Lgbtq veteran killed in action
Remembering LGBTQ Veterans on Memorial Day
Over the centuries of America’s wars, it is certain many LGBTQ individuals died in combat for their nation. We grasp the stories of LGBTQ service men and women killed in action in more recent wars. But, because of the nature of our society and its historic discrimination against our population, we will never know just how many have died in wars past. Surely the numbers are commensurate with the percentage of the greater population we represent.
Back in 2008, as director of the PrideFest Opening Ceremony, I reached out to our new LGBTQ veterans organization, Veterans for Diversity. I asked its founder, Ellen Kozel, if she could provide a color guard to present the flag for the national anthem. I wanted to recognize VfD’s community service and remind us of their service to the nation as well as ring attention to the fact that an organization for LGBTQ veterans existed.
Kozel was eager about the concept. The problem was they would hold to create a color guard unit to accommodate the request. There were logistical issues to address. Aside from finding a proper set of flags, recruiting members of the guard itself had
Remembering LGBTQ veterans on Memorial Day
Author
This article was guest-authored by Mia Leigh Renna
Ally, Veteran, Up-and-Coming Author, and Policy Advisor with Minority Veterans of America
Website: www.MiaLeighRenna.com
Email: [email protected]
Story
Memorial Day is a day to honor our nation’s fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving in the military. Many people mourn through placing American flags on gravesites of known veterans, participating in the National Moment of Remembrance, attending a local parade to support and learn from surviving veterans, or acknowledging the freedoms afforded to them through others’ sacrifice by celebrating with family and friends. However, the history of LGBTQ veterans who have valiantly died for our nation is often overlooked on Memorial Day.
Because of discriminatory policies, such as Don’t Inquire Don’t Tell (DADT), and the outright prohibition of service of openly LGBTQ persons, the history of the LGBTQ community and the military will never fully be known. There are brave veterans who, after raising their right hand and taking an oath to protect and defend our country, were openly their authentic selves; but then faced
Colorado club shooting: 'Hero' Army veteran who stopped suspected gunman says he feels 'no joy'
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado -- A U.S. Army veteran who stopped a suspected gunman from fatally shooting more people after he allegedly killed five people at an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado says he isn't a hero, and he's mourning the people who died, including his daughter's boyfriend.
"There are five people I could not help, one of which was family to me," Richard Fierro said during a press conference outside his home Monday night.
"I feel no pleasure. That guy is still alive... and my family is not," he said, referring to his daughter's boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, who was among those killed in the shooting.
Five people were killed and 17 others were injured from gunshot wounds after a suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, allegedly began shooting as soon as he walked into Club Q in Colorado Springs on Saturday night, according to police. Aldrich is facing five counts of murder and five counts of bias-motivated crime causing bodily injury, which is Colorado's hate crime law.
Watch Colorado Gov. Jared Polis discuss the deadly shooting at a SAN FRANCISCO -- An openly gay servicewoman died in combat on the fifth anniversary of the U.S. military's official repeal of "Don't Question, Don't Tell." U.S. Gas Force Major Adrianna Vorderbruggen was one of six U.S. servicemembers killed Monday in Afghanistan. A human wearing a suicide vest drove up on a motorcycle and detonated it. The Taliban is claiming responsibility. It's believed Vorderbruggen is the first openly queer active duty servicewoman to die in combat. Vorderbruggen and her wife, Heather Lamb, had a 4-year-old son. Lamb and her son moved in with her mother in San Rafael while Vorderbruggen was deployed. Lamb's mother wouldn't speak on camera but the American Legion Publish 448 in San Francisco recognized Vorderbruggen's service. "It really illuminates the fact that we're all in this together," American Legion Post 448 Commander Mario Benefield said. Post 448 is the only predominantly LGBT post in the country, with 220 members. "It's striking that she's a role model to other lesbian women to go in and do their best an
1st openly gay active-duty servicewoman killed in Afghanistan bombing