SoulForce activists join the National Guard

[Rick336]

Here's an article from this week's Advocate about three SoulForce activists:

Soulforce activists take on "don't ask, don't tell"

Three young gay activists who just months ago traversed the country's religious colleges preaching acceptance toward gays are now taking on the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" military policy by enlisting in the Minnesota National Guard as openly gay recruits.

On Tuesday, Jacob Reitan, Haven Herrin, and Ezekiel Montgomery—all members of the gay activist group Soulforce—began the process of joining the Minnesota National Guard, making it clear to recruiters that they are gay and will not lie about their sexual orientation in order to serve.

"The policy makes it clear that I will eventually be rejected based upon my sexual orientation," said the 24-year-old Herrin. "The option then is to make an appeal in which I attempt to prove I am not gay. Instead, I will talk about my strengths and challenge the logic of telling me, a qualified young adult, that I cannot join the military because of my sexual orientation."

Their applications are in process, but Reitan, Herrin, and Montgomery cannot take the qualifying tests or medical exams until they receive a waiver for their sexual orientation. According to Soulforce, no such waiver has ever been granted.

Reitan, Herrin, and Montgomery's efforts are part of a campaign in 31 cities across the nation where openly gay youths will seek to join the military later this summer. (The Advocate)

To visit the Advocate web site click here: http://www.Advocate.com

[awediot]

I am baffled watching this topic drop away... What I have to say about it I have held off (Mr. positive that I am) to see where it goes, which is nowhere so far...
So- It seems their actions have the potential for a much bigger impact than the Equality Ride... It takes some serious balls or ovaries respectively to take such a stand. If they are willing to be made the exception to the rule (as the demand for the guard may skyrocket on the southern boarder, or the upcoming Iran war) and really want and are ready and able to join, I am impressed as hell. If they are just making a point and would back down in the face of success and acceptance, than I guess others can reap their trailblazing work... This is one that the lack of follow-through planning may bite some in the ass... Good Luck you guys!

[Joe Brummer]

This is truly the best nonviolence campaign I have read about. It is complete noncooperation with unjust laws. Exactly what Gandhi and King spent a lifetime writing about, this is great.....stand your ground!

[Daniel]

This is an amazing and courageous action that has the potential to change policy and minds everywhere. Talk about putting it on the line! Wow!

[NathanATX]

Hilarious video...

Lewis Black on the Daily Show... addresses Rick Santorum and then gays in the military...

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/TDS-Lewis-Black-Santorum.wmv

"What we need are boots on the ground, and if some of those boots happen to be PRADA, FABULOUS!"

[nowvoyager]

Thanks for pointing me to that, Nathan. :lol: :lol:

(may the Prada be for prancing about in, instead of stomping, amen)

[Mia14]

Hey guys, this is what it's all about! I don't want to give too much away just yet, but know that this is the next big direction for SoulForce. This is what we're training for now. If anyone's interested in being a part of a national campaign against Don't Ask, Don't Tell, send me a private message and I'll pass on your info to the appropriate people!

[Vanessa White]

Mia: I am, as I will say again publicly, proud of your compassion and your commitment to this cause. I will try my best to support this effort as best as I can when it comes to light. Good luck with the process- I admire you!!

[MamimiFista]

Soulforce is in need of LGBT people in every state of the USA who are willing to attempt to sign up for the military as openly GLBT. If you or someone you know is willing to do this please contact me at kate@equalityride.com and I will hook you up with your state/city organizer. After the attempt to sign up for the military as openly gay fails (as we all know it will :( ) we will be doing military recruitment center sit-ins across the country until they allow us in as openly GLBT! If you are willing to participate in the sit-ins please e-mail me! Thanks!

[kara speltz]

I'm truly amazed by this discussion. As someone who has spent her life committed to nonviolent change, I cannot support this action. I want no one to join the armed forces at this time. I want no one to go to Iraq to continue the destruction of the Iraqi people.

I am mystified as to how someone who says they are committed to nonviolence can support helping people join the military. I have opposed this action for Soulforce from the beginning and have made it clear that I could stay in Soulforce only as a vocal opponent of this action. I truly believe this will backfire on us and cause people who are committed to ending the war in Iraq to end up as our advesaries.

Kara

[Jamie McDaniel]

For the record, I too chose to take the dissenting position on this one. While there is no question of the courage of the individuals (my friends) who want to do this, I cannot support any Soulforce action where participants enlist or attempt to enlist in the U.S. military in the midst of an unjust war.

I posted as such before, as well as represented the counter argument as I understood it.

Post: No Small Debate (http://www.soulforce.org/forums/showthread.php?p=8226#post8226)

[MamimiFista]

Although I am against war for any reason I believe that if someone who isn't anti-war wants to join the military they should have the right to do so. The American government does not have the right to deny people of their right to fight for their country just because of their sexuality or gender identity. I would never join the military, BUT we cannot deny others their rights or freedoms.

[awediot]

As the demand for more military increases in this country (war with Iran, -Mexico-, >Korea, Mother nature, heartland insurgents... etc???) the Don't ask don't tell policy will indeed likely be abandoned in the name of needed sacrificial bodies, not enlightenment... You are brave souls who may be swallowed by your success.

[Mia14]

...is a threat to justice everywhere! Come on, friends, what did King say? This is not about whether or not we agree with this war. This action is about our rights to be treated just like every other American.

Also, there ARE nonviolent roles in the military itself. What about the National Guard, who helped during Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks? They also patrol our airports to keep us safe. What about the Coast Guards who rescue people lost and also help with national disasters? Surely you see that these are not violent causes.

I, personally, would love to be a part of the National Guard or the Coast Guard and serve my country. My country's government, however, is telling me that I am unfit simply because I love another woman. Whether or not people agree with war or even with homosexuality, the bottom line of this campaign is that people should be able to serve their country with honor and dignity. I should be able to offer the ultimate sacrifice for my country without having to lie about the person who writes me letters from home. Dishonesty is not an American value.

[DColeman]

I agree that the war in Iraq is baffling and wrong. Despite that, I fully support the current planning involving LGBT people joining the military.

To some, it might not make sense why anybody would want to join at all. BUT, that's their choice, and I want to support them. You might say, "But by supporting them, we're implicitly supporting the war." I disagree, because that's a completely separate justice issue.

The issue at hand is that the nation's largest employer of youth discriminates. LGBT people DO serve in fear and silence. There are clearly people who WANT to honorably serve their country's interests. We are standing up for their rights.

Separately, those of us who deplore the war in Iraq need to make a stink about it. But that doesn't mean we can't support those who want to join the armed forces, nor does it mean that we should "let" the federal government continue discriminating against us.

We need to confront all types of injustice and support all people, even those who might like the war in Iraq-- even those who need to join the military for financial reasons-- even those who want to make the difference.

This is a totally awesome and pure opportunity to show discrimination play out when our country is desparate for recruits. It's not a support for war.

Yes, conscientious objection is clearly a better position during an unjust war. But sometimes the poor don't have the luxury. Sometimes people feel called to duty. Sometimes people don't agree with our overly-liberal politics.

They're being discriminated against.

[Jamie McDaniel]

Come on, friends, what did King say? This is not about whether or not we agree with this war. This action is about our rights to be treated just like every other American.
I, like every other GLBT activist, would like to see "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" fall as it is clearly government sanctioned discrimination. Yet in my mind Soulforce has always been a moral and spiritual voice, not just an organization that combats discrimination.

A few weeks ago I listened again to Dr. King's Beyond Vietnam speech [pdf (http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/publications/speeches/Beyond_Vietnam.pdf)]. After delivering that speech, Dr. King faced heavy criticism from... well, from just about everybody. He had "crossed the line" from speaking out against discrimination, to now speaking out against the three evils (racism, poverty, war). King's radical side had come to the surface. Gone was the "sunny" description of America that King preached while leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott in late 1955. Now in 1967 the Baptist pastor did not mince words. America was the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. Brave young people, please go to jail rather than go to Vietnam.

Like Dr. King and the SCLC, we find ourselves faith-driven civil rights activists while our nation is at war. And so I think about these two things:


Recruitment centers play a major role during an ongoing war.
At this moment in time, the Iraqi people's right to have me not carry a gun through their country as part of an occupational force outranks my right as a gay man to serve in the U.S. Military as part of that force.


The first is a fact, while the second is my strong belief about two rights going up against each other.

Also, there ARE nonviolent roles in the military itself. What about the National Guard, who helped during Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks? They also patrol our airports to keep us safe. What about the Coast Guards who rescue people lost and also help with national disasters? Surely you see that these are not violent causes.

True. And I don't see myself as a nonviolence purist by any means, so I really hope I not projecting that. I struggle with all those questions that keep coming up in threads that deal with living nonviolently.

Do I think DADT will fall and you beautiful men and women will find yourself in Iraq. No, not at all (although I suppose that would be a victory of sorts, at least for those who want to go.) I'm much more concerned with the message we are sending. We spend so much time exposing the bad messages that the Religious Right sends, I wonder what message it is we are projecting. Is the message of Soulforce simply "End Anti-GLBT Discrimination" or is it something far more?

[matthillnc]

This next movement is NOT about Iraq. I'll be organizing in the Greensboro, NC, area... so I was at the training here recently. Since then I've been doing nothing but research, reading and networking. EVERY PERSON I have talked to about this is in 100% (or more, lol) support. Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a horrible, government-sanctioned piece of discrimination.

Yes... we have the Iraq War going on... but we all know that just because a person signs up for the military, that does not mean they will automatically go to Iraq. The US sends troops to almost every country in the world (or so it seems). Besides... none of us will ever be accepted anyway... Just like those NC A&T University students never really got their cup of coffee at the Greensboro Woolworths (well, they did... but not that day or the next).

Come on... we should all be able to realize the differences between US military policies passed by Congress and Foreign Relations policies set by the President.

But here is something to think about: While America is out fighting wars to bring freedom, democracy and equality to other nations, WE HAVE YET TO ACHIEVE IT HERE AT HOME. How hypocritical is that?

[Jamie McDaniel]

While America is out fighting wars to bring freedom, democracy and equality to other nations, WE HAVE YET TO ACHIEVE IT HERE AT HOME. How hypocritical is that?
Matt, I don't use such positive words when I talk about what America's wars bring to other nations.

Here is a paragraph from Beyond Vietnam that, while touching on the idea you mentioned about not achieving rights at home, speaks louder to me about what war does to people.

Perhaps the more tragic recognition of reality took place when it became clear to me that the war was doing far more than devastating the hopes of the poor at home. It was sending their sons and their brothers and their husbands to fight and to die in extraordinarily high proportions relative to the rest of the population. We were taking the black young men who had been crippled by our society and sending them eight thousand miles away to guarantee liberties in Southeast Asia which they had not found in southwest Georgia and East Harlem. So we have been repeatedly faced with the cruel irony of watching Negro and white boys on TV screens as they kill and die together for a nation that has been unable to seat them together in the same schools. So we watch them in brutal solidarity burning the huts of a poor village, but we realize that they would never live on the same block in Detroit. I could not be silent in the face of such cruel manipulation of the poor.

I know that supporters of the Right to Serve action argue that the discrimination of DADT and current U.S. Military policy are independent of one another. Thus people can be against the war in Iraq and at the same time enlist.

I, however, take the position that progressive people of faith cannot easily speak about the "right to serve" or "the honor of serving" and not deal with what "serving" means. I don't have any political ambitions (at least I don't think I do), so I don't have to talk about the U.S. Military in the way that those running for office do. I can speak out against the entire military mindset rather than just denounce the current administration's foreign policy.

[DColeman]

Jamie, some of your comments really caused me to think hard-- especially the idea that Soulforce is a spiritual voice. Perhaps Soulforce’s responsibility to speak against the occupation supersedes our need to send a message against discrimination. I’ll need to mull it over. It’s very important to get soldiers out of their streets and let them take control of their own destiny.

Of course, I have to go back to the idea that LGBT people are already fighting over there. LGBT people are already being discriminated against, and whether or not the war is right, they need to have somebody standing up for them.

I want to stand up all the more when considering LGBT service-members who came from backgrounds that basically forced them into armed service. Their circumstances make it hard to object to supporting them. When is the right time to take up their cause? Is now the wrong time because we’re in a war? Or should it be now because the poor will always be targeted for service, and their humanity is being violated as LGBT people either way?

Another question: If Soulforce is against military service due to the implications of violence, is this issue simply out of range for the organization to tackle? Will there ever be a “right” time to confront this issue with activism?

I read through the MLK quote, and totally agree. The Military has always taken advantage of the poor and underprivileged in society. It continues to do so.

GLBT people from underprivileged backgrounds concern me most when thinking about this. Not only is their country taking advantage of them, but their country is also forcing them to suppress a part of themselves.

Really, it would be preferable if the military didn’t target those in poverty. It would be great if people didn’t need to enlist for a better future. But some do, and some see it as their only option.

So, they enlist and give up not only their practical freedom, they give up their freedom to express their very identity.

How do we respond to this? At this point, I think the organizers are doing the best they know how. Maybe we’ll send a wrong message here and there… but overall?

During the Equality Ride, we didn’t always get the overall message right, but we did the best we could. I think the right message remains.

Anyway, I left a lot of open-ended questions because this certainly isn’t cut-and-dry…

But thanks, Kara and Jamie, for thought-provoking ideas. Morality and integrity are important, especially for an organization like Soulforce.

What are our moral priorities???

[Michael E.C.]

There will never be a perfect time...
...to address discrimination by our military and government. There will always be conflict abroad and our country will inevitably be involved. Right now, we have the focus and momentum of young people around the country to send a very powerful message.

This action carries great responsibility.
Those of us who are city organizers must communicate our purpose carefully and clearly. "The Right to Serve Campaign" will challenge the absurdity of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell and must not be an action that is anti-military or anti-foreign policy. Those are separate issues. It is a very thin line for many, as addressed in various posts.

The military is not a true reflection of our country.
If everyone were required to serve, we would definitely not be involved in certain current conflicts. The persons who dictate our policy have the luxury of being disconnected from those actually serving in our military. Poor and underprivileged young people are ripe for recruitment ...and carry very little political weight. When privileged, poor, bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender, and straight persons are serving side-by-side, our foreign policy will have a very different tone.

I may not agree with the military involvement of our country, but...
...I truly believe it is an honor to protect my loved ones and our country. There are many bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people who believe similarly.

Military service carries weight in this country.
Many young people who have served our country have entered into public service by becoming members of Congress. These individuals often become pillars of wisdom because of their past military service when our country addresses the use of military force. These individuals truly understand the responsiblity and sacrifice of sending young people into conflict and have often spoken out against its use.

"The Right to Serve Campaign" is one of many forces needed...
...to change the mind-set of this country. Judicial advocacy, lobbying, and grass-roots actions are all equally valuable in the fight for equality. "The Right to Serve Campaign" may not affect most people. Some will dismiss it as anti-military or anti-foreign policy. BUT it helps our struggle even when it only changes the hearts and minds of a handful of people.

[tdogg]

As in the Equality Ride, if was said that if one GLBT student was touched/helped the ride to that school was worth it. I believe it's the same here - no matter where we stand on the issue of military or war, if this action can help our GLBT brothers and sisters who are already in the military, it will be worth it. If it can help those who are determined to enlist, it will be worth it.

I believe this action can be done without appearing to support the war in Iraq or any other war. Our country's military have traditionally been utilized for many services to its citizens other than war. I do not believe that should be discarded because of our current involvement in Iraq. There are many soldiers who are moral, upstanding, valuable people doing great things for their people. And we need to keep in mind, those soldiers in Iraq didn't all choose to be there fighting this war - they are 'owned' by the US government and go where they are told to go. They have no choice, as they gave up their free will when they signed on to their 'job'. If this Soulforce action can help them in any way, I believe it is worthy of support.

I'm not a supporter of this war our president has gotten us into. But I am a supporter of our troops and those people who have died, been injured, or put their lives on the line every second of every day they are over there. As well as those who are serving in other capacities and in other locations. I would hope SF will find a way to commence the activity while making it clear this war is not an incentive or being supported. You can make that happen, just make sure its well thought out and planned. You have my blessing, tho you certainly don't need it. Thanks for your bravery, compassion and most of all your will to get up and do something.

Please keep us posted on how this all plays out! :love: :rainbow:

[Mia14]

I would hope SF will find a way to commence the activity while making it clear this war is not an incentive or being supported.

I know that during out training, it was made very clear that SF does not support the war. We discussed these topics and decided, although each city will depend on that individual organizer for details, that we would try to keep the current war separate from our cause. Most of us decided that when asked about the war, we'd state that SF was a nonviolent organization, but this campaign is not about this war - it's about civil rights.

I know we'll keep you all updated!