If you haven’t been following the national news.  A debacle happened when a legally married same sex spouse was rejected membership from the Ft Bragg spouse association.

There has been two major developments!

First, Ashley Broadway has been named the Ft Bragg spouse of the year by the Military Spouse magazine!

and Second, Ahley has been given full membership in the association.  

Congrats to Ashley, AMPA and OutServe-SLDN and everyone who kept the pressure up to make this happen!

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I plan to be documenting a lot of my adventures during the 2013 Inauguration… here’s some of the ways to follow:

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/user/kingbigbird09 

Follow me on Twitter: www.twitter.com/joshseefried/ 

Follow me on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/seefriedJ

Instagram: JoshSeefried

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If you want to buy a copy of my book, please click order on the right side of this page!

Link to the segment: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/TimeBr

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If you haven’t heard the clip of Rush Limbaugh going off about how the movement for pedophilia is taking off, its below… here is the relevant text (and remember, his site is not blocked by DoD and mine is!):
 
 

“There is a movement on to normalize pedophilia, and I guarantee you your reaction to that is probably much the same as your reaction when you first heard about gay marriage. What has happened to gay marriage? It’s become normal — and in fact, with certain people in certain demographics it’s the most important issue in terms of who they vote for. So don’t pooh-pooh. There’s a movement to normalize pedophilia. Don’t pooh-pooh it. The people behind it are serious, and you know the left as well as I do. They glom onto something and they don’t let go. [...]
What is their objective? They want us to all think that pedophilia is just another sexual orientation. You know who’s gonna fall right in line is college kids, just like they have on gay marriage, just like they do on all other revolutionary social issues. Their own definition of the cutting edge, civil rights, freedom, understanding, tolerance.”

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There has been a lot of news flying around Senator Hagel and a potential appointment to SecDef, got a few messages about it so wanted to put a quick recap of whats happened.

In 1998, Senator Hagel made this statement about a potential Ambassador Hormel:

“They are representing our lifestyle, our values, our standards and I think that it is an inhibiting factor to be gay — openly, aggressively gay like Mr. Hormel — to do an effective job.”

“My comments 14 years ago in 1998 were insensitive. They do not reflect my views or the totality of my public record, and I apologize to Ambassador Hormel and any LGBT Americans who may question my commitment to their civil rights. I am fully supportive of ‘open service’ and committed to LGBT military families.”

“Senator Hagel’s apology is significant–I can’t remember a time when a potential presidential nominee apologized for anything. While the timing appears self-serving, the words themselves are unequivocal–they are a clear apology. Since 1998, fourteen years have passed, and public attitudes have shifted–perhaps Senator Hagel has progressed with the times, too.”

“We are pleased that Senator Hagel recognized the importance of retracting his previous statement about Ambassador Hormel and affirming his commitment to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal and LGBT military families. We look forward to learning more about his commitment to full LGBT military equality as this nomination and confirmation process unfolds,” she said.

“Wrong on gay rights, wrong on Iran, wrong on Israel.”

“I cannot think of any other minority group in the U.S. today where such a negative statement and action made in 1998 would not be an obstacle to a major Presidential appointment.”

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“I don’t know what we’re going to do when I get reassigned. My partner has to find a new job if he wants to come with me. He’s not covered by TRICARE [military health insurance]. Right now he works for a company where he can’t be fired for being gay — but there’s no guarantee he can find that at my next duty station.”
–Air Force officer

“Don’t get me wrong: I’m thrilled that ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is gone. And I don’t feel like I have a right to complain; it’s just that the practical logistics of taking care of a family, which the military insists I don’t have, makes it really hard.”
–Navy petty officer

Earlier this month OutServe members gathered in Washington, D.C. for the first “Capital Summit: Our Families Matter.” The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for a summit focused on gay and lesbian military spouses and partners. In the wake of President Obama’s historic statement in favor of marriage equality — specifically mentioning the service of gay and lesbian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines — we are optimistic about the future, but there is still a lot of work to do.

Non-government organizations, such as the National Military Family Association, Red Cross, Give an Hour, and Blue Star Families, attended the summit to make their support and resources available to partners and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) service members.

But the government offers almost nothing.

Also, last week, an organization committed to banning workplace and career discrimination, Freedom to Work, was on Capitol Hill, fighting for employment nondiscrimination. Specifically, the organization was urging Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, or ENDA, and was advocating for President Obama to sign an executive order banning federal contractors from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Although ENDA would not affect military personnel, it still is a critical issue to LGBT service members. Even though a majority of LGBT military personnel serve on active duty, many serve in reservist or national guard status, which means their main employment is outside the military, leaving them vulnerable to being fired simply for being gay. No servicemember who chooses to serve their nation should have to feel like they are at risk for losing their job because of who they are.

Even more vulnerable than the servicemember themselves is the family. The military reassigns its active duty personnel every few years, so a partner who has a job in a company or state with protections can only hope that, upon moving, they can find a new job where they don’t have to hide their same-sex spouse. Federal contractors employ many people on or close to military bases, so our partners — who have to get jobs because our benefits don’t cover them — are eager to land these jobs. Our veterans also want to work for contractors, but because of a lack of LGBT workplace protections, federal employers can still fire people just because they’re gay or transgender, regardless of how well they do their jobs.

A new study from the Williams Institute shows that an executive order prohibiting workplace discrimination could protect up to 16.5 million American workers, many of whom are servicemembers outside active duty and their spouses, in dire need of providing for their families.

Integrity and respect for all are core military values. Fairness in employment is an American value. The president’s personal statement on marriage, and the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” are great steps toward those values, toward treating people equally and fairly. But we are not honoring our families if we don’t continue to fight for them, recognize their sacrifices, and provide them with the support — and the jobs — that they need. Let’s make no mistake, this is am LGBT military issue, too.

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I recently mentioned to my chaplain that I was going to get married to Chris a few months down the road. Now, in all honesty, I said it to see if my chaplain would react differently to that bit of news. “Was that the one you introduced me to at the Christmas party?” she asked… I nodded yes and waited for the reaction. “Praise be to God! I am so happy for you. You two will make such a great couple!” Honestly, I wasn’t expecting that, it was quite a welcome declaration. She then went on about how people should be with whoever they are happiest with and that is good in God’s eyes. She even offered any help with the matter! (Navy Petty Officer, Hawaii)

When I was at the United States Air Force Academy, I was going through a rough spot in my life about being gay in the military. Under “don’t ask, don’t tell” (DADT) there was no real outlet to seek help.  Medical professionals and counselors were still bound by DADT, so we could be fired for having discussions with them about our sexual orientation. But there was always one outlet many of us who were gay could turn to: military chaplains.

This was the story for many of us gay cadets at the Air Force Academy.  A number of gay cadets would regularly seek in the chaplains not only spiritual guidance but friends who understood what DADT was truly doing to us. They were always the group of people we could trust and call upon at any time of the day just to listen to us talk about the struggles we were having:

Twice I went to confession with Catholic Air Force chaplains. Both times were very positive … Both situations were pre-DADT. The end result for both was basically to trust in the power of prayer. No judgment was passed by either chaplain and both continued to interact with me as if I had never said anything. (Airman, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico)

The military chaplain corps is one of the most respectable and professional careers in the military. They embrace not only their religion but their creed to respect, love, and serve every single sailor, soldier, and Marine in the military.

Right now there is a war being waged on the chaplaincy, and it is not coming from the gays in the military.  It’s coming from outside groups proclaiming that military chaplains are anti-gay. There are even gay chaplains who are scared of losing their jobs because of the misconception that gay people cannot be chaplains:

A few more conversations later, I came out to her [my chaplain]. She listened while I talked about living under DADT for 12 years and what it has done to my children and me. She offered advice, and promised not to tell anyone. Months and months went by, and we came home; everyone in the unit spread out while on leave. She called me at about 9pm one night and asked me to meet her at a restaurant in   a town about 30 minutes away. When I got there, I saw that she was with another female from my unit. She stood up as I got to the table, and introduced herself by her first name, and then turned to the woman sitting next to her, and introduced her as her girl friend. … I find it sad that even after DADT is gone, some of us still have to serve silently. (Army soldier, Fort Bragg)

At West Point, when gay and lesbian graduates and  cadets gathered for Knights Out, the LGBT alumni group’s annual dinner, they were welcomed with a joyful invocation from an Army chaplain, saying, in part:

[T]he Hudson River calls to mind the words of Amos, who prophesized about some future day “when justice would roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”  This is that day the prophecy is fulfilled. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. …

May the repeal of the [DADT] law and our gathering here tonight help restore integrity and honor to these brave men and women.  May these patriots gathered here begin to breathe freely knowing that those who are serving have allies in the chaplain corps to whom they can turn and find the powerful presence of a loving, inclusive, accepting, living God. (Army Chaplain, Camp Smith)

Military chaplains aren’t shunning gay servicemen and women; they’re shunning people like Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. In 2010, even before the repeal of DADT, his invitation to speak at a national prayer luncheon at Andrews Air Force Base was rescinded.  Joint Base Andrews Chaplain’s Office released the following statement when they rescinded his invitation: “The Chaplain’s Office retracted Mr. Perkins’ invitation after his recent public comments made many who planned to attend the event uncomfortable.   This was a local decision made by the Chaplain’s Office who wanted the luncheon to be inclusive for the entire base community.”

Let’s make one thing clear: People like Tony Perkins don’t speak for us currently serving, or for the majority of chaplains.  The organizations that purport to “represent” chaplains are isolated from those who actually serve in today’s military.

These chaplains are my friends, my support, and rock.  For me and thousands of other gays in the military, the story is no different.  The lies that chaplains are against us, and our friends, need to stop.

Please note: These views are my personal views and do not represent the views of the Department of Defense or the Air Force.

This post also appeared on Huffington Post

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I am so proud of some of the people I got to work with this year, they are truly my heroes.  Ty, Sue, Katie, Jon, Tom, and so many more who are making a difference with OutServe. I am so proud of the men and women of our armed forces who got to experience the amazing repeal of DADT and choose to come out right after repeal.  Its all of you that are truly paving the way for future generations to be able to serve this nation honorably.  I was so amazed to get to meet Karl this year and so excited for where it is going.

2012 will be even bigger than 2011, I promise you that. OutServe has some huge projects in the works that will be coming out in just days and personally I will be launching a few other things.

I’m excited to ring in 2012 tonight here in Philadelphia and hope you all have an amazing night where ever you are ringing in the new year!

Stay Safe and Happy New Year!

Josh

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Thanks again!

Josh

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