Originally published on The Seattle Lesbian Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded her provision being signed into law this week that allows the Veterans Administration (VA) to cover the costs of assisted reproductive technology, of which IVF is the most common, for veterans who suffered service-connected injuries. After more than a decade of war, widespread use […]
By The Seattle Lesbian A new analysis published Thursday in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine found that the cost of providing transition-related health care for transgender service members will be minimal after the Pentagon lifts its ban. In “Caring for Our Transgender Troops – The Negligible Cost of Transition-Related Care,” Dr. Aaron Belkin, Palm Center director and visiting […]
By Alex Temblador Yesterday, the Pentagon had some amazing news for the world: they will stop barring transgender servicemen and women from serving openly in the military. With the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2010, it did not repeal the ban on transgender persons serving openly. However, now it looks like 15,000 transgender […]
A new campaign aimed at uniting LGBT military personnel and veterans launched Wednesday. The overdue effort, spearheaded by OutServe-SLDN, is aptly titled United We Are Strong, and aims to repeal “Religious Freedom” acts throughout the country. Currently there are 30 states that do not have protections for LGBT individuals. Republican Governor Mike Pence of Indiana recently made headlines for […]
On Friday, March 13, 2015, three same-sex military couples were denied assistance by the federal military identification card enrollment center at Camp Mabry, the headquarters of the Texas Military Forces, near Austin, Texas. All three couples were told by the center’s employee that they would not be provided service because their marriages were not recognized by the state of Texas, […]
Tuesday, as the Pentagon’s annual report on sexual assault showed an alarming increase in cases, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced the Combating Military Sexual Assault (MSA) Act of 2013. In an effort to reduce sexual assaults within the military and help the victims of this crime, the Combating MSA Act would […]
By Carol Rood Poor Bluebell. She cried. She cried as her 17-year-old son The Hunter walked out the front door with a Marine Corps recruiter to go take a “practice” ASVAB test. Let me back up a bit, that is actually the middle of the story. Yesterday the phone rang. The person on the other […]
Are the federal Defense of Marriage (DOMA) days numbered in America? Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced Monday that same-sex spouses of active members of the military will begin receiving protections that were previously denied to them. Protections include the issuance of military identification cards, access to family support initiatives, and joint duty assignments. Panetta […]
By: Tanya Dodd-Hise The other day, maybe two weeks ago at most, I get a phone call from the oldest boy (the 20-year-old). When I answer the phone with my sing-songie “Hellooo-ooo-oooo,” he laughs and says, “Hey Mom! I’ve got something to tell you!” Freeze frame. Picture it, if you will. Me, standing at the […]
