Autumn Sandeen
As the fight for LGBT veterans’ rights shifts away from the DADT era and moves toward military partner benefits and transgender issues, this transgender Navy veteran is at the head of the pack. Along with Evelyn Thomas, she was arrested twice at the White House during the height of the DADT repeal protests, and since she has taken on the fight for open service by transgender people. She recently enjoyed a major win. After fighting for years to have her Navy records updated to reflect her current gender (she served as a male), she received a letter from the Pentagon notifying her of the change, making it the first time that the Department of Defense has changed the gender of anyone affiliated with the military on official records, and giving military trans rights advocates hope for the future.
Caleb in SC
Matlovich was in the Air Force, not the Navy. Why the omission of Margaret Cammermeyer and Dan Choi?
2eo
@Caleb in SC: Because both have being outspoken of the mormon church, and Queerty are sponsored by them [through various ad-aggregate services that are mormon run and apply pressure on the editors].
Frankly we should be thankful it wasn’t another article slagging both of them off.
oldgayvermonter
I call bulls*&t on this article…both Margaret Cammermeyer and Dan Choi deserve recognition here. I am not familiar with the Queerty – Mormon situation which has been commented on here before, but these omissions are just rude!
FStratford
A list that does not include Dan Choi in the Top5 is a stupid list.
dugout
@2eo @oldgaywermonter I’ll third that…The spin is corpo messy here, but it’s spin and therefore BS. Where’s Lt. Choi and Col. Cammermeyer (ret)? Let’s please have at least the the barest outline of the organization Dan Choi started with his West Point alums, since it’s the truth and all. This is a “friendly pope” newspeak editorial. Oh well, maybe if we wait another few lifetimes Queerty will stop with the bubble gum lip gloss and nylon hair extensions?
FYI for those who wonder what we’re talking about, since it’s so four years ago. <:p
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarethe_Cammermeyer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Choi
jeff4justice
@2eo: Interesting but what’s your source?
2eo
@jeff4justice: I use Ghostery [which automatically opts me out of all advertising cookies and MSO flash cookies], Queerty are sponsored by:
Tynt
Outbrain
AdRoll
Crazy Egg
All 4 are advertising companies that were started using mormon money, in which the investor has maintained key interest in. Coupled with the endless pro mormon articles on the site it’s empirical evidence that what is obvious is true.
http://www.queerty.com/mormon-church-approves-of-boy-scouts-new-inclusive-policy-for-youth-20130524/
http://www.queerty.com/how-the-silence-of-the-mormons-is-making-marriage-equality-possible-20130514/
You can go back hundreds of pages and all the articles carry a similar theme, in both the language used and the positive overtones. Clearly protecting the mormon church.
jeff4justice
@2eo: Interesting. I encourage you to start compiling your evidence and blogging about it.
Kangol
Dan Choi should be first on the list, bar none.
greenmusic23f
@Everyone: The article is specific on why the name you mentioned are left out: “On this Memorial Day, let’s recognize some of the LESSER-KNOWN heroes of this movement”. That’s all.
jonny2020
You are kidding, right? Where is Dan Choi? He should be at the top. A retraction is needed here.
logical
@jonny2020: Why would a retraction be necessary. They didn’t say anything WRONG, they omitted someone. Does that mean that the people they did highlight are wrong?
Scott Amundsen
@Caleb in SC: I don’t know what to attribute it to, but this isn’t the first time I have seen Matlovich’s service branch misrepresented; usually the articles I have come across about him claim he served in the Army.
As for Cammermeyer and Choi — well the intro to the list does say “lesser-known” so maybe the list compilers presumed that they were already well known.