Summit celebrates earnings, focuses on the work still ahead for gay troops

With the repeal of ' don't ask, don't tell ', co-founder of OutServe ' J.D. Smith ' is shedding her pseudonym. He is 1st Lt. Josh Seefried, a finance officer 25 years at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and one of the 101 members OutServe coming out publicly on Tuesday.

LAS VEGAS ― when the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" was imminent, Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charlie Morgan celebrated in Kuwait, showing his commander a picture of his same-sex spouse and daughter of 4 years for the first time.

"He looked at that picture and said, ' leader, you have a wonderful family. I look forward to meeting them when we get home, ' "he said. "He smiled and was so proud."

That pride and relief have not diminished by the repeal when it came into effect last month.

But in reality has set in.

Morgan's spouse is not eligible for housing benefits or health care professional. You can't even get onto an army base without Morgan as an escort. The couple wants to participate in reintegration programmes, spouse to participate but is prevented by federal law.

The organizers behind the armed forces Leadership Summit held here this weekend say Morgan history proves the necessity for constant lobbying on the part of gay troops even after the end of the 18-year ban on open service by gays. Questions about equal benefits for same-sex couples, resources for Veterans dismissed under the law and protection against persistent discrimination remain.

― Conference sponsored by OutServe, a group of pro-repeal which boasts almost 5,000 gay active duty and veteran members ― is the first of its kind in the United States military history, until last month, implications could not publicly recognize gay sexual orientation without risking their career.

More than 200 soldiers gay and straight, took part in the Conference, which included presentations from other gay rights groups and officials of the Department of Defense. Doug Wilson, Assistant Secretary of Defense for public affairs and the highest rank openly gay civilian Pentagon, delivered the keynote address and a message of congratulations from First Lady Michelle Obama.

"It's time to live according to the words that we have talked about so often in the last 17 plus years: sexual orientation does not define us," he told the crowd. "We all have the right to define ourselves. "

Much of the Conference focused on military resources, and discussions that are routine for most of the troops, but until now have been unavailable to shut implications. A workshop on stress distribution offered tips to stay in contact with partners at home, gay or straight. A Panel on finding jobs focused primarily on errors of curriculum do all veterans and the importance of networking.

But the event also featured discussions on when to come out to employees, how to avoid conflict with religious conservatives and what problems still lie ahead for gay troops.

"Inclusion without equality is incomplete," says Sue Hyde, a Director with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "There is still work to do."

Rights groups, which work begins with the defense of Marriage Act, which prohibits the Federal Government to recognize homosexual unions for all benefits. Both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have already cited as the rationale for denying benefits to military same-sex couples. Activists say such quantity of erratic and verdicts to compensation may be unfair.

Several groups also pressed troops still-closeted to come out to their employees, citing a need for role models for young gay and straight troops apprehensive. But several conference attendees have expressed concern about persistent as they will be viewed by colleagues if they publicly acknowledge their sexual orientation, and what it could do for their careers.

But OutServe, co-founder Josh Seefried, Lieutenant Air Force pressures anonymously for months before repeal, said recently released gay troops need to be a leader for the next generation of implications.

"For years, were portrayed as soldiers who would put other soldiers at risk (if we have served openly)," he said. "If we remain silent, we remain at risk."

SHANEL@Stripes.OSD.mil

Twitter: @ LeoShane

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