|
|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|---|
|
|
|
AVER celebrates LGBTQ+ veterans at annual Veterans Day dinner
2023-11-12
|
|
This article shared 1766 times since Sun Nov 12, 2023
|
|
Writer and historian Owen Keehnen was keynote speaker at the the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) Chicago Chapter's 32nd annual LGBTQ Veterans Day Banquet held on Veterans Day at Ann Sather restaurant on Belmont.
Keehnen spoke about the importance of telling many distinct stories that represent history, including Chicago stories and those of LGBTQ+ people who serve and have served in the military. He also spoke about the importance of "place," and remembering the details where we have been physically as a community, from the Belmont Rocks to bars, bookstores, and more.
After the keynote remarks by Keehnen, he was presented the Happy Warrior Award by Jim Darby, the chapter's president emeritus. Also honored with a Happy Warrior Award were the Battle Betties, a volunteer group serving military members, families and veterans.
In October at the National AVER conference, Darby and his husband of more than 60 years, Patrick Bova, were honored for their work. At the Chicago event, they were handed those awards by local AVER members who attended that national event. Darby was honored for his long service to AVER and Bova for his support and archival work.
Brandon Chong, president of the AVER Chicago Chapter, was emcee. The evening opened with a performance of the "National Anthem" by Dean Ogren and included video messages from Mayor Brandon Johnson, Congressman Mike Quigley, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin. Quigley also attended the opening reception.
Susan Jones performed "Taps" to close the evening.
See www.facebook.com/AVERChicagoChapter/ or www.averchicago.org .
Jean Albright |
|
|
|
This article shared 1766 times since Sun Nov 12, 2023
|
| ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
|---|
| 
|  | SHOWBIZ Music awards, military film, Tom of Finland, Yo-Yo Ma, 'Harley Quinn'
2023-11-17
Video below - Brothers Osborne—a duo that includes gay brother TJ Osborne—won Vocal Duo of the Year for the sixth time at the recent CMA Awards, per a media release. Backstage, TJ told reporters, "I did not expect us ...
| 
| | South Korean court upholds military 'sodomy law'
2023-10-28
For the fourth time, South Korea's constitutional court has upheld two anti-LGBTQ+ laws—including the country's notorious military "sodomy law," The Guardian reported. By a vote of five to four, the court confirmed the constitutionality of ar ...
| 
| | WORLD Couple's win, attack in Beirut, German military, gay ski week
2023-09-08
In Strasbourg, France, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Bulgaria violated the rights of a same-sex couple (Darina Koilova and Lili Babulkova) by not recognizing their marriage abroad, RFE/RL reported. Rights groups lauded the ...
| 
| | 'We've had a ball': Prominent activists Jim Darby and Patrick Bova celebrate 60th anniversary
2023-09-07
One of the first couples to be legally married in Illinois is celebrating their 60th anniversary this year. Jim Darby and Patrick Bova fell in love decades before they became the lead plaintiffs in Lambda Legal's ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Military drama, Janelle Monae, Conan Gray, Dylan Mulvaney, Whoopi
2023-08-31
The LGBTQ+ military drama Eismayer (from Dark Star Pictures and Golden Girls Film) will be out in theaters on Oct. 6, and on DVD and Digital on Oct. 10, per a press release. The plot is ...
| 
| | FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act would undercut equality, Modern Military Assoc of America comments
2023-07-14
--From a press release - Washington D.C. - Anti-equality House members are using the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act to pass dangerous amendments targeting healthcare, gender-affirming care, education, and LGBTQ+ friendly services and resources. The ...
| 
| | WORLD Pride celebrations, puberty blockers, British military, killer sentenced
2023-06-16
Gay Pride Buenos Aires is slated to take place Oct. 27-Nov. 4, according to GayTravel4U.com. More than 30 organizations and groups host activities that will begin a week before the parade (which is on Nov. 4). ...
|
| | VIEWPOINT War in the 21st Century: mercenaries, private military companies, private armies
2023-05-20
In 2022, $407 billion of the Pentagon budget—representing half of that year's funding —were obligated to private contractors, of which a significant number were Private Military Companies (PMCs) involved in ...
| 
| | Modern Military Association of America appoints interim Executive Director
2023-05-18
--From a press release - WASHINGTON, (May 17, 2023) — LGBTQ+ military nonprofit Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) announced today that nonprofit management expert Rachel Branaman, will step into the role of interim executive ...
|
| | Bill would prohibit discrimination in the military, protect trans service members
2023-04-01
--From a press release, American Veterans for Equal Rights - Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced legislation today that would prohibit discrimination in the military and protect transgender service members. The Ensuring Military Readiness Not Discrimination Act, commonly ...
| 
| | WORLD Venezuela code, Oxfam, Bosnia items, 'Brokeback,' Pope Francis
2023-03-25
Venezuela's Supreme Court annulled a controversial part of the military justice code that had criminalized same-sex relations within the armed forces, the outlet Punch noted. The court annulled the provision, which had provided for a penalty ...
| 
| | NATIONAL Under secretary leaving, gay man killed, anti-trans moves, SF gay bar
2023-02-19
Under Secretary Gina Ortiz Jones—the Air Force's second-highest ranking civilian—is stepping down on March 6, after a year and a half in the position, according to military.com. Jones was appointed by President Joe Biden as the ...
| 
| | Rubio, Banks introduce bill that would ban some trans people from military
2023-02-17
Republicans are introducing measures in both houses of Congress that, if passed, would ban some transgender people from serving in the military, The Hill reported. The Ensuring Military Readiness Act, sponsored by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), ...
| 
| | Lambda Legal challenges anti-HIV military policy
2022-11-13
Lambda Legal filed a legal challenge to the U.S. military policy that prevents people living with HIV from enlisting in the U.S. Armed Forces, according to a press release. The current policy requires that applicants for ...
|
| | Trans U.S. Army doctor, wife charged with helping Russia in war against Ukraine
2022-09-30
A U.S. Army major doctor and their physician wife were arrested for an alleged criminal plot to give Russia confidential medical information about people connected to the U.S. military and government, CNBC reported. Federal prosecutors claim ...
| | |
|
|
|
|
