Mon. March 28, 2011
Washington, D.C. -
A support group for gay and lesbian members of the U.S. military is launching a print magazine, which they hope to distribute at bases.
Members of the group "OutServe" describe themselves as "underground" and the executive director of the group said in a press release he'd rather not use his real name.
"Our first objective with the magazine is to let all the gay, lesbian, bi, and trans members currently serving know that they are not alone," said OutServe's co-director, an active-duty officer who goes by the pseudonym JD Smith. "And we also want to communicate to all troops that there are capable gay military members serving honorably, and that accepting that and moving on will make our military stronger."
President Obama signed a law late last year that repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on gays in the military, but the law does not go fully into effect until the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff certify that it won't harm military readiness. That is expected to happen sometime later this year.
"Visibility is key," Smith said. "We are not about highlighting our differences, but demonstrating how LGBT troops are proud soldiers, sailors, airmen, Coasties, and Marines just like everyone else."
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