SAN DIEGO, Calif. — “Veteran Tales – Serving Without Fear – Transitioning Out of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell” is the title of Lambda Archives of San Diego next installment of their popular Out at the Archives series. Nov. 2, the San Diego Veterans Museum at Balboa Park is hosting this special event in honor of Veterans Day.
A panel comprised of representatives of some of the organizations that fought to change the policy that limited the ability of gay and lesbian servicemembers to serve openly will discuss their efforts, which were successful when that restriction was lifted in 2011. Members of the American Veterans for Equal Rights and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will discuss their continued efforts to protect the right of everyone to serve.
The event will take place at the Veterans Museum, 2115 Park Blvd, at 7PM, with brief receptions before and after the event. Tickets are available online here for a suggested donation of $5 for members of Lambda Archives or the Veterans Museum, students, active duty military and veterans; and $10 for non-members. Thanks to the generosity of Robert Hubbard of MassMutual Financial, no one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay.
Doors open at 6PM for a reception before the event and attendees may stay after to mix and mingle as well. Alyce Smith Cooper, Poet Laureate of the Veterans Museum, will open the program with an original piece composed for the occasion. Congresswoman Susan Davis, who was instrumental in abolishing DADT, is sending a statement of support.
Capt Sheldon Margolis, USN (Ret), President and CEO of the Veterans Museum at Balboa Park said, “The Veterans Museum continues to tell the stories of the integration of all of our service members into the military, ensuring that the struggles are not forgotten or repeated.”
Last year, Lambda Archives commemorated Veterans Day with a panel of active duty military personnel and veterans speaking about their personal experiences serving before, during, and after Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Jen LaBarbera, head archivist of Lambda Archives said, “Given the prominence of the military in San Diego and the important role veterans have played in the LGBTQ community, we wanted to look at the work so many people did to end the discriminatory policy.”
Lambda Archives of San Diego is a not-for-profit community archive dedicated to collecting, preserving, and teaching San Diego’s LGBTQ+ history. Learn more at www.lambdaarchives.org. The mission of the Veterans Museum is to Lead San Diego to honor, recognize, and preserve the service, sacrifice and legacy of Veterans. www.veteranmusuem.org
