Out At the Archives looks at LGBTQ Veterans

On Monday, November 14 at 7 pm, in honor of Veterans Day, Lambda Archives will present our next installment of Out At the Archives in conjunction with Diversionary Theatre's Open Monday series. "Do Ask, Do Tell: LGBTQ in the military" will take a look how members of our community before, during and after Don't Ask, Don't Tell through the eyes of eight panelists, some of whom experienced discharges before the ban was lifted, through those who served in silence, and those who are now serving openly and proudly.

Diversionary Theatre is proud to host this Out at the Archives event as part of its Open Monday series. The event is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are strongly recommended and available at Diversionary.org

Jen LaBarbera, head archivist for Lambda Archives said, "It is important to remember the sacrifices that our LGBTQ veterans made not only to serve their country, but the personal suffering they endured to be able to do so."
On the panel will be Autumn Sandeen and Evelyn Thomas who were among a group of veterans who famously chained themselves to the White House fence in 2010 to protest Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

As part of the event, Lambda Archives has a new exhibit that showcases some of the materials from its collections that pertain to LGBTQ in the military and the efforts to lift the ban on DADT. Recently Sandeen donated a framed photo of her and Thomas chained to the fence along with the uniform she wore at the time. Also on display are uniforms from local civil rights attorney and Army veteran Bridget Wilson, a flag carried by the San Diego Veterans Association in the Pride parade, T-shirts and other memorabilia.

Also on the panel will be Jeri Dilno who was discharged from the Air Force for being a lesbian just before she could have finished her enlistment and received her veterans' benefits; Morgan Hurley, Navy veteran and editor of Gay San Diego; John Keasler, an Army veteran of the Vietnam War; retired Navy Command Master Chief Kathy Hansen; and active duty Marine Corps Sergeant Zachary Schmidt. The panel will be moderated by transgender veteran T.J. Seguine who served in the Navy as a woman and a closeted lesbian.

Past Out At the Archives events have included Hispanic Heritage month, LGBTQ sports organizations, LGBTQ politicians featuring Todd Gloria, author/historian Lillian Faderman, marriage equality plaintiff Jim Obergefell, and the early days of AIDS in San Diego.

"We strive to bring to life all aspects of our diverse community," LaBarbera added. "It is our goal that by sharing the stories the stories of the struggles of the past we can inform our activism for the LGBTQ rights battles that lie ahead. This is a chance for the Archives to salute those who came before us and on whose shoulders we stand."

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