 8 7
Financial Planning Strategist
Retirement Income Distribution Strategist
BRADLEY
VA benefits, own firearms, and in some states
they are prohibited from voting as long as the
dishonorable discharge is on their record.
The group also provides local veterans
with an opportunity to experience the same
sense o f community Zimmermann and his
fellow veterans shared while lobbying in
Washington, D .C. Explains Zimmermann
o f this common goal: “We’re the ones who
have been missing from this movement. I
mean, who can better advocate against this
law than the people who have fallen victim
to it?” J M
ANGLE
LGBTQ Program.
Free and Confidential.
Registration is required.
Please call 503-595-9591 ext. 305.
Willamette Financial Group
3529 N E Broadway, Ste 101
503.445.9390 ext. 101
floreid#wfgadvisors.com
www.wfgadvisors.com
Floreid
Walker*
is
an
Investment
Representative offering securities and
investment
advisory
services
offered
through SagePoint Financial, Inc. member
F IN R A /S IP C and a registered investment
advisor. W illamette Financial G roup L L C is not affiliated with SagePoint
Financial, Inc. or registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor.
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A s o f press time, the amendment to repeal
,
D A D T w as on the Senate floor aw aiting a vote
as p art o f the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill.
Visit blogout.justout.com fo r breaking develop
ments on the story. For more information on
Veteransfor Human Rights, visit vfhr.org.
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