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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 2011)
JC J2 •politics SEPTEMBER 16, 2011 After nearly 18 years under the controversial and discriminatory policy known as “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” United States soldiers are on the precipice of legally serving openly in the armed forces. Full repeal of the Clinton-era policy, is sued in December 1993, occurs Tuesday, Sep tember 20. More than 13,500 service members have been discharged under the military ban on gays and lesbians serving openly, many of whom have expressed a desire to re-enlist after repeal. Here in the Northwest, the Vancouver, Wash.-based Veterans for Human Rights, as well as the Human Rights Campaign’s Port land Steering Committee and Q_ Center, are organizing celebratory events to mark the oc casion. VfHR has worked tirelessly, along with national LG BT veterans support organizations like the Servicememhers Legal Defense Net work, in reporting and engaging the public on the issues facing the long haul toward repeal of DADT. Now, for the first time, those behind the scenes of these organizations are able to look on the policy from the rearview mirror. “Being involved with Veterans for Human Rights has allowed me to see the effect that many service members went through being outed and discharged,” explains VfHR trea surer James Freed. “The pain of being denied to serve your country as you swore to do when enlisting was detrimental.” Freed wasn’t out during his career as a civil ian worker for the Air Force, and says he only realized his orientation in college after he was W W W .JUSTOUT.COM At Their Service Portland equality groups recognize DADT repeal with day of events B Y RYAN J. P R A D O discharged. But he says he did work with gay active duty personnel who were not allowed to recognize their partners—erasing a critical support base for soldiers. “W ith the repeal of DADT, these families should now have the support of their co-work ers,” Freed explains. “1 knew of a few that resigned their commission rather than leave their partners behind.” Dan Koperski is a G ulf W ir veteran of the U.S. Army Signal Corps, serving from 1990 to 1994. Koperski, a member of VfHR and now an administrator at the VA Northwest I lealth N et work, served on active duty during the time that DA DT was implemented. He says he witnessed the problems and difficulties it posed for service members firsthand. “Not only was DA DT debilitating to the cohesion and morale of the soldiers in my unit, it turned them against one another and created a situation where I had to lie about whom and what I was in order to keep my friends and job,” Koperski explains. “I hope that with this repeal, the stigma and frustrations that many GLBT Americans face will be lifted. I was honored to be given the chance to serve our country as a GLBT American and fully sup port the rights of each and every citizen o f the United States to do the same.” Freed will be on hand September 20 during the annual “Veterans Stand Down” event, an effort presented by Central City Con cern, the Department of Veter ans Affairs, Returning Veterans Project, Oregon Paralyzed Veter ans of America and WorkSource Oregon. “Stand Down” takes place at the Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as an event primarily for homeless veterans, hut also features a job fair for all military veter ans and their families. More than 50 potential employers and 70 service providers are expected to attend “Stand Down,” and Medical Teams International will be on site with their dental van, providing all day free dental care. “Stand Down” is one among a day of cele bratory events, themed “As American As Apple Pie,” set for Tuesday, September 20. Along with a press conference and Color Guard pre sentation at Portland City Hall at 11:30 a.m., a DA DT Repeal Celebration and Remem brance event at Q_Center (4115 N. Mississip pi) will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring appearances by Mayor Sam Adams and repre sentatives from HRC Portland and VfHR. From 6 to 7 p.m., KBOO Community Radio will broadcast live from the event. Before and/or after the Q_ Center reception, revelers can head to CC Slaughters (219 NW Davis) for another Repeal Celebration Party in partnership with the Servicememhers Legal De fense Network, beginning at 3 p.m., with happy hour extended to 9 p.m.lhere is no cover, though donations to the SLDN are strongly encouraged. As Just Out went to print, it was announced that House Armed Services Committee Chair man Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) drafted a letter arguing for a delay o f D A D T repeal. The Pentagon, however, insisted that repeal would commence as scheduled. JR] For more information about D A D T repeal events, visitpdxqcenter.org, contact VfllR's Ron Rasmus sen at 360-896-9394, or visit vfhr.org. For more information or to volunteer fo r the CC Slaughters celebration, call Robert Irwin at 503-875-3174. I DON’T ENJOY STANDING ON A SUN DECK IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Experience Terrence M cN ally's ON THE 4TH OF JULY . • • . L ips Together. Teeth A p a rt TALKING ABOUT — and th e w ork DILDOS. o f 13 other playw rights during P ro file T heatre's retrospective season. 14 SEASONS IN 1 FOR ONE SEASON ONLY. I DO NT THINK Featuring Susannah M ars, L e if Norby, THIS IS WHAT THOMAS JEFFERSON HAD IN M IN D . D arius P ierce and Karen W ennstrom . BY TERRENCE MCNALLY I SEPT 28 - OCT 23. 2011 I MAIN STAGE 201 1/12 SEASON I 3430 SE BELMONT ST. 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