Happy Pride Month, people! It’s June, the gayest month in EssEff (among many). The rainbow flags are flying up and down Market Street and our parade is one week from today!And look who’s our Pride Parade Celebrity Grand Marshall: Marine Staff Sergeant Eric Alva, the first American wounded in the IraqWar — who’s now fighting Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) as a proud out gay veteran. Here’s how Sergeant Alva replied to Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace’s toxic (and perhaps career-ending!) statement that homosexual acts “are immoral”:

“Judging gay men and women in the military for factors unrelated to their fitness to serve undermines our military’s effectiveness. Certain leaders’ bigotry should not be a rational basis for discrimination. This kind of prejudice is going to continue to have a direct impact on our national security as we allow qualified gay men and women to lose their jobs for no good reason. This policy — and General Pace’s bigotry — is outdated, unnecessary and counter to the same American values our soldiers are giving their lives for each and every day.”

And how unnecessary is the DADT policy?

Commander Zoe Dunning, who made history 14 years ago when she came out as a lesbian and won her discharge case with the military, retired after 22 years of military service Saturday, June 2 in a ceremony on the flight deck of the USS Hornet Museum in Alameda.

Dunning came out at a rally for discharged sailor Keith Meinhold in 1993 and was herself immediately targetted for discharge by the USNavy. For two years, she fought her discharge, arguing her sexual orientation was not conduct but status. She won her case within the military.

The Navy, not surprisingly, quickly issued a memo stating that defense “would never work again,” Carpenter said, “but left Zoe in the service.”

Until her retirement, Dunning was the only openly gay person serving in the military. Meinhold and Colonel Grethe Cammermeyer also continued to serve in the military after disclosing their sexual orientation; they both won court victories. Dunning is the only person who was retained through the military process.

Commander Dunning recounted memories of her military career at the ceremony, including a special one:

After September 11, 2001, Dunning served for six weeks of active duty, and while in San Diego, was seated across from the official who prosecuted her during her discharge proceeding.

“I had made commander and he was still a lieutenant commander,” she said.

Dunning said that she was proud of living her life “authentically.”

And how outdated is the DADT policy?

A third-floor room in downtown San Francisco contains military treasures from the past never before displayed for the public’s view. The items themselves – weathered news clippings, black and white photos, neatly pressed uniforms, and even a submarine model – are hardly controversial.
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The exhibit, called Out Ranks, is the first in the nation to focus on the lives and contributions of LGBT veterans. Sponsored by the GLBT Historical Society, it follows two timelines that run parallel courses: one focuses on major military conflicts since 1941, the other on LGBT military personnel fighting in those wars.

And how counter to American values is the DADT policy?

Washington, D.C. – The entire field of eight Democratic presidential candidates indicated their support for repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” ban on lesbian, gay and bisexual personnel during a televised debate on Sunday. The candidates, appearing on CNN, all expressed support for allowing lesbians and gays to serve openly in the armed forces.

But what about the GOP PrezCandis?

WASHINGTON – When asked by CNN’s Wolf Blitzer to raise their hand if they support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, not a single Republican candidate’s hand went up in the air. The position of every single Republican candidate on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” not only stands in stark contrast to the unified support of repeal by all Democratic Presidential candidates but it is also out of step with the majority of the American people.
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[snip]
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On March 12, 2007, USA Today reported, “Polls indicate growing acceptance of gay troops. A Harris Poll this month found that 55% supported allowing gays to serve openly, up from 48% in 2000. A Pew Research Center survey last year found that 60% favored gays serving openly, up from 52% in 1994. Support ran 3-to-1 among those younger than 30.

I’m glad the GOP Presidential candidates are living their lives “authentically” — as unAmerican bigots and homophobes.

Happy Pride! Kiss an American servicemember for me, won’t you please?