Veterans

The first ‘Gaysian’ Congressman lets us know that he hasn’t forgotten trans veterans, commends Mayor Pete, and asks us to vote in other LGBT politicians of color.

The adorable dad said he wanted her to never forget that he loves her “no matter what.”

The Department of Veterans Affairs are abandoning the plan to pay for gender confirmation surgery for vets over funding concerns.

Donald Trump spoke to a room full of veterans and pledged to “get away from political correctness” when asked about transgender and female soldiers.

The Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act is named after a New Hampshire National Guard officer who died in 2013 after a battle with breast cancer.

BOSTON — Massachusetts marked Veterans Day on Tuesday with commemorations around the state, including a parade in Boston in which gay and transgender veterans were allowed to march for the first time. OutVets, a recently-formed group representing LGBT military veterans, had about 20 marchers in Tuesday afternoon’s parade …

WASHINGTON — A U.S. House panel on Wednesday rejected a measure that would have enabled veterans with same-sex spouses to receive partner benefits regardless of where they reside. The Washington Blade reports that the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs rejected the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act by a vote of 12-13.

WASHINGTON — A leading LGBT advocacy group has filed suit against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, arguing that the denial of benefits to same-sex spouses of veterans living in states that refuse to recognize their marriages is in violation of last year’s U.S. Supreme Court’s decision striking down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Every year that I have lived and worked in this city I have always gone to Arlington National Cemetery to observe the Memorial Day ceremonies. Afterwards, I wander down through the grounds, just to watch, maybe to listen, but mostly to contemplate on the sacrifices made by those brave souls whose final resting place has become hallowed ground, a literal garden of stones. Arlington’s rolling hills are a place of extraordinary beauty, a fitting repository for the memory of the living history of the United States. Names from the history books leap off the pages as one strolls through the grounds…

WASHINGTON — U.S. Congressman Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) on Wednesday introduced the U.S. House version of the bipartisan “Protecting the Freedoms and Benefits for All Veterans Act,” aimed at ensuring LGBT veterans and their families receive equal treatment for equal service.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois military veterans are joining the effort to legalize gay marriage in the state.

CHULA VISTA, Calif. – Two U.S. military veterans married this week when a senior living facility for military veterans held its first ever same-sex marriage.

Scott Schneider’s mom still calls him Megan. His dad quit talking to him for eight years. After struggling with his identity for most of his life, Schneider — a military veteran – started going by Scott in 2007 and began the medical process of transitioning from a female to a male in 2008. Today, he’s worked at UNL’s LGBTQA resource center for a year and a half.

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Wednesday it will stop enforcing a law that blocks benefits to partners of military veterans in same-sex marriages.

CONCORD, N.H. — U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire says she’s planning to move forward with her bill that would grant benefits to same-sex married couples in the military after learning that legislation is still necessary to grant veterans in same-sex marriages those same benefits.

HARTFORD, Conn. — An 18-year Navy veteran from Norwich is joining forces with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal to try to persuade the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to abide by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling concerning gay marriage and extend all federal benefits to veterans with same-sex spouses.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to allow the same-sex spouse of a member of the military to be buried in a U.S. national cemetery. VA Secretary Eric Shinseki used his discretionary authority to allow the burial of Nancy Lynchild’s ashes, the agency said Thursday.

WASHINGTON — A national memorial honoring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender veterans representing the five armed services — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard — is slated to be constructed on the grounds of the historic Congressional Cemetery in southeast D.C. Washington D.C.