Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes
86th Airlift Wing
Public Affairs
“The struggles, sacrifices, and successes among the LGBT community continue to shape our history and remind us to uphold tolerance and justice for all. Integrity and respect are fundamental qualities of our military and civilian culture. As we celebrate the diversity of the total force, we honor all who have answered the call to serve, and their unwavering commitment to our shared mission. During the month of June, let us celebrate the diversity of the DoD workforce and rededicate ourselves to equity, dignity, and respect for all.” – A.M. Kurta, performing the duties of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 2017 DoD LGBT Pride Month Memo.
For the last five years, the Department of Defense observes Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender Pride Month in June each year. We asked 13 Kaiserslautern Military Community Members “Why is celebrating LGBT Pride important to you?”
“A lot of times in life we grow up with one ideal and one way of understanding the world. That’s comfortable for us. Sometimes we have to challenge ourselves to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. For a big part of my life, I grew accustomed to act like the few other gay people in my small Central American town, never “too gay,” never “open” and never speaking about sexuality. Homosexuality in any form was greeted with insults and many times violence, which I sadly had my fair share of. Perhaps, we could gain a different perspective on life and learn more. Instead of disregarding the gay lifestyle and the gay ideals, how about taking a step forward and put yourself in our shoes? Maybe understand what it means to be a gay person. I continue to celebrate pride, so that youth who went through what I had to, or worse, can also one day have the pleasure of feeling loved, feeling accepted and feeling free.” — Staff Sgt. Jose Echaverry, left, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron central storage supervisor “I believe celebrating LGBT and being a part of pride is important because you’re celebrating who you are, the history and understanding the people that went before you and have fought for your rights. We’re still standing up for our rights of who we are, who we believe we are.” — Senior Airman Sean Echaverry, right, 86th Medical Squadron surgical technician
“Pride is the celebration of our life and the freedom to embrace who we are. It is the celebration for those who have fought for our rights and on behalf of those who are not here to celebrate their meaningful life with us, whose lives were taken too soon from hate, and ignorance; from despair. It is the celebration of our beautiful son, born from two women in love and those blossoming into the person they were always meant to be.” — Warrant Officer 1 Ramona Silafau, left, 10th Army Air & Missile Defense Command G-1 Human Resources Technician with spouse, Jazmine Silafau and their son Jax
“I celebrate pride because of what it represents. Pride is a celebration of life. It is a place where everyone is accepted. No prejudice. No judgements. Just people coming together in the name of love, humanity, and equality.”— Jaukena Jackson-Albers, Team Ramstein member
“What was it like serving under don’t ask, don’t tell? I was an actress. Every day I lived a double life; I would pretend to be interested in men. After I came out to my family a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Finally, I was proud of who I am. So today, I celebrate for those that are still hiding and not allowed to be themselves. I celebrate for all those before me that fought so hard and gave everything for equality. Pride is self-respect and love. Celebrate so we may never go back in time.” – Ashley Carothers, left, 21st Theater Logistics Support Center supply technician “Being in New York, in the west village, I felt the presence of those who struggled at the Stonewall. I’ve learned to appreciate the one thing I can claim as mine, pride month, as a time to celebrate with my brothers and sisters. It’s probably the most important thing I’ve learned. It’s mine and they can’t take it away.” — Tamia Russell, right, 2nd Signal Brigade, Systems Center Configuration Manager administrator
“I celebrate Pride because when I finally came out as gay, I felt myself become complete. I am able to fully express myself in ways I would have never been able to before. However, I am more than just gay. I am goofy regular ‘ole guy and a whole bunch other things that sums me up!” — Airman 1st Class Keith Rowe, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron traffic management journeyman
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“The struggles, sacrifices, and successes among the LGBT community continue to shape our history and remind us to uphold tolerance and justice for all. Integrity and respect are fundamental qualities of our military and civilian culture. As we celebrate the diversity of the total force, we honor all who have answered the call to serve, and their unwavering commitment to our shared mission. During the month of June, let us celebrate the diversity of the DoD workforce and rededicate ourselves to equity, dignity, and respect for all.” – A.M. Kurta, performing the duties of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 2017 DoD LGBT Pride Month Memo.
