"Whereas throughout the history of America, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans of diverse yet convergent backgrounds have fearlessly defended the principals of the declaration of independence and the constitution of these United States through their service in the United States Armed Forces side-by-side with their heterosexual counterparts."
So began Mayor Rahm Emanuel's proclamation declaring June 30, 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Veterans Memorial Day in Chicago.
As the clock struck noon, Daley Plaza was turned into a place of honor as the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER) saluted America's LGBTQ service members "With Liberty and Justice For All."
The event drew LGBTQ representatives from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps Illinois National Guard, Coast Guard and the Air Force. Onlookers and policemen stood with their hands placed across their hearts as Show Director of International Mr. Leather Dean Ogren sang the national anthem which echoed across the plaza.
When Illinois National Guard service member and the Vice President and Treasurer of AVER Larry Simpson called for a moment of silence for all American veterans and especially LGBT veterans "most of whom have had to serve under silence", people coming and going from one of the busiest buildings in Chicago honored that call.
During his invocation, Reverend Wayne Bradley of the Metropolitan Community Church Chairman said that "we are grateful for the amazing changes in our nation's laws in the past few years but we realize that there are still some obstacles to full freedom. May we never be content with the half truth, when the whole truth can be won."
Commissioner and Chairman of the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations Mona Noriega read the Mayoral Proclamation. Emanuel encouraged all Chicagoans to acknowledge and salute LGBT veterans "For their unwavering dedication to our country and their ongoing contributions to the city of Chicago."
Members of AVER—in chapters across the United States— declare proudly that "we are you." They played a pivotal role in campaigning for the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell (DADT) in 2010 and today work to ensure that the stories of LGBT service-members are told and heard while engaging in a concentrated effort to see the day that transgender individuals can serve openly.
Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame member and Secretary for the Mayor's Advisory Council for Veteran's Affairs James Darby founded the Chicago Chapter of AVER in 1991. "They always had a salute to African American, Italian American and Latino veterans," Darby remembered during an interview with Windy City Times. "And I asked Rochelle Crump—who was running the council at the time—about having a salute to LGBT veterans. She said 'I thought you'd never ask.' Our very first salute was 11 years ago."
Speakers since then have included retired Rear Admiral Alan S. Steinman, "Soldier of the Year" author Jose Zuniga and the founder of AVER—then the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America, Inc. (GLBVA)—Miriam Ben Shalom.
Darby could not attend the 2014 ceremony having received an invitation to the White House reception honoring LGBT Pride Month—the very building he was arrested in front of during a demonstration for gay rights in 1993. "Now I'm going in the front door!" He laughed. "But I know this year's speaker at the salute is going to be very powerful."
The first openly gay service member in Illinois to reenlist following the repeal of DADT, US Navy Logistical Specialist Second Class Lee Reinhart, was the speaker. This was his second time speaking at the salute. The first was in 2010 before the repeal. He also presented and posted the colors at the opening of the ceremony.
Reinhart was discharged from the US Coast Guard under DADT and reenlisted in the navy on October 24, 2011 following the law's repeal. He has since served in Kandahar Afghanistan. In beginning his speech, Reinhart thanked those who had served in silence while working towards the end of DADT, "blazing a path for folks like myself making it —when our time came—a much friendlier environment that gave us a framework to be the lucky ones to see it all end."
In recalling the three years since his reenlistment, Reinhart spoke about a June 2013 Gay Pride event that LGBT service members organized in Kandahar. "There we were—gay and out and in uniform, Army, Navy, Marine-Corps, Air Force and civilians alike telling our stories and answering questions from the audience," he said. "History was being made and we were aware of that."
There were a few problems. Reinhart noted that the sponsoring unit did not feel it was appropriate to have the American flag represented at the event. However, he added that 2014 has seen Pride events on bases throughout Afghanistan. "The American flag is alongside them," he said. "It is getting better my friends."
Among those in attendance was Sean Sullivan—a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Marines. He agreed with Reinhart's sentiments. "I was on active duty when DADT was enforced and I was on active duty when it was repealed," he said. "The repeal was just a non-issue and the transition was so smooth. I was so proud to be a marine when the law changed because I saw how well those who came out were accepted. If you're a marine, it doesn't matter whether you're gay or straight. What matters is whether you carry out your duties and—if you do—you are a brother or a sister."
Despite these improvements and the fact that LGBTQ service members have proven their political detractors wrong, Reinhart told Windy City Times that his work and the work of AVER is far from done. "Our transgender brothers and sister were there for us in fighting the repeal of DADT and our community has often forgotten about their sacrifice to help us get those rights," he said. "It's now time for us to remember that, to honor their service and work towards allowing them to serve as well."
The afternoon's final act of remembrance was the placing of a wreath at the eternal flame in Daley Plaza while Susan Jones and Melissa Terrell of the Lakeside Pride Marching Band played an Echo Taps. There could be no doubt that the spirit and courage of people such as US Army Major Alan Rogers, US Navy Petty Officer Third Class Allen R Schindler, Jr., National Guard Staff Sergeant Donna Johnson and each of the LGBTQ service members who committed themselves to the greatest sacrifice for their country had endured and would not be forgotten.
Additional photos by Hal Baim at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/photospreadthumbs.php .
Video by Tracy Baim/Windy City Times
Windy City Times: Chicago Salute to LGBT Veterans 6-20-2014, 1 of 2 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
Windy City Times: Chicago Salute to LGBT Veterans 6-20-2014, 2 of 2 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
