Photo By Rick Emert | FORT CARSON, Colo. — 1st Lt. Joseph Hargrave, medical – surgical nurse, Intensive...... read more read more
By Amber Martin
Garrison Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people have served in the U.S. Army’s ranks since as far back as the Revolutionary War. Today, the LGBT community is able to serve openly.
Fort Carson held its first LGBT Pride Month observance hosted by Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, June 18, 2018, at the Elkhorn Conference Center. The event highlighted the Army value of “respect” and provided LGBT Soldiers an opportunity to share their personal experiences and contributions to the nation and the U.S. Army.
“I never thought that I would be talking about this in the open and sharing my personal experience,” said 1st Lt. Joseph Hargrave, medical – surgical nurse, Intensive Care Unit, Evans Army Community Hospital, who was previously a sergeant first class. “The fact that Fort Carson is doing this speaks volumes about the leadership here and the community around the Colorado Springs area.”
Numerous service members throughout the decades have fought for LGBT rights and paved the way for future generations to serve. Service members and civilians like Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich, a Vietnam War veteran who was the first service member to purposely out himself as a gay man in order to challenge the ban on homosexuals in the military and Dr. Frank E. Kamney, who served in World War II and fought for civil rights for 18 years until the U.S. Civil Service Commission reversed its policies excluding homosexuals from government employment.
Their fight has allowed service members and civilians such as the former secretary of the Army Eric Fanning; Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith of the U.S. Army Reserves; Maj. Gen. Randy Taylor, commanding general, U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command; and Staff Sgt. Patricia King, a transgender infantry Soldier, to serve openly and honorably as leaders and mentors.
Staff Sgt. Valerie Boothe, recruiting and retention NCO, Colorado National Guard, shared her experience working alongside Staff Sgt. Patricia King while serving in Afghanistan as a member of a personal security detail for Lt. Gen. Paul LaCamera, commanding general, XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, in 2013, who was formerly the commander of the 4th Inf. Div.
“At the time, Staff Sgt. Peter King was an outstanding mentor to a young, newly promoted sergeant who had to prove herself to rangers, infantryman and MPs (military police),” said Boothe. “Soldiers, who I now call my brothers, began to see past my labels and realize I am as much like them as they are like me. I am beyond grateful to have served with this group of young men and to have a leader like Staff Sgt. Patricia King.”
Boothe’s personal testimony spoke to the importance of true character. She challenged the audience to look past skin color, religion and sexual preference and asked the audience to look deeper into the character of individuals in order to uphold the Army Values.
Pfc. Sean Fitzpatrick, human resource specialist, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., spoke about readiness on the battlefield and at home. He said that it begins with respect and cohesiveness. He faced discrimination while serving, but has had the support of leaders and peers who have empowered him and shown him the true meaning of “one team, one fight.”
“I’m just like everyone else,” said Fitzpatrick. “We are all unique in our own ways, but my intent is to not make it seem as if I am not better, I am not worse, I am equal.”
Each testimony shared by the four Soldiers was a powerful acknowledgment of just how far the country and the U.S. military has come, and still has left to go. Hargrave shared an emotional testimony about his experiences before and after the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
“At this moment in my life, I had to determine that a traditional life would not be for me, even though I wanted a family and to be a father, it just wasn’t my future,” said Hargrave. “I would dedicate my life to the advancement of my career.”
After 2013, with the amendment of the Defense of Marriage Act and the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act he was able to marry his husband, Josh in 2015.
“It’s been a hard road, but I have really enjoyed my time in the service,” said Hargrave. “I feel very fortunate that I can be who I am, be honest with myself, and be a Soldier.”
Brig. Gen. William L. Thigpen, deputy commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, presented certificates of appreciation to the Soldiers at the end of the event.
“Our observance events are a big deal for the Army, these are truly events in which we build readiness.” said Thigpen. “This is an event that we communicate to our formations and that we communicate to those that serve, that combat is a team sport and we need everyone in the fight. Everyone brings a special capability to the fight for our nation and to the service of our nation.”
| Date Taken: | 06.18.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.21.2018 11:04 |
| Story ID: | 304814 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 99 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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