Military
Q-NOTES • MAY 22 . 2004
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Transgender Vet march to
Vietnam wall proclaimed
success
D.C. Metro police escort TAVA group
to sites around town
by Tina Rice
WASHINGTON, D.C — The Trans
gender Veterans March to the Wail, spon
sored by the Transgender American
Veterans Association (TAVA), turned out to
be a greater success than the planners
hoped for. Fifty’transgender veterans par
ticipated on May 1 in Washington, D.C.,
many getting their first chance to face the
Vietnam Memorial and the friends they lost
in that war. Others came because they felt a
need to meet with other transgender veter
ans, to feel close to others who had the same
experiences as they did in the military.
Attending were veterans from WWII, the
Korean and Vietnam Wars, the first Gulf War
and all the peace times in between. Ages
ranged from 27 to 77 years old.
The D.C. Metro Police Department gave
the transgender veterans’ bus a police
escort from the hotel to the Wall.
TAVA members and friends were moved
by the visit to the Wall as memories of pain
and loss from the Vietnam War and other
wars were recalled. One attendee, Sara
Gibson, had tried five times in the past to
approach either the Wall in D.C. or the
Mobile Wall and could not get within 100
feet. This time she made it and it helped to
have other transgender veterans with her.
In the afternoon four members of TAVA
— Carol Krohn, Charlene Walsh, Sara
Gibson and TAVA’s Vice President Stephanie
Heck — headed to Arlington Cemetery to
lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
The structured and precise ceremony at the
Tomb followed the changing of the guards.
When the time came, the Master Sergeant
of the Guards marched out and announced
in bold, strong words, “This wreath being
laid is provided by the Transgender
American Veterans Association.” Even long
time activists like Phyllis Frye began to cry.
Lisa Mottet from the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force said, “As one of the
handful of non-transgender people there, it
was a privilege and honor for me to be able
to participate in the emotions and healing
of the day. I was unprepared for, and
A transgender veteran at the Vietnam
Memorial.
delightfully surprised by, the wave of pride
and honor as the Army guards at the Tomb
authoritatively and respectfully declared
that the wreath being laid was provided by
the Transgender American Veterans
Association. The emotion and significance
of that precise moment was palpable.”
“Beyond the historic implications of the
laying of the wreath — as well as the march
itself,” remarked Vanessa Foster, chair of the
National Transgender Advocacy Coalition,
“the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier was devastatingly touching. The irony
of the moment with the current war in Iraq
was not lost on me. What was truly heart
warming was the lack of snickers, remarks,
double takes and other reactions from the
non-transgender crowd when the wreath
laying occurred. The reaction was no differ
ent, no less reverent than for any other enlist
ed person. That is exactly as it should be.”
TAVA Special Projects Chair Angela
Brightfeather was quoted in the National
Center for Transgender Equality (NTCE)
newsletter as saying, “As people watched us
cry at the Tomb of the Unknown when the
wreath was dedicated and announced as
coming from the Transgender American
Veterans Association, everyone present knew
and understood that they were at that
moment a part of a historical event. Humanity
was honored in that short period of time.”
The NTCE’s newsletter goes on to say,
“Never before has an organization had the
vision to organize such an event and NTCE
applauds TAVA for the success of this weekend
and their service to transgender veterans.”
info: www.tQvausQ.org