American Veterans for Equal Rights ( AVER ) celebrated the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) Sept. 20 with a special presentation at the Center on Halsted.
The emotional hourlong event drew Chicago LGBT veteran leaders and approximately 30 supporters.
"We're not going to hide anymore, we're not going to hide," said Leonardo Lucio, who has served in the Navy for more than two decades and grew up with Allen Schindler, the sailor who was beaten to death in 1992 because he was gay.
AVER celebrated the repeal with a presentation by the AVER color guard, a performance of the national anthem by AVER member and Navy veteran travis and speeches by prominent LGBT military advocates, all against the backdrop of a large American flag.
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AVER member Patrick Bova gave an overview of the history of gay military service, starting with the American Revolution, when a soldier was drummed out for being gay. "Gays have served in every conflict and in peacetime since then," Bova said.
Jean Albright, a member of AVER and former member of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's ( SLDN ) board of directors, spoke about the dangers of DADT.
"It was clear from the beginning that the policy was faulty," Albright said, adding that young soldiers were forced to lie to supervisors.
Albright said the policy also "gave those who resented women in the ranks a handy tool to damage their careers."
Jose Zuniga, also a member of SLDN's board of directors, called the repeal "a joyous moment for ourselves, for our community," but cautioned work remains unfinished.
"The medical regulatory restriction against those who identify as transgender remains," he said.
SLDN drafted a guide to LGBT military service ( available at www.sldn.org/pages/freedom-to-serve-guide ) . Activists say that some benefits will not be available gay people in the service due to the Defense of Marriage Act. The next step they say will be repealing that.
Mona Noriega, commissioner of The Department of Human Relations, thanked AVER for their service.
"It makes me want to weep to think of all the honor and valor of all the people who have served," Noriega said.
Also on hand was a spokesperson on behalf of Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley. Brandon Neese read a statement sent by Quigley.
"I'm emboldened further by the fact that these same soldiers who fight and die for our safety can now do so without having to hide who they are or who they love," the statement read.
The event wrapped up with a performance of "Taps" by Melissa Terrell of LakeSide Pride Freedom Band.
