LGBTQ Veterans 'Break The Silence' At CCC Screening Oct. 9

From Clackamas Community College: Clackamas Community College’s Veterans Education and Training (VET) Center and Veterans Club are screening “Breaking the Silence: Stories of Oregon’s LGBTQ Veterans” on Tuesday, Oct. 9.

Before September 2011, no person who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender could serve openly in the United States military. Those who did serve were forced to do so secretly, at risk to themselves and their families. In 2011, Don’t Ask Don’t Tell was repealed, making it legal for LBG Americans to serve openly without fear of official reprise or discharge.

In June 2016, the ban keeping transgender Americans from serving openly was also lifted. Shortly thereafter, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs began to record the stories of veterans and service members from across the state who were forced to serve in silence. The result is the film, “Breaking the Silence: An Oral History of Oregon’s LGBTQ Service Members.”

The public is invited to this free event. There will be two screenings, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., followed by a presentation from Nathanial Bohme, LGBT veterans coordinator for the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs. Light refreshments will be provided.

CCC’s VET Center is proud to serve those who have served by connecting veterans with resources. Ranked “Best for Vets” by Military Times, the VET Center is focused on providing veterans and their family members with resources, advocacy and support, no matter their ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or ability.

For more information about veterans services at CCC, visit www.clackamas.edu/veterans.

To learn more about this event, contact Casey Curry at casey.curry@clackamas.edu or 503-594-3183.

Image via Clackamas College