Honor All Veterans–Including Gay Veterans
The Georgia Veterans Day Parade Association of Atlanta will honor American veterans tomorrow, unless those veterans happen to be against the war in Iraq and/or queer. The Atlanta Progressive News reports that the parade association initially denied applications to participate from The Veterans for Peace Chapter 125 (VFP) and American Veterans for Equal Rights Georgia (AVER), a national Veterans Service Organization created by and for LGBT veterans and service members. AVER is the only queer-focused organization recognized by the Veterans Administration, according to their Website.
The story is confirmed by a press release issued yesterday by VFP Greater Atlanta Chapter 125.
The parade association then later said that both groups can march but cannot display any messages of peace (by VFP), or exhibit any “public displays of affection” (in the case of AVER).
Apparently, the powers behind Atlanta’s Veterans Day Parade are willing to honor only those troops not threatened by the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. And even if you’ve served your country in the armed forces, you should not be recognized unless you agree with Bush Administration policy on the war. Those who put themselves in harm’s way to fight for freedom, that lofty American ideal for which our President believes the terrorists “hate us for,” should be rewarded with the right to exercise those freedoms themselves. And that should include freedom of speech, to object to an unnecessary war that has costs thousands of lives, strained our military, racked up billions in debt and damaged America’s reputation around the world. And it should include the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, even if it happens to be a gay life.
To learn more about how you can support and honor LGBT veterans and currently-serving troops, visit AVER and the Servicemember’s Legal Defense Network.
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