On Veterans day we honor the brave men and women who gave of themselves, and often their lives, in service to this country. Their courage and sacrifice should never be forgotten and that is why we pay tribute to them on this day.
But for our LGBT veterans, their service and sacrifice are seldom recognized in the context of who they were. And today I would like to extend a special tribute and thanks to them, for serving in a military and protecting a nation that would prefer they did not exist.
Several months ago I created a website to capture the stories of the LGBT community who served but never came home, as told by the families, friends and partners they left behind. It was my intention to ensure that those who served were never forgotten, and to show their sacrifice is no less worthy because of who they were and who they loved.
Thanks to a recent wedding, the election and the passage of Proposition 8, the effort has unfortunately languished in recent months. But today seems an appropriate day to renew that effort. My hope is to document the story of their lives on film, celebrating who they were while honoring their service and sacrifice.
If you have a story to share, or know someone who does, please visit: WorthyofSacrifice.org
November 12th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Now more than ever, it’s time to honor our veterans. By “mainstreaming” them perhaps some minds and hearts will change regarding the status of LGBT people who are just as equal as anyone else no matter what some ballot proposition would imply.