Knights Out

Dinner to honor LGBT Airmen Allowed, then Rejected by Academy Graduate
Organization

WASHINGTON, DC, September 9, 2010 – The United States Air Force
Academy Association of Graduates has cancelled a dinner to honor the
history of LGBT service in the Air Force.  OutServe, a network of
actively serving gay and lesbian military members, was slated to host
the dinner - along with Blue Alliance, an organization of gay and
lesbian alumni of the Air Force Academy - to celebrate Veterans Day.
The organizations had an agreement with the Association of Graduates
to use the Association of Graduates building on Air Force Academy
property for the event, and invitations had already been extended to
Congress members, allied military officers, and leaders in the lesbian
and gay community.
“At a time when we’re honoring veterans, we wanted to recognize
probably the most ignored veterans in our country: gays and lesbians,”
said OutServe’s active-duty co-director, who goes by the pseudonym JD
Smith.  “It was made clear this dinner was not to be an event
regarding ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ it was to be a night to honor the
LGBT history in the Air Force. All in attendance would fully comply
with Air Force policy – including ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ “
A program outlining the dinner was sent to the administration to
assure the association that the dinner was not to be political in
nature.

“Veterans Day is for all veterans, including gays and lesbians,”
stated Ty Walrod, co-director of OutServe. “Intentional or not, this
sends a message that their sacrifices were not, and are not, valued.
OutServe members who are currently serving their country, the Air
Force Academy graduates, and most importantly all those who have given
their lives in defense of this country who happened to be gay or
lesbian, deserve better.”
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OutServe is a network of actively serving members of the United
States Armed Services who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or
Transgender. The organization launched publicly on July 26, 2010. The
organization is led by an active-duty member who goes by the pseudonym
of JD Smith and civilian Co-Director Ty Walrod.  For more information
go to http://www.outserve.org.