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Air Force Academy Association Of Graduates Cancels Dinner Honoring LGBT Veterans

09/09/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Lesbians and gays have been serving in the US military for some time. The Air Force Academy Association of Graduates has changed its mind and canceled a dinner which was suppose to honor the history of LGBT service in the Air Force. OutServe was slated to host the dinner in association with Blue Alliance, which is an organization of lesbian and gay alumni from the Air Force Academy. The dinner was slated for Veterans Day. The Association of Graduates had an agreement with the two organizations to use the Association’s building on the property of the Air Force Academy for the event, and invitations had already gone out to members of Congress, allied military officers and leaders in the lesbian and gay community.

OutServe’s active-duty co-director who goes by the pseudonym JD Smith stated “At a time when we’re honoring veterans, we wanted to recognize probably the most ignored veterans in our country: gays and lesbians. It was made clear this dinner was not to be an event regarding ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ it was to be a night to honor the LGBT history in the Air Force. All in attendance would fully comply with Air Force policy – including ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ ”

The dinner was not political in nature, and OutServer already sent along a program to the administration in order to make sure that was squared away.

Ty Walrod, co-director of OutServe, said “Veterans Day is for all veterans, including gays and lesbians. Intentional or not, this sends a message that their sacrifices were not, and are not, valued. OutServe members who are currently serving their country, the Air Force Academy graduates, and most importantly all those who have given their lives in defense of this country who happened to be gay or lesbian, deserve better.”

The push to end Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is in the hands of Harry Reid right now who needs to push for the Defense Authorization Bill to be voted on this September. The language to at least allow for the end of DADT is within that bill.

The reason for the dinner being canceled has not been released.