Pritzker Military Museum & Library Marks Pride Month with a Panel Discussion on the Nation's Largest Employer of Transgender People, The Department of Defense
CHICAGO (PRWEB) June 09, 2021
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library is proud to present a panel discussion, "Exploring the Intersection of the U.S. Military and the LGBTQ Community," on Wednesday, June 23rd at Noon CDT in celebration of Pride Month. The virtual event will feature military service people in the LGBTQ community who will share their experiences, and explain how policy changes have affected their service. Moderated by Mara Keisling, Founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, the panel will feature U.S. Army Capt. El Cook; Nic Talbott, a plaintiff in four original legal cases challenging the transgender ban in court; and Melissa Margain, CDVS-II Army Combat Veteran.
"We are very pleased to bring together this panel of individuals, each with their own unique story, to speak at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library," stated Susan Rifkin, Chief Operating Officer of Philanthropic Activities. "The Museum & Library stands for sharing and preserving the stories of all who have served in the Armed Forces, and we are proud to share their perspectives."
The U.S. Military has had a complex history with the LGBTQ community. Since the 1940s, same-sex relationships were classified as a mental illness, meaning gay men and lesbians were disqualified for service. In 1982, a military policy officially banned gay men and lesbians from their ranks; previously, same-sex relations were criminal and a cause for discharge.
https://www.prweb.com/releases/pritzker_military_museum_library_marks_pride_month_with_a_panel_discussion_on_the_nation_s_largest_employer_of_transgender_people_the_department_of_defense/prweb17996660.htm
