Tag Archives: military

Yesterday, flanked by several of the most anti-gay members of Congress, hate group leader Tony Perkins held a press conference to launch a new website in support of Rep. John Fleming’s defense spending bill that would prohibit punishing soldiers for harassing gay troops on the basis of “sincerely held religious beliefs.”  No actual mention of gay military members was made …

All of last year’s screaming by the right wing was wasted because the Navy has again granted permission for active duty sailors to wear their uniforms at San Diego Pride. Via press release: Following a historic week of marriage equality victories, the United States Navy, Region Southwest has authorized active duty Navy servicemembers under its command to wear their uniforms …

“The Department of Defense welcomes the Supreme Court’s decision today on the Defense of Marriage Act. The Department will immediately begin the process of implementing the Supreme Court’s decision in consultation with the Department of Justice and other executive branch agencies. The Department of Defense intends to make the same benefits available to all military spouses – regardless of sexual …

This morning the Bilerico Project broke the news that the board of  OutServe–SLDN has asked for and accepted the resignation of executive director Allyson Robinson. Bil Browning writes: The organization’s entire senior staff quit immediately following the board vote. Director of External Engagement Zeke Stokes, Director of Chapter and Member Services Gary Espinas, and David McKean, Legal and Public Policy …

“I am thankful for the support of my colleagues in passing amendments that are important to the State of Texas and the entire country, prioritizing the needs of our servicemen and women who daily sacrifice their lives to promote and defend our nation’s freedom. As this legislation is debated before the full Senate, I will work to ensure these measures …

“President Obama can’t veto the First Amendment, so he’s doing the next best thing: refusing to let his troops exercise it. In his most combative move yet, the administration warned Congress yesterday that it strongly opposes Rep. John Fleming’s religious freedom amendment, which sailed through the House Armed Services Committee with bipartisan support. Now, the administration is taking its spite …

“President Obama is continuing his war on free speech. With the IRS trying to intimidate and silence conservative groups, and the Justice Department digging into the phone records of reporters, it’s no surprise that the president also wants to deny First Amendment rights to our Armed Forces. With its statement, the White House is now endorsing military reprimands of members …

An estimated 30,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews rallied in downtown Manhattan this week to protest Israel’s proposed bill to phase out military exemptions based on religious grounds. Proponents of the new law have suggested that phasing out the exemption would encourage ultra-Orthodox Jews to “share the burden” of Israeli citizenship and eliminate a fundamental social inequality that has bred a strong resentment …

“Fortunately, Congress is as frustrated with the hypocrisy as the rest of us. Yesterday, thanks a marathon mark-up on the Defense Authorization bill, sleepy members didn’t make it home until 2 a.m.– in part because they were so intent on passing a series of religious protections. Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), the author of one such amendment, urged his colleagues to …

Yesterday the House Armed Service Committee adopted an amendment to the defense spending authorization bill that would protect members of the military who harass gay service members. Because Jesus. The amendment was authored by Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) and it passed by a vote of 33-26. Chris Johnson reports at the Washington Blade: Fleming’s measure would expand the “conscience provision” …

The Atlantic has the story: In every Navy SEAL is a memoir, it seems lately. Retired SEAL Kristin Beck’s new memoir, published on Tuesday and titled Warrior Princess, is a bit different, though. In it, Beck describes how, over the course of her 20 year military career, including thirteen deployments over the globe, she slowly became more and more aware …

(Via JMG reader Eloise)

The gay Marine whose homecoming kiss went globally viral last year has gotten engaged to his boyfriend.  Via Towleroad, here’s the video of Brandon Morgan popping the question. From the clip’s description: “The sound is bad, but what I was saying was ‘with the repeal of DOMA or not, will you do me the honor of spending your life with …

Source.  (Tipped by JMG reader Elise)

Horrifying. Two suspected terrorists were shot by armed police after attacking a pedestrian, believed to be a soldier, with a machete-style knife close to military barracks in an ‘Islamist attack’. Local MP Nick Raynsford said he had been told the man attacked in the street was a soldier serving at the Royal Artillery Barracks near the attack. Mr Raynsford said …

“President Obama is finally admitting that sexual assault is a serious problem in the military, but what he hasn’t conceded is that his policy on homosexuality helped create it. According to a new Pentagon survey, most of the victims were not female (12,000 incidents), but male (14,000), highlighting a growing trend of same-sex assault in our ranks. How could this …

We haven’t heard much from anti-gay crackpot Elaine Donnelly since the repeal of DADT, but today she appears on World Net Daily to gleefully join in on wingnut claims that gay rapists are running rampant in the military. Among the assaults formally reported, 88 percent of reports came from women and 12 percent from men. The numbers are getting dramatically …

In what may signal a change in policy, the Pentagon has recognized the gender change of a Navy veteran. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: In a short letter dated May 2, a Navy official told Autumn Sandeen, a veteran and transgender activist: “Per your request the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) has been updated to show your gender as …