Word of the Gay: "The 123 Words"

"The 123 Words" was the U.S. military policy formulated in 1982 barring gays and lesbians from serving prior to the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy.

Word of the Gay: "Government Inspected Meat"

"Government Inspected Meat" is a term in the gay community to describe a gay man in the armed forces.

Word of the Gay: "Blue Discharge"

"Blue Discharge" is a term for the dishonorable discharge from the military due to violating their policy on homosexuality.

Knights Out - Westpoint LGBT Alumni Group Unveils

A courageous group of alumni from the military academy West Point have come out of the closet and formed an organization called Knights Out to support and advocate on behalf of GLBT soldiers.

The group’s activities and goals will include:

• Financially supporting and providing speakers for AOG and West Point efforts to educate cadets and graduates in sexual diversity
• Providing a web-based forum (www.KnightsOut.org ) for furthering discourse on this topic among Army leaders
• Participating in West Point AOG’s upcoming (annual) Diversity Leadership Conference
• Providing LGBT graduates who have been disenfranchised in the past with a way to reconnect to the AOG
• Establishing a Knights Out affinity group through the Association of Graduates
• Serving as positive role models to cadets and graduates

To learn more and to find out how you support their efforts goto Knights Out.

D.C. Freedom to Serve Rally and Lobby Day!

Join Servicemembers Legal Defense Network to build momentum for repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and show solidarity for all our service members.

When: Friday, March 13, 2009, noon
Where: Grounds of the U.S. Capitol, Washington DC


RSVP for the Freedom to Serve rally by clicking here or contact Benjamin Mishkin, at bmishkin@sldn.org. To RSVP for Lobby Day, click here or contact Jeremy Wilson-Simerman, Policy Advocate, at jwilson@sldn.org.

Oppose Army ROTC at UMBC

According to the Baltimore Sun:

"Faculty and other members of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County community have started circulating an online petition to protest a proposed ROTC unit at the Catonsville campus, which could open this fall.

The petition says the Army's treatment of homosexual soldiers conflicts with the university's nondiscrimination policy, and also declares concern about "militarization" of the student body. Worchesky said the petition is "part of the joy of being at a university. Everyone gets to voice their opinion, and we listen to each other."

Sign the Petition!