Veterans Day 2011: LGBT Veterans And Families Honored After 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Repeal (VIDEO)

This year's Veterans Day was a special one for many -- marking the first time the national holiday was observed since the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy went into effect in September.

As CNN is reporting, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) veterans were honored across the country with heartfelt tributes. Among those paying tribute to vets was New York's LGBT Community Center, which co-sponsored a reception for U.S. service members, their partners and their families to "highlight the journey traveled by our community, which led to the eventual and groundbreaking repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell," according to a statement.

"It's been almost two decades since these service members have had to hide who they were," executive director Glennda Testone told CNN. "Thankfully, those days are over." Veteran Antonio Breton felt similarly, telling NY1: "It was very hectic because I myself had to keep quiet. I had my own personal demons. I'm also a recovering alcoholic, and that was also probably part of the reason why I had to keep my mouth shut. Because during my recovery, I almost let it slip, and I could have been thrown out of the military right then and there."

Iraq war veteran Dan Choi, who was discharged from the Army for acknowledging that he is gay but now plans to re-enlist, was also vocal about the holiday on Twitter:

@ltdanchoi
Dan Choi

One day we'll have a gay veterans monument here, memorializing our sacrifice for America, our fight for equality, and our battle for love.

November 11, 2011 4:08 pm via Twitter for iPhone Reply Retweet Favorite

LGBT service members based in San Diego, where, for the first time, openly gay and lesbian service members would be able to march proudly in the city's annual Veteran's Day parade, expressed similar sentiments. "I never thought in my lifetime, I would participate in [the parade] as an openly gay veteran and selected as a Grand Marshall," Evelyn Thomas, U.S. Marine Corps and National Guard veteran, is quoted by San Diego Gay & Lesbian News as saying.

Watch a video on the history of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" below:

Comments

[Join Diaspora]

09:08 AM on 11/20/2011

Thanks to DOMA legally married same-sex military spouses are denied health insurance, commissary and other base privileges, housing allowance, etc. as compared with their opposite-sex married counterparts. For those interested – http://OUTmilitary.com has been providing a supportive environment for friending, sharing and networking between Gay active military, vets and supporters since December, 2010.

[Atwill]

08:12 PM on 11/13/2011

All i can say is Thanks. this is fantastic.

[madcityy]

02:38 PM on 11/13/2011

WHERE DOES THIS END????????????????

[Zork4]

05:22 PM on 11/13/2011

Where does what end?

[mjw51295]

11:20 AM on 11/13/2011

Go you guys. Finally able to be yourselves. Thanks to all of you gay men and women for your service.

[Valerie Keefe]

09:12 AM on 11/13/2011

I would be remiss if I didn't point out again that trans service members are still subject to arbitrary discharge on 'medical grounds.'

[rockysparks]

08:57 AM on 11/13/2011

Father of seven children. Biological, adopted and fostered. Can't remember which are which, anymore.

Proud of them all.

Father of two Army veterans, one gay, one straight. In their uniforms, you couldn't tell which was which.

Proud of them both.

[AcademicFreedom]

08:21 AM on 11/13/2011

Until trans species rights are recognized, we will never have justice.

[Zork4]

05:23 PM on 11/13/2011

Provocative but silly.

[RU Mad II]

08:14 AM on 11/13/2011

LMAO!

Ride the wave if you want to. It is not a wave for LGBT but a wave for Vets, not gay vets, not black or white vets, not Jewish or Latino vets, but veterans of all walks of life. This is a day of celebrating what all have given in the line of duty regardless of who they were.

Who designed those gaudy uniforms? Oh wait.....never mind.

[xenubarb]

05:06 PM on 11/13/2011

Wait...was gaudy uniforms a selection I forgot to check?

[VagabondBull]

01:53 AM on 11/13/2011

Today I looked at my "Proud Veteran, Lift the Ban" pin and again felt like such a dinosaur. I served in the military back in the day when we couldn't be open about who we love. Every day we had to listen to others talk about their spouses and children while we were forced to keep our mouths shut about our loved ones. I'm proud of my country for finally seeing the error of its ways and allowing all soldiers to serve with honesty and integrity. Some of us love people of the opposite gender and some of us love people of the same gender but we all love this country and serve it with dignity and strength.

[Atwill]

08:14 PM on 11/13/2011

i have no idea how you did it. i would have lasted ten minutes. I did 5 years in the military, but not with that hanging over my head like you.

[jmaks]

09:26 PM on 11/12/2011

Wear the uniform first. Honor the country. Honor your comrades. Honor your service. Forget your sexual orientation. Otherwise, leave the military.

[rte148]

10:39 PM on 11/12/2011

that goes for straights too?

[mollymac]

10:46 PM on 11/12/2011

I believe that's exactly what they did! Many have died as well..........

[AntiMainNews]

08:43 PM on 11/12/2011

The OWS Movement has collected over $600,000 in donations so far, and yet the

homeless are shunned from partaking in their 5-Star Chef prepared meals...

How about... Occupy a Soup Kitchen?
Get more ows facts on my site:
www.antination.com

[terminalboredom]

09:45 PM on 11/12/2011

Don't know what cities you're talking about ... but in my hometown, the homeless are a welcome part of our OWS family. Many are veterans. They are fed, clothed and befriended. The only rules are no drinking and no drugs.

[AcademicFreedom]

08:23 AM on 11/13/2011

Agree !!! Sexual assults are completely within the bounds of OWS

[xenubarb]

05:08 PM on 11/13/2011

I don't need homeless people stinking up my koch au vin. And who spent the wine budget on Two Buck Chuck????

[Sha Zam]

08:27 PM on 11/12/2011

Let's honor all our veterans by having a 'cease fire' on protesters. I think Scott Olsen, the vet shot in the head by Oakland police, would agree - Cease fire on the vets!!

[Ioan Lightoller]

06:05 AM on 11/13/2011

Amen, though this probably more properly belongs in an OWS thread. However, you are correct/

[Georgerz]

07:26 PM on 11/12/2011

Can't thank enough to all Veterans. Their sacrifice for our country is priceless. Therefore, let's insist by any means available, that the government takes proper care of their needs, so their future is bright and fulfilling, as it should be.

[unitarianuniversalist]

07:02 PM on 11/12/2011

When DADT ended, the world kept going around and around. The sun still rose and set. Life continued on without skipping a beat. And that's how it will always be when prejudices vanish. The LGBT veterans have always been in the world, living, loving, hurting, serving and dying for their country. It's just nice to know that a little more light shines in our world today regardless of the John McCain's, the Sarah Palin's and the Pat Robertson's of the world. Their "end of the world as we know it" mentality suffered a fatal blow--and we are all better for it.

Congrats, veterans, you deserve to stand in the light of day and be proud that you served your country. Ain't freedom grand?

[cat lover and liberal]

11:33 PM on 11/12/2011

The same can be said about marriage equality. There are plenty of countries where gay people can legally marry yet their societies have not collapsed. Straight people still marry. People still have kids. Life goes on and nobody in the end cares.

[unitarianuniversalist]

07:42 AM on 11/13/2011

Exactly! That day is coming and will arrive sooner than later. Prejudice in the name of religion is still a very powerful force in this country but it's influence is slowly on the decline.

[Jeff McConnell]

06:59 PM on 11/12/2011

One of the very basic tenants of military life is that there are no individuals, only the Unit. While gays certainly have the right to serve their country without regard for their sexual preference, honoring them separately simply draws attention to the difference. They are veterans, period.

[BeninOakland]

08:16 PM on 11/12/2011

Well, unfortunately, "drawing attention to the difference" is exactly what DADT "honored".

when anti-gay prejudice is more or less done, there won't be any need for displays like this.

[blue rylie]

06:17 PM on 11/14/2011

In all walks of life folks tend to celebrate their particular affiliations. I happen to be a SWO wife, an XO wife, and so on. I attend the functions accordingly, I have associations and affiliations accordingly. Yes, they are all veterans, but the veterans who share particular history will band together and these vets share a particular history.

[Jeff McConnell]

06:54 PM on 11/14/2011

What other veterans groups are honored individually?