Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach Gets Good News

February 18, 2011

Jim Reeves commentary, Gay, News , , Leave a comment

I Want YOU - For The US Air Force!

On December 22, 2010, I posted this picture and a link to NOH8’s website where it and others of military men affected by Don’t Ask Don’t Tell could be found.

Now the latest news about the status of Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach, the Air Force officer in this picture:

The South Bend Tribune reports that the Air Force has informed Lt. Col. Fehrenbach that he will be retired with his full rank and pension on October 1, 2011.  This effectively cancels the discharge proceedings that were in progress since he was involuntarily outed in 2008.

“It was a great sense of relief. I didn’t expect it,” said Fehrenbach, 41, a 1991 University of Notre Dame graduate, in a telephone interview with the Tribune Tuesday from Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

For nearly three years, Fehrenbach has been in a battle to save his career because of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy — a policy that was overturned in late 2010.

With no further explanation, the military in January sent Fehrenbach new orders: Effective Sept. 30, he will be retired from active duty at his current rank and with his pension. He’ll serve out the remaining months of his military duty at his current desk job at the base in Idaho.

New Recruiting Poster?

December 22, 2010

Jim Reeves commentary, Gay, News , , , 2 Comments

I Want YOU - For The US Air Force! Lt. Col. Victor Fehrenbach

I think this might be a great recruiting poster for the Air Force.  It’s a shame I’m well past the age to enlist!  😉  See other gay military men at NOH8’s website.

At DADT Hearings, Secretary Of Defense Is Fierce Gay Advocate | The New Civil Rights Movement

December 2, 2010

Jim Reeves commentary, Gay, News , , , , Leave a comment

At DADT Hearings, Secretary Of Defense Is Fierce Gay Advocate | The New Civil Rights Movement.

Secretary of Defense since December 2006 (appointed by George W. Bush and approved by the Republican controlled Senate), Robert M. Gates today stood up to Republican members of the Armed Services Committee in defense of ending the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy in effect for 17 years.

Reprising a Reagan line, “If not now, when? When we’re out of Afghanistan?” Mr. Gates said. “I don’t see the world getting to be a safer, easier place to live in, where our troops are necessarily under less stress.”  The Armed Forces integrated racially during the Korean war, when resistance both in the services and the public in general was strongly against that action.  Majority opinion in both the military services and in the public in general support repeal of DADT, but Republican Senators are attempting to stonewall the repeal, part of the NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act).  They are willing to hold up funding for the entire military, rather than let the bill pass with DADT repeal included.

Firmly, but respectfully, Secretary Gates made it clear he supports repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Maybe?

November 19, 2010

Jim Reeves commentary, Gay, News , , , , 1 Comment

Hey!  What is happening?  Is Washington actually going to surprise me and pass the National Defense Authorization Act WITH the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell still in the bill?  It seems so!  Recent reports are making it look like the bill will come before the Senate with the repeal provision intact, and that there are enough votes to prevent a filibuster by Senator John McCain or others.

I’m crossing my fingers, and looking forward to seeing this discriminatory stain on our national honor fading away, beginning next year.

Stay tuned.

“Fierce Advocate”? No, not really. (via Queer Visalia)

September 23, 2010

Jim Reeves commentary, Gay , , , , , , Leave a comment

I’m a bit disappointed in him right now. The alternative isn’t acceptable, so I’m sure I’ll vote for him again, but he’s not living up to his promises.

"Fierce Advocate"? No, not really. He promised to be a “fierce advocate”.  He’s claimed he’s a “fierce advocate”.   If he doesn’t step up and start actually delivering on his “fierce advocacy”,  he may be a one-term “advocate”. The Obama Administration’s Justice Department filing regarding the recent court ruling that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” is unconstitutional, here. In short, they’re saying the ruling can only apply to the people involved in the suit, and not to th … Read More

via Queer Visalia