My name is Karina Piu (she/her), Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at The Center and one of the liaisons for our Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor (VWoH) Advisory Council. I am so excited to invite you to attend our annual LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor Induction Ceremony on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 6-8pm in The Center’s Bob Nelson Auditorium.
The LGBT VWoH was founded by City and County Commissioner Nicole Murray Ramirez (he/him), with generous support of veterans Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson. It was established in 2011 following the formal repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT), a 1993 policy that prevented LGBTQ+ service members in the military from serving openly.
More than 13,000 LGBTQ+ service members were convicted under military law for consensual and private acts, which may still be reflected on their records and have serious ramifications.
Under DADT and other anti-LGBTQ policies, some LGBTQ+ service members who were outed or came out during their service period received an “other than honorable” discharge from the military. This rendered them ineligible for benefits such as free VA healthcare, VA-backed home loans, or funds for college tuition. To this day, it is difficult for most LGBTQ+ veterans to access essential services and, given the racism that exists in the U.S., service members of color are likely disproportionately impacted. Military careers ended under DADT also meant that speaking about their time in the military might also out them or result in the difficult and often embarrassing or enraging discussions regarding their discharge.
We applaud the actions that President Biden took this year to sign a proclamation allowing LGBTQ+ service members with these convictions to apply to be pardoned and to upgrade their discharge status. This process is not perfect, since it puts the onus on veterans to apply for a pardon on the U.S. Department of Defense’s website, but it’s a step forward in getting our veterans much needed relief.
At The Center, we believe in continued advocacy for LGBTQ+ veterans and seek to honor their service, dedication, and sacrifice, which is why we have celebrated our veterans at the VWoH Ceremony every year since 2011. All are invited to join us at the 2024 Induction Ceremony on November 7 from 6-8pm, where we will add the names of seven LGBTQ+ service members to our Veterans Wall.
The Induction Ceremony takes place on the Thursday before Veterans Day. At the ceremony, we will uplift our LGBTQ+ veterans with ties to the San Diego region. These veterans have not only taken the oath to serve our country honorably and with distinction, but have also remained role models for volunteerism and sponsorship efforts among the community. Each inductee’s exemplary dedication will be recognized at this event so that their courage and bravery continue to inspire future generations to lead and serve with honor.
The Benjamin F. Dillingham, III and Bridget Wilson LGBT VWoH Advisory Council welcomes nominations throughout the year. Because gathering the necessary documents for the application can be time-consuming and cumbersome, we encourage veterans to apply early so our Advisory Council and Center staff have more time to assist you. This is especially true for our nominees of color, who are more likely to experience additional systemic barriers to housing, healthcare, and education that can make accessing veteran resources more difficult. We understand that 28% of service members discharged under DADT were people of color, yet this number is not always reflected in our nominee pool, and we would like to make a special ask for more nominees of color in the upcoming year. Our team is ready to help, so please send any inquiries to advocacy@thecentersd.org and we will share more about the process.
The program on November 7 will include performances by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus and San Diego Women’s Chorus, a celebration of military colors, special remarks, and the announcement of this year’s inductees. The evening promises to be a celebration of the incredible accomplishments and service of our dedicated LGBTQ+ veterans.
If you are planning to attend, please RSVP. See you there!
In community,
Karina Piu (she/her)
Policy and Advocacy Coordinator