Active Duty Gay Military Personnel Hold CIA-Sponsored Leadership Summit in Las Vegas
- Posted on October 14, 2011 at 7:45am by
Billy Hallowell
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The cover of the June edition of OutServe magazine
SAN FRANCISCO (The Blaze/AP) — The nation’s only professional group for active-duty gay military personnel is holding its first conference in Las Vegas this weekend, an event only made possible by the recent lifting of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prohibited gay and lesbian troops from serving openly in the armed forces.
The OutServe Leadership Summit is designed to highlight the diversity of gays in the military and the challenges they face, and marks the largest gathering of gay troops in one location since the ban was lifted last month. OutServe is a formerly clandestine network of gay and lesbian service members that lobbied the Pentagon to support repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Back in September, we reported that OutServe magazine was making its way onto various Army and Air Force bases. Now, it seems the same group is launching a conference in the wake of new regulations that allow servicemen and women to serve openly.
The four-day conference kicked off Thursday at the New York, New York hotel/casino with private meetings for leaders of the group’s 48 chapters around the world. At least 215 service members, veterans and civilian supporters – registration was capped to make the event manageable – have signed up to mingle and to attend panel discussions that range from marriage and the push to secure benefits for gay military spouses to post-military careers and the remaining ban on transgender troops.
The CIA is among the event’s sponsors, and other scheduled workshops include topics such as Scriptures and Homosexuality. For other sponsors, see the image below:
Sponsors of the 2011 OutServe Summit (Image Credit: OutServe.org)
“There are issues of leadership and faith and family that are specific to our community and that by addressing, our folks can be better soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and better leaders,” Sue Fulton, a founding OutServe board member and the first openly gay West Point graduate to be appointed to the academy’s board.
OutServe announced Thursday that an openly gay Department of Defense official, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Douglas Wilson, would keynote the summit’s Saturday night dinner, which also will recognize a Minnesota couple, Jeff and Lori Wilfahrt, whose son was killed this year while serving in Afghanistan with an Army unit whose members knew he was gay.
“Part of the goal of the conference is to recognize the past, and also as an organization plan for the future,” said Ty Walrod, a civilian who co-founded OutServe and served as its spokesman when his friend and co-founder, Air Force 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, used an alias to avoid being discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell.”
Nathaniel Frank, a historian whose 2009 book, “Unfriendly Fire,” argued that banning gays from serving freely hurt U.S. military readiness, said that gay men and lesbians have formed secret social networks going as far back as World War I. Aided by technology, research and the public’s increasing indifference to sexual orientation, OutServe is the first such group to be able to take its activities from anonymous to aboveground, he said.
“‘Don’t ask, don‘t tell’ obviously required people who in many cases needed support, the support of each other and mutual assistance, to remain in the shadows even to one another,” Frank said. “So to have a conference like this, where people can step out of the shadows and come together to discuss the things that are important to being the best soldiers they can be, is historic and is essential and is one of the reasons so many people have been advocating for an end to a policy that requires you to hide.”
OutServe leaders announced plans for the convention in May, two months before Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen and President Barack Obama certified that the armed forces were ready to welcome openly gay and lesbian troops. Under the law abolishing “don’t ask, don’t tell” that Congress passed in December, the policy would not officially end until 60 days after such certification.
The timing ended up working out, but if the ban had remained in effect, this weekend’s summit would have most likely been postponed “out of respect for the military and for the policy,” Fulton said.
Organizers are acutely aware that some opposition to the integration of gay and lesbian troops still exists in Washington and within the U.S. military. They reminded conference participants this week that they should not make comments that could be perceived as political. They were also urged to not wear their uniforms since the conference is not an official military event, or engage in the debauchery for which Las Vegas is known.
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Comments (66)
This_Individual
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:39amIf anyone would like to fund my interview of this group, let me know ( I’m only 3 hours away).
Report Post »I Fly Low
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:19amHow can a few queers change the whole course of the strongest army in the world ?? There is a much deeper problem here that HAS to be fixed at the next election. Maybe it is good that all of this is coming out now before the “ Greatest Generation” can’t voice there vote.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:45pmWell I looked up Gen.Petraeus on DADT –when that policy was still not Repealed. He quoted Gen Colin Powell saying the Earth has revolved around the Sun several times since he opposed Gays in the Military. My problem Mr.Petraeus is Colin Powells article in Crisis, 13July1992 is as valid today as when written. He may have said “it might be time to change the policy.” But unless I am mistaken he has said he continues to stand by Comment that skin color is a benign ,non behavioral characteristic.Sexual Orientation is perhaps the most profound of human behavioral characteristics, Comparison of the two is a convenient but invalid argument….’” Mr.Petraeus –your argument is misleading. The issues NEVER was about can these people do the duty assigned. The issue is will they obey the Law– and respect their fellow service men when they are off duty, perhaps drunk –or?
Report Post »The issue is can you trust someone who is caught in a web of homosexual deceit to honest and honorable with others when their own life is a damned LIE?If the Earth has revolved around the Sun — what difference does it make Except for the Progressive. And can any Progressive be trusted to honor the OATH administered when the Progressive cannot believe the US Constitution mean what they did when the terms used were adopted. If Mr.Petraeus is right — And I am wrong– I pray God will let me live long enough to see the world righted once again.
momsense
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:13amAre they going to create similar events for non qu eers? if not, it’s blatant discrimination. THEY ARE MAKING THESE PEOPLE A SPECIAL CLASS WITH PPRIVILEGED RIGHTS—AND THEY CALL THIS EQUALITY? b@LLS@@t !
Report Post »DieHard
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:18pmNo Momsense, the privatlely owned gay magazine will probably not fund a heterosexual convention. I don’t know why not though, they could probably use a little momsense I guess.
Report Post »1773patriot
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:50amYour country is committing suicide. America will no longer exist a generation from now. It is the modern day equivalent of Rome… complete with its sexual perversion and infiltration by the barbarians. There is no longer a homogenous “American” culture (besides the cultures intent on destroying the Western culture)
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:07amThere are so many parallels. Great empires collapse from within first. It took Rome many generations to collapse, we are going to collapse from one bad generation. The new age of mass media, computers, television and movies, has sped up the decline. We have had a complete moral decline because the evil left controls the media. Amercans have been brainwashed with evil.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:13amI agree with the Patriot in this comment. We are committing suicide. As the Blaze highlights CIA
Report Post »sponsorship –my question is are they doing it to allow them inside the enemy camp? Access to allow better monitoring of enemy activity than they might have otherwise? Or are they in support of the
Communist overthrow of America. With the General once called “betray us” by certain Democrats–now being used by the Communist/ Beguiler in Chief to fundamentally change America-by making our military the Queen Berets serving a Queer Nation. We have chosen suicide as a nation but I cannot be a party to the serving of the koolaid.And I will Never surrender of my own free will.I can remember when we had a Congress–and a Military that was both more Religious,and More Moral and homosexual behavior was not compatible with Military service.Truth does not change -it can only be
corrupted as cancer corrupts the host-or eaten away like rust on neglected weapons–or denied But TRUTH does not alter.
PIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:20pmI read Glenn Beck’s book “Bankrupt,” the first chapter details why Rome collapse and the Beckmeister did not mention homosexuality as one of the causes.
Report Post »betsp
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:44amSo, does this mean we have a straight military and a gay military? According to the liberal PC thinking, gay military would get the affirmative action shoves up the ladder…promotions and citations, while the straights would get all the blame and the criticism. What a bad idea.
Report Post »Ken
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:38amI’m extremely concerned for the hetero-sexual service members currently serving. By having this conference, they are “rubbing straights noses in it!” So if a straight service member insults a gay person, is that grounds for a dishonorable discharge? Are you kidding me??? We need a president that will put them “back in the closet” where they belong, and bring our military back to the good order and discipline organization it once was before this idiot president RUINED IT FOR EVERYBODY!!!
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:46amBe ready for “equal opportunity statistics” for gays…..they already have the race percentages on EVERY promotion message now they will add “LGBT” on the statistics……White straight males are going down further in the promotion ranks at least the enlisted ones….
Report Post »PIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:25pmConcerned for what? Gays in the military are as popular as blacks in the KKK. You people need to get a grip, it’s a CONFERENCE in a private hotel. Don‘t be acting like y’all don’t have conference, prayer meetings, and the like. Want to be afraid of something? Be afraid of hip hop week in South Beach. Think gays are bad? Try dealing with inebriated gang bangers and community organizers.
Frankly, I like gays, I’ve worked with them, I’ve met them, had them as neighbors. I don’t know why conservatives are so uptight about them? Even Ann Coulter spoke to them in New York and she was treated way better than when she tries to speak in her usual places.
Sorry boys, I got to tell it like I see it even if it means I’m “conservative incorrect” in this issue.
Report Post »http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/
hi
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:33amIt is a waste of our hard earned tax dollars to have a big convention in LV. Unacceptable.
They should spend the money on separate shower stalls for men in the military so they don’t have to be sexually harassed or checked out by gays.
Report Post »DieHard
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:49amA waste of what tax dollars? It’s a private company. Why do you care what they spend it on?
Report Post »Concerned Green Beret
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:33amHow is the CIA legally a sponsor of this. The CIA is a federal entity. I don’t believe that is legal to be sponsoring this thing. There are only a hand ful of things government entities can sponsor and this is not one of them, I believe. Needs to be looked into. Oh wait, the king probably nullified the laws and said it was ok. Never mind.
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:25amYou shouldn’t be allowed in the military if you have a mental disorder. There is no homosexual gene, only a mental disorder. Keep the perverts in the closet where they belong, not out parading their disorder in front of everybody.
Report Post »PIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 2:09pmSo, if I fantasize of sleeping with two women at the same time, do I have a mental disorder? If I’m turned on by seeing my girlfriend kissing another woman, am I sick? Get a grip, dude, sexuality is a matter of taste, and as long as it involves adults and no hanky panky happens in public, it’s irrelevant.
By the way, if homosexuality is so evil can you tell my friends to stop buying drinks to women that kiss each other? Seriously, I see a lot of hypocrisy here. I can’t even watch Playboy without one scene of two women going at it, I might as well start calling them Playgirl since the boys ain’t playing that much, LOL.
Report Post »http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/
jihadazzkicker
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:23amWhy is it every time the .05% come out they think they have to receive special treatment? Why is gobment money being spent on this ****? Again congress has failed us, I want to know who signed off to use funds to support this, there has to be one name signed on a piece of paper. I am tired of every fringe group out there acting as if they are the majority. You want to meet, take time off work, raise the money need from independent groups NOT the gobment. By the way notice that the Vegas Convention and Visitors center is listed on there as a sponsor. We are the majority, call the Vegas chamber and tell them you will go some where else to spend your money.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:23amGay people never really bothered me unless they trumpeted out their beliefs as if everyone else had to believe that way too. They are drama queens (pun totally intended).
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:44pmYou are so right! Why do they think we should all accept them as normal, it IS NOT!
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:13amI saw a very interesting peice the other day on the military cahnnel about Hitlers body guards.
Report Post »On how the brown shirt SAS was completely corupted by homosexuality. Huh………
Do we really want to go here…..? If you wanted to move up in the ranks as a brown shirt you almost had to be a homosexual, or be willing to preform homosexual act. This is where our military is headed now…..wake up people.
Spqr1
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:38pmThe “Night of the Long Knives” negates your premise.
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:48pm@SPQR1…..you are correct but…..how does that negate my premise ? The night of the long knives was the result of the homosexual coruption in the SAS. I believe Hitler was reluctant to kill Raum (spelling?) because Hitler did have sexual relations with him at one time and felt guilty or humilitated by it later but still had strong feelings for his friend the head of the SAS. Many of the leaders in the SAS were killed on that night not because they were a threat to Hitler but because Himler and the SS wanted to rid the nazi movement of homosexuals. Many of the SAS went to their deaths that night praising Hitler to there death. Evil also destroys evil. Prime example.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:46amSo when are the heterosexuals going to come out of the closet and have a counter meet to help the gays understand heterosexuals, eh?
Prob need to go to segregated facilities…bump up the cost. Sorry gays, but I would not share a shower with you, nor share a bunk bed room with you, nor would I trust you to have my back. We knew who you were in the 60′s and now you are in our face with your sex? WTF over!
Dumb and dumber.
Report Post »PIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:55amHey Samian, why are you any better than the guy that doesn’t want to shower with negroes, or serve with arabs, or put up with liberals? It’s the military, not the Holiday Inn, you’re gonna be serving with people you like and people you hate, that‘s the reality with or without don’t ask don’t tell.
Besides, as a taxpayer I don’t want to spend $3 million training a pilot or putting a sergeant through medical school only to find out I have to discharge him because he came out of the closet or was outed by a third party. That’s insane! I wan‘t to get my money’s worth. Just like I expect cops to kill crooks and firemen to fight fires, I expect my military not to waste my money.
You’re gonna discharge a soldier? You better have a good reason beyond prejudice. Don’t take me wrong, I understand prejudice, I even respect prejudice, but I don’t make policies based on prejudice.
Report Post »http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/
hi
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:42amThe difference is that the gay wants to have sex with men!
Muslims should denounce jihad at their mosque in front of everyone if they want to enter. They need to be vetted ten times over by CIA and FBI.
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:55am@PIL….You don’t get it. Why do we have to have special rights for someone because of their sexuality? And that‘s what it’s all about, the homos want special rights. And as I have posted here before, I was molested as a young 18 y.o. in the military, twice, by homosexuals. Two queers ganged up on me, and luckely I was a fighter and was able to fight my way out of it both times. The second time I was injured in the fight. That’s when the air force took notice. It also ruined my military career. In the 70′s the airforce just swept it under the carpet and offerd me basically any MOS I wanted at another base, or an honorable discharge, I was scared it could happen again so I took the discharge. Later another airman came to me in tears and admitted he was actually raped by these 2 guy’s….great thing gay’s in the military. Thanks Pil.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:07amPIL
Serve with Arabs? No problem if they are Christian or Jewish? Ahmidiyah or Omani Arabs are good too. The other ones I would not willingly want to serve with. There is this concepts called takiyah. Maybe you heard of it? But maybe you are suicidal & have a mental disorder.
Serve with Blacks. No problem. Been antislavery for over 160 years.
So go take your fantasies elsewhere.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:17amPIL
Report Post »You seriously do not understand the military or humanity.
PIL
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 1:18pm@MOTONUTT
Sorry two “homos” tried to molest you, but guess what? We don’t make policies based on isolated incidents. There are cases of blacks beating whites for being white, yet we don’t ban blacks from the military. There are Jew-haters who beat up Jews, yet we don’t ban anti-semites either. There are also cases of suspected gays that get raped in the military, or beaten, or given a blanket party, or killed, etc. Sometimes women also get raped in the military, yet do we ban men or women from the military? Of course not. By the way, Israel has allowed gays to serve since 1981 yet they don’t report a bunch of rapes and other naughty business.
By the way, less than 1% of all DADT discharges had to do with rapes, indecent exposure, or any crimes of that nature. A lot of the people discharged had spotless records, excellent careers, they were perfect in every way except for their sexual orientation.
Besides, 99.9% of the people who join the military are good people, I admire them, I would never join if it mean having Obama as my commander in chief. Think gays are offensive? Try saluting that Marxist Mulatto every time he visits you in Iraq or Afghanistan or does a commencement address. Want to feel sorry for someone? Feel sorry for that soldier who serves on Marine One, the ones that salutes the “president” everytime he gets into that helicopter or steps out.
Report Post »cassandra
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:43amWhy can’t they just serve their country and shut the hell up
Report Post »Highland
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:17amBecause the most important thing in their lives is not the oath they took to serve their country, it’s anal sex.
Report Post »airforcec-130
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:39amGood Morning Everybody. “WAKE UP AMERICA”… I served over 20 years in the military and I have to be honest, I just don’t remember having a SUMMIT so that I would FIT IN. Of course I followed that unheard of path of getting married and having children and serving my country and acting like I had some damn sense and not act like some damn fool. I can’t tell them to be ashamed of themselves, because they have no shame. What a tragic course our country has taken. God Bless all of you and God Bless America…
Report Post »Do The Right Thing
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:27amWell said.
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:50pmI agree completely! During my twenty years service I am sure we had homosexuals, but they didn‘t flaunt it and didn’t expect special treatment and therein lies the problem – special treatment and flaunting their sexual orientation while expecting everyone to accept it as normal.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:27amOur tax dollars at work, scratch that, play
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:48amProb explaining how to have safe same sex, eh? Talk about going down the tubes…
Report Post »DieHard
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:52amA privately owned magazine holds a conference, where do tax dollars come into it?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:23amIt’s amazing how every understanding people have is upside-down in that People think about the coming of the Lord as being “The End of Days” when in Reality it is actually The End of Night.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:26amThat is a very comforting thought, thanks.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:50amDark seed.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:19amYou want to be accepted like everyone else but, you also want to step out and seperate your selves from everyone else? Which is it?
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:08amAnd, pretty much, the military is all about uniformity, not diversity.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:33amHow many sponsors would the Straight, White Leadership Summit get? ZERO! However, if it‘s any other group it’s just peachy.
Report Post »Speak without Fear
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:18amOh yes…..stepping out of the closet and having a Gay Summit…..is very important and changes everything when you are looking down the enemies barrel.
GOOD GRIEF!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:17amThe mutant cyclops shark makes for a better story.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:41amYes, it does. And the shark was cute, too!
And sorry I didn’t pick up on your Biohazard lyrics from a week ago or so. My bad!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 12:42pmI will put more on soon.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:17amI can’t change the policy of any Corporation.I can limit any business I give to those Corporations that fund and defend Immorality and and the destruction of our society. That the CIA is co-sponsor not only discredits the CIA but the entire politicized National Government and its Socialistic determination to destroy our Country and supplant it with a failed system that benefits the few at the expense of the whole. When the foundations are destroyed what are the righteous to do? -and the answer is trust not in Chariots,horses, nor the strong arm of man But Trust and obey the Creator who made you for HIS pleasure.
Report Post »I Fly Low
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:15am“Stupid ******, dix are for chicks”
Report Post »Bugs bunny 1972.
StonyBurk
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:11amI and my wife, are not homosexual. We have an account with Wells Fargo,and know employees who work for them that seem to be Christian. I can’t help but wonder how many of these employees are like the German Christians asked to support their employer and the policy and pretend they are not associated with such policy that contravenes Scripture–and advance that which Scripture call abomination, and Sin, Fornication, Adultery, and equates to prostitution and idol worship? Yet some people wonder why there is so little employee loyalty to their employer?
Report Post »Eliasim
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:05amHow does that make you feel America that there are people in your midst whom are making your military the exact opposite of the very reason that God empowered Gideon’s Army?
Report Post »hightide
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:02amWe are doomed…
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:09amThat is what animal studies of homosexuality show & history show.
Report Post »