1 00:00:00,940 --> 00:00:03,330 Good afternoon everybody . Welcome to 2 00:00:03,330 --> 00:00:05,600 another edition of Real Talk . I'm your 3 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,600 host . Lieutenant General brad Webb 4 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:09,433 Commander of their education and 5 00:00:09,433 --> 00:00:11,267 Training command . And today our 6 00:00:11,267 --> 00:00:13,211 special guest is Brigadier General 7 00:00:13,211 --> 00:00:15,100 Brenda Cardi . Er Our incoming or 8 00:00:15,110 --> 00:00:17,750 really imminently incoming A three or 9 00:00:17,750 --> 00:00:20,110 director of operations here at A . E . 10 00:00:20,110 --> 00:00:23,650 T . C . Uh as you would expect , there 11 00:00:23,650 --> 00:00:26,150 has always been a lot of time . That is 12 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,610 a lot of circumstances that have 13 00:00:28,610 --> 00:00:30,666 occurred in the time since we've had 14 00:00:30,666 --> 00:00:32,832 our last edition of Real Talk . Um And 15 00:00:32,832 --> 00:00:34,880 so I really I really want to circle 16 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:38,130 back to uh why we do the real talks and 17 00:00:38,130 --> 00:00:40,241 why we have and what is our center of 18 00:00:40,241 --> 00:00:42,241 gravity And of course the center of 19 00:00:42,241 --> 00:00:45,000 gravity for all of the conversations 20 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:48,130 that we have with respect to uh our D . 21 00:00:48,130 --> 00:00:50,190 N . A . Portfolio is it's about the 22 00:00:50,190 --> 00:00:52,134 mission , it's about mission ready 23 00:00:52,140 --> 00:00:54,510 mission effectiveness and readiness . 24 00:00:54,740 --> 00:00:57,073 And also it's about dignity and respect . 25 00:00:57,740 --> 00:00:59,684 Let's remember the charge that the 26 00:00:59,684 --> 00:01:01,740 chief gave us a year ago which is we 27 00:01:01,740 --> 00:01:03,740 need to own this d any situation we 28 00:01:03,740 --> 00:01:06,040 need to engage in small groups creates 29 00:01:06,050 --> 00:01:09,300 a safe space and listen or seek to 30 00:01:09,300 --> 00:01:12,640 understand . So there have been several 31 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,751 key events that have happened here in 32 00:01:14,751 --> 00:01:16,918 the last several months , the first of 33 00:01:16,918 --> 00:01:18,973 which is the second racial disparity 34 00:01:18,973 --> 00:01:21,240 review . Uh you'll recall that in the 35 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:23,570 first review . It was very much focused 36 00:01:23,570 --> 00:01:25,626 on an african american portfolio and 37 00:01:25,626 --> 00:01:28,530 specifically with respect young african 38 00:01:28,530 --> 00:01:31,720 american male population . Uh Since 39 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,720 then we have now done a review that 40 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,830 includes a . P . I are asian , american , 41 00:01:36,830 --> 00:01:40,100 pacific islander group , hispanic and 42 00:01:40,100 --> 00:01:42,550 also gender . Those results have been 43 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,590 tabulated . Once again , we've had 44 00:01:45,590 --> 00:01:48,780 thousands of responses and we expect 45 00:01:48,780 --> 00:01:50,669 that the results will become very 46 00:01:50,669 --> 00:01:52,836 shortly . The other thing that I think 47 00:01:52,836 --> 00:01:54,502 is worthy of a few minutes of 48 00:01:54,502 --> 00:01:56,502 discussion are these things that we 49 00:01:56,502 --> 00:01:59,250 call bog or barrier analysis working 50 00:01:59,250 --> 00:02:02,050 groups , We've had several in the past 51 00:02:02,050 --> 00:02:04,320 but they've actually been evolving over 52 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:06,542 time and really quickly . What I'd like 53 00:02:06,542 --> 00:02:09,070 to do is kind of articulate the boggs 54 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,970 that I have been established inside our 55 00:02:11,970 --> 00:02:14,880 Air Force . There's best which is the 56 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:18,600 black employment strategy team debt , 57 00:02:18,610 --> 00:02:20,960 which is the disability action team 58 00:02:21,740 --> 00:02:23,790 heat , which is the hispanic 59 00:02:23,790 --> 00:02:26,890 empowerment action team I net , which 60 00:02:26,890 --> 00:02:29,260 is indigenous nations equality team 61 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:32,630 packed , which is a pacific islander 62 00:02:32,630 --> 00:02:35,750 asian american community team , wit 63 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,140 women's initiatives team And lastly and 64 00:02:40,150 --> 00:02:42,180 really we're doing this in honor of 65 00:02:42,190 --> 00:02:45,310 pride month here in June one which is 66 00:02:45,310 --> 00:02:48,450 the L G B T Q plus initiative team . 67 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,351 So today that's going to be the topic 68 00:02:51,351 --> 00:02:54,420 of this real talk and uh Brenda really 69 00:02:54,420 --> 00:02:56,364 I think this is probably really an 70 00:02:56,364 --> 00:02:58,476 excellent place for us to start . Can 71 00:02:58,476 --> 00:03:01,220 you talk to us about the bog or the 72 00:03:01,220 --> 00:03:03,498 very analysis working group lit please ? 73 00:03:03,498 --> 00:03:05,770 Yes , sir . Thanks . Um and just a 74 00:03:05,770 --> 00:03:08,640 shout out to my friends in the wit uh 75 00:03:08,650 --> 00:03:11,240 doing this for you . So thank you . Uh 76 00:03:11,250 --> 00:03:13,990 so by way of letting folks know what 77 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,230 these teams do is that they identify 78 00:03:17,230 --> 00:03:20,460 for senior deaf leadership . What are 79 00:03:20,460 --> 00:03:22,850 some of the barriers to hiring and 80 00:03:22,850 --> 00:03:24,906 retaining and having the best talent 81 00:03:24,906 --> 00:03:27,128 that we can , but also making sure that 82 00:03:27,128 --> 00:03:29,480 we understand the places where we might 83 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:31,647 be creating uncomfortable environments 84 00:03:31,647 --> 00:03:33,950 or having language that doesn't work 85 00:03:33,950 --> 00:03:36,010 for all of the airmen that represent 86 00:03:36,010 --> 00:03:38,950 our Air Force and in the case of lit 87 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,610 for the gay , bisexual transgender 88 00:03:42,620 --> 00:03:46,150 queer plus , um , uh , communities and 89 00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:48,206 our airmen . That's what little hope 90 00:03:48,340 --> 00:03:51,520 wants to do . And we have several lines 91 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:53,520 of effort that we work on . I'll go 92 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:55,853 into those a little bit , but it's also , 93 00:03:55,853 --> 00:03:58,440 it's kind of fun . The acronym , the 94 00:03:58,450 --> 00:04:00,506 team gets to come up with an acronym 95 00:04:00,506 --> 00:04:02,561 and it needs to be meaningful and it 96 00:04:02,561 --> 00:04:05,670 needs to represent . But it also uh in 97 00:04:05,670 --> 00:04:08,980 some ways can be how you want to show 98 00:04:08,980 --> 00:04:11,202 the world what you think of your team . 99 00:04:11,202 --> 00:04:14,020 And for us in lit , we want to shine 100 00:04:14,020 --> 00:04:16,187 light and we want to keep the path lit 101 00:04:16,187 --> 00:04:18,410 for not only those who have come before 102 00:04:18,410 --> 00:04:21,140 us and have struggled mightily , but 103 00:04:21,140 --> 00:04:23,460 also where we're headed into the future 104 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:26,760 and shine the light on that . So 105 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:30,090 lit as you were saying is is fairly new 106 00:04:30,100 --> 00:04:33,400 and my good friend and a general 107 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,150 officer , I respect . Uh Major General 108 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:39,450 lee A lot of lot of back . She has done 109 00:04:39,450 --> 00:04:42,490 tremendous work um with the lit team 110 00:04:42,500 --> 00:04:45,200 and brought together uh We have several , 111 00:04:45,210 --> 00:04:47,350 a couple 100 airmen I think now and 112 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,250 spouses and allies in the team and it 113 00:04:50,250 --> 00:04:53,120 continues to grow . So we appreciate 114 00:04:53,130 --> 00:04:55,130 the leadership of the Air force 115 00:04:55,140 --> 00:04:58,260 enabling us to have this group . So 116 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,751 some folks would might want to know , 117 00:05:00,751 --> 00:05:02,918 you know , what are some of the issues 118 00:05:02,918 --> 00:05:05,140 that are specific before you get that ? 119 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:04,620 I want to get on one piece because I 120 00:05:04,620 --> 00:05:06,676 don't want the moment to go by . But 121 00:05:06,676 --> 00:05:08,676 you and I had an excellent back and 122 00:05:08,676 --> 00:05:12,580 forth with respect to the acronym L G 123 00:05:12,580 --> 00:05:16,120 B T Q plus . And you know , of course 124 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,120 my really uninformed perspective was in 125 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,176 fact , I think I said , hey Brenda , 126 00:05:22,176 --> 00:05:24,287 there's enough letters there now that 127 00:05:24,287 --> 00:05:23,740 you know , we should probably need to 128 00:05:23,910 --> 00:05:26,077 spell out something , so it's a little 129 00:05:26,077 --> 00:05:27,966 bit easier to remember . But your 130 00:05:27,966 --> 00:05:30,188 response was actually very insightful . 131 00:05:30,188 --> 00:05:29,280 Would you mind sharing that with us ? 132 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:31,450 Thanks . Yes sir , I would love to 133 00:05:31,450 --> 00:05:33,561 share this with you and a lot . I get 134 00:05:33,561 --> 00:05:35,672 that question a lot . What are , what 135 00:05:35,672 --> 00:05:37,894 are all the letters and why ? So many ? 136 00:05:37,894 --> 00:05:40,950 I can boil it down . 21 thing really , 137 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,620 it's the straight and non straight or 138 00:05:44,630 --> 00:05:46,540 heterosexual and non heterosexual 139 00:05:46,540 --> 00:05:49,280 communities and how not just airmen , 140 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:51,190 but how society and people within 141 00:05:51,190 --> 00:05:55,140 society define and gender and what 142 00:05:55,140 --> 00:05:58,140 we , what we are seeing as our society 143 00:05:58,140 --> 00:06:00,250 evolves and people are able to talk 144 00:06:00,250 --> 00:06:02,028 more about themselves and their 145 00:06:02,028 --> 00:06:04,710 families and how they live their lives 146 00:06:04,710 --> 00:06:07,740 and create family and community is that 147 00:06:07,750 --> 00:06:10,160 there's a whole spectrum of how people 148 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,271 define themselves and others in terms 149 00:06:12,271 --> 00:06:16,220 of and gender . So the letters 150 00:06:16,230 --> 00:06:19,400 actually are a celebration in a way of 151 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,160 all of the diverse communities within 152 00:06:22,540 --> 00:06:26,470 the non straight communities and so , 153 00:06:27,050 --> 00:06:29,910 gay , bisexual , transgender and 154 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,290 queer and plus is uh , there's 155 00:06:33,300 --> 00:06:35,590 intersects , there's a sexual , there's 156 00:06:35,590 --> 00:06:38,150 pan sexual . I mean there are just any 157 00:06:38,150 --> 00:06:40,039 number of ways that folks defined 158 00:06:40,039 --> 00:06:43,940 themselves and live their lives 159 00:06:43,940 --> 00:06:46,150 to the fullest . I like the plus 160 00:06:46,150 --> 00:06:49,170 because it says that it's not limiting 161 00:06:49,180 --> 00:06:52,690 their , there can be more as we all 162 00:06:52,690 --> 00:06:54,968 decide how we want to define ourselves . 163 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:57,950 Um , the interesting letter is also the 164 00:06:57,950 --> 00:07:01,080 queue , right , queer and in the past 165 00:07:01,090 --> 00:07:03,860 as we all know , queer was a derogatory 166 00:07:03,860 --> 00:07:07,650 term . And the LGBTQ community 167 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:10,740 over the past few years has decided to 168 00:07:10,750 --> 00:07:13,160 take that term back and own it and turn 169 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,382 it into something that's celebrated and 170 00:07:15,382 --> 00:07:18,450 something that's used , um , as a term 171 00:07:18,460 --> 00:07:21,950 to open up an entire , um , culture 172 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,127 behind that and thoughts . And there's 173 00:07:24,127 --> 00:07:26,349 academic work behind it in research . I 174 00:07:26,349 --> 00:07:28,238 mean , it's really kind of a rich 175 00:07:28,238 --> 00:07:30,404 environment and turn behind that . And 176 00:07:30,404 --> 00:07:33,860 so that's why and with lit , we decided 177 00:07:33,870 --> 00:07:37,140 to definitely put the Q in there and 178 00:07:37,140 --> 00:07:40,900 the plus um so that we can capture 179 00:07:40,910 --> 00:07:44,690 as many airmen as we can today but also 180 00:07:44,690 --> 00:07:47,060 leave it open to chairman of the future . 181 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,750 Um So yeah really insightful and I 182 00:07:50,750 --> 00:07:52,750 appreciate that you shared that the 183 00:07:52,750 --> 00:07:54,861 other day and ensuring at this time . 184 00:07:54,861 --> 00:07:56,972 Yeah , so okay so you do have quite a 185 00:07:56,972 --> 00:08:00,040 bit of uh an agenda or initiatives 186 00:08:00,050 --> 00:08:02,410 within the lit portfolio . Could you 187 00:08:02,420 --> 00:08:05,590 describe some of those forces and as a 188 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:07,711 barrier analysis working group team , 189 00:08:07,711 --> 00:08:09,711 you're required to have initiatives 190 00:08:09,711 --> 00:08:12,720 objectives , a vision and you have to 191 00:08:12,730 --> 00:08:16,310 report on that and we hold meetings and 192 00:08:16,310 --> 00:08:18,310 and we're accountable to how are we 193 00:08:18,310 --> 00:08:20,532 going to pursue these . So the big ones 194 00:08:20,532 --> 00:08:23,240 that we're looking at right now , our 195 00:08:23,250 --> 00:08:25,630 medical issues issues around 196 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:28,860 transgender airmen , education 197 00:08:28,870 --> 00:08:31,500 particularly language and how we 198 00:08:31,500 --> 00:08:35,210 interact as senior leaders or how we do 199 00:08:35,210 --> 00:08:38,930 things like marketing um and uh data 200 00:08:38,940 --> 00:08:41,162 because if you're gonna if you're gonna 201 00:08:41,162 --> 00:08:43,051 determine that you have a barrier 202 00:08:43,051 --> 00:08:45,051 whether you have a barrier or not , 203 00:08:45,051 --> 00:08:46,884 it's good to have data behind it 204 00:08:46,884 --> 00:08:48,718 because we all have anecdotes or 205 00:08:48,718 --> 00:08:50,496 stories or something that we're 206 00:08:50,496 --> 00:08:52,662 familiar with where we can say oh yeah 207 00:08:52,662 --> 00:08:54,773 that happened at this time or in this 208 00:08:54,773 --> 00:08:56,940 unit and that helps inform us where to 209 00:08:56,940 --> 00:08:59,320 look . But if you want to really 210 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,010 identify barriers and work through them 211 00:09:02,020 --> 00:09:05,520 by changing policy , changing law , you 212 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,100 know in the case of your LGBTQ Plus 213 00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:10,707 community , there's been a few changes 214 00:09:10,707 --> 00:09:13,800 in law um or where resources could be 215 00:09:13,810 --> 00:09:15,977 better we put , you need to be able to 216 00:09:15,977 --> 00:09:18,254 put the data behind it . So we do that . 217 00:09:18,254 --> 00:09:20,143 And then another issue that we're 218 00:09:20,143 --> 00:09:22,254 looking at is um working a little bit 219 00:09:22,254 --> 00:09:24,310 right now with the Office of General 220 00:09:24,310 --> 00:09:27,030 Counsel around um senior leader 221 00:09:27,030 --> 00:09:29,650 security and I'll talk about that a 222 00:09:29,650 --> 00:09:32,000 little bit in a second . But if I can 223 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:34,222 kinda , I'll just go backwards a little 224 00:09:34,222 --> 00:09:35,944 bit and talk about some of the 225 00:09:35,944 --> 00:09:38,000 initiatives are examples of , okay , 226 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,167 why did you choose these as as some of 227 00:09:40,167 --> 00:09:42,260 their um uh , things that they're 228 00:09:42,260 --> 00:09:46,170 working on the medical one . The that 229 00:09:46,170 --> 00:09:48,059 also ties in with the transgender 230 00:09:48,059 --> 00:09:49,948 airman . And what are transgender 231 00:09:49,948 --> 00:09:52,059 airmen are are going through in terms 232 00:09:52,059 --> 00:09:55,980 of care to medical resources . Um , 233 00:09:55,990 --> 00:09:58,620 and in some cases , transgender airmen 234 00:09:58,620 --> 00:10:00,620 can still be turned down by medical 235 00:10:00,620 --> 00:10:03,010 providers . So imagine just trying to 236 00:10:03,010 --> 00:10:05,066 get the care that you would normally 237 00:10:05,066 --> 00:10:07,200 get and being told no , we won't see 238 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,311 you . So we're looking at that is one 239 00:10:09,311 --> 00:10:11,589 of the transgender medical initiatives . 240 00:10:11,589 --> 00:10:13,800 The other thing that's a big deal is 241 00:10:13,810 --> 00:10:16,410 access to reproductive support . So if 242 00:10:16,410 --> 00:10:18,930 you want to have a family and you're 243 00:10:18,930 --> 00:10:21,570 going to use reproductive support 244 00:10:21,580 --> 00:10:23,858 because if you're in the same marriage , 245 00:10:23,858 --> 00:10:25,969 then you do in vitro fertilization or 246 00:10:25,969 --> 00:10:27,969 you do surrogacy or something along 247 00:10:27,969 --> 00:10:31,500 those lines . And um , it's interesting 248 00:10:31,500 --> 00:10:33,950 because say you have a same female 249 00:10:33,950 --> 00:10:36,172 couple and they want to have Children . 250 00:10:36,440 --> 00:10:39,560 Well , lots of couples do you know , in 251 00:10:39,560 --> 00:10:43,530 vitro fertilization or methods that can 252 00:10:43,530 --> 00:10:46,660 get get you on your road to have a 253 00:10:46,670 --> 00:10:50,530 family and in the case of a same female 254 00:10:50,530 --> 00:10:53,400 couple , if they were to access care to 255 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:55,810 go into the military system and say , 256 00:10:55,820 --> 00:10:58,430 okay , we want to have a baby . Okay , 257 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,662 well which one of you is going to carry 258 00:11:00,662 --> 00:11:02,718 a baby ? Okay . So this this girl is 259 00:11:02,718 --> 00:11:04,829 going to be the one who will have the 260 00:11:04,829 --> 00:11:07,270 pregnancy and carry the baby . Fine . 261 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,180 The military system knows how to 262 00:11:09,180 --> 00:11:11,590 recognize her and put her through the 263 00:11:11,590 --> 00:11:14,080 care that she needs . But the other 264 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,160 partner , the other female , uh the 265 00:11:16,170 --> 00:11:19,000 military , um we're working on this 266 00:11:19,010 --> 00:11:21,180 didn't have language for that or a way 267 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:25,080 to identify what that other spouse 268 00:11:25,130 --> 00:11:28,240 is . And so there have been examples in 269 00:11:28,240 --> 00:11:30,750 the past where the military has said , 270 00:11:30,750 --> 00:11:32,417 well , we don't have a way to 271 00:11:32,417 --> 00:11:34,740 categorize you . So we're going to just 272 00:11:34,740 --> 00:11:37,560 consider you the sterile male . 273 00:11:37,940 --> 00:11:41,620 And so it's like and she's 274 00:11:41,620 --> 00:11:43,970 all well , okay , I mean , how does 275 00:11:43,970 --> 00:11:46,540 that work ? Right ? And it gets it gets 276 00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:49,180 even more complex when you go through 277 00:11:49,180 --> 00:11:52,980 these processes as the female sterile 278 00:11:52,980 --> 00:11:55,202 male , you still get asked questions on 279 00:11:55,202 --> 00:11:58,490 a lot of forms about um you know , did 280 00:11:58,490 --> 00:12:00,601 you have these tests and how did they 281 00:12:00,601 --> 00:12:02,934 come back ? And it's like , no I didn't , 282 00:12:02,934 --> 00:12:05,046 you know didn't have the test because 283 00:12:05,046 --> 00:12:07,157 there's no reason to have a test . So 284 00:12:07,157 --> 00:12:07,120 it just gets really kind of convoluted . 285 00:12:07,130 --> 00:12:09,720 Um The other thing that's interesting 286 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:12,020 on the medical side too is when you ask 287 00:12:12,020 --> 00:12:14,298 a same couple and you go in for your P . 288 00:12:14,298 --> 00:12:16,409 H . A . Or something and they ask you 289 00:12:16,409 --> 00:12:18,464 what are your forms of birth control 290 00:12:18,464 --> 00:12:20,576 And there there isn't one on the form 291 00:12:20,576 --> 00:12:24,450 so that says same marriage . So there's 292 00:12:24,450 --> 00:12:27,490 a lot of heteronormative language 293 00:12:27,500 --> 00:12:30,070 that's used or forms or just updating 294 00:12:30,070 --> 00:12:33,120 for options on the medical side . Uh As 295 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,880 one example in the education side this 296 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:39,710 is talking about giving resources and 297 00:12:39,710 --> 00:12:41,980 language to our airmen . Especially to 298 00:12:41,980 --> 00:12:44,258 our leaders about how to talk about it . 299 00:12:44,258 --> 00:12:46,424 What does what does the acronym mean ? 300 00:12:46,424 --> 00:12:48,880 And how do the individual parts of that 301 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,470 acronym where do they come together ? 302 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,030 Where do they diverge ? And how can 303 00:12:54,030 --> 00:12:56,440 leaders have be equipped with a 304 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,607 language that helps them talk to their 305 00:12:58,607 --> 00:13:02,520 airmen ? And um some examples of that 306 00:13:02,530 --> 00:13:06,420 are , for instance , when the 307 00:13:06,430 --> 00:13:08,374 uh chairman of Family Writing this 308 00:13:08,374 --> 00:13:10,708 holds a class , they may say , you know , 309 00:13:10,708 --> 00:13:12,710 daddy and daughter class . And if 310 00:13:12,710 --> 00:13:15,160 you're in the same female couple , well 311 00:13:15,170 --> 00:13:18,740 there's no you in that phrase or , you 312 00:13:18,740 --> 00:13:21,270 know , mommy and preschoolers . And 313 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:23,447 it's okay . It's not to say to get rid 314 00:13:23,447 --> 00:13:25,960 of that language . It's to look at ways 315 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,670 to have inclusive language That doesn't 316 00:13:28,680 --> 00:13:30,680 make folks who don't fit that 317 00:13:30,690 --> 00:13:34,540 particular uh , category feel okay . 318 00:13:34,550 --> 00:13:38,250 I remember my spouse an and I , we 319 00:13:38,250 --> 00:13:40,960 were wing command couple at Kirtland 320 00:13:41,340 --> 00:13:43,860 and there was a marriage retreat . 321 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:46,800 That's great . Let's go to a marriage 322 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:48,689 retreat . Well , we picked up the 323 00:13:48,689 --> 00:13:50,800 pamphlet and we looked at it , it was 324 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:52,967 straight couples . But we also noticed 325 00:13:52,967 --> 00:13:55,460 it was straight white couples . There 326 00:13:55,460 --> 00:13:57,910 were no biracial multiracial couples . 327 00:13:57,910 --> 00:14:00,243 There were , you know , no same couples . 328 00:14:00,243 --> 00:14:03,350 And it's not that they were trying to 329 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:06,220 sometimes and sometimes you're called 330 00:14:06,230 --> 00:14:09,790 microaggressions in a way or um where 331 00:14:09,790 --> 00:14:11,457 you're trying to do something 332 00:14:11,457 --> 00:14:13,512 meaningful , but the language or the 333 00:14:13,512 --> 00:14:15,568 way you present it just falls flat . 334 00:14:15,568 --> 00:14:17,679 And so we're trying to identify those 335 00:14:17,679 --> 00:14:19,790 and bring those forward . Um you have 336 00:14:19,790 --> 00:14:21,679 an agenda . I mean it's a healthy 337 00:14:21,679 --> 00:14:23,790 initiative . It is a batch of it is , 338 00:14:23,790 --> 00:14:25,901 it's to make sure that our airmen are 339 00:14:25,901 --> 00:14:28,123 are doing well . So um the last thing I 340 00:14:28,123 --> 00:14:30,234 want to talk about real quick on this 341 00:14:30,234 --> 00:14:32,179 is also talking with the Office of 342 00:14:32,179 --> 00:14:31,840 General Counsel on Senior Leader 343 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,160 Security . Because the LGBTQ Plus 344 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,450 community , as everybody is aware of 345 00:14:37,740 --> 00:14:41,250 off is often the target of harassment , 346 00:14:41,340 --> 00:14:44,470 um hate and threats . And our senior 347 00:14:44,470 --> 00:14:46,440 leaders are getting that in the 348 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,607 military , not just general officers , 349 00:14:48,607 --> 00:14:50,496 but Wing Commander's uh and other 350 00:14:50,496 --> 00:14:53,570 commanders who are being allies of the 351 00:14:53,570 --> 00:14:55,840 LGBTQ Plus community or are part of it 352 00:14:55,850 --> 00:14:58,460 and are speaking out and leading airmen . 353 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,220 In fact , this week , I was at Keesler 354 00:15:01,220 --> 00:15:04,310 Air Force Base for a pride event and 355 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,140 the event there was fantastic and the 356 00:15:07,140 --> 00:15:09,196 Wing commander , Colonel Blackwell , 357 00:15:09,740 --> 00:15:11,740 did a terrific job and she has been 358 00:15:11,740 --> 00:15:13,796 doing these initiatives and talks as 359 00:15:13,796 --> 00:15:16,280 well for the past year and a half . And 360 00:15:16,290 --> 00:15:18,512 for the first time in a year and a half 361 00:15:18,512 --> 00:15:20,679 holding these events , she had to have 362 00:15:20,679 --> 00:15:22,910 armed security forces come in and clear 363 00:15:22,910 --> 00:15:25,120 the areas and then also be present for 364 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:27,850 the panel and the talks because of the 365 00:15:27,850 --> 00:15:30,140 threats that she had heard of and they 366 00:15:30,140 --> 00:15:32,760 had received because of this particular 367 00:15:32,770 --> 00:15:36,390 um subject . So we're working 368 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,890 to try to identify ways that we can 369 00:15:39,900 --> 00:15:42,810 look at who is , who is threatening , 370 00:15:42,820 --> 00:15:44,764 what's going on with that and then 371 00:15:44,764 --> 00:15:48,050 mitigate it and address it . So really 372 00:15:48,050 --> 00:15:50,240 interesting kind of spectrum and tons 373 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,073 actually , you know , it kind of 374 00:15:52,073 --> 00:15:54,240 precluded the the other question I was 375 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,470 gonna ask along that lines was uh do 376 00:15:57,470 --> 00:15:59,800 the boggs kind of compare notes and how 377 00:15:59,810 --> 00:16:01,810 different are the agendas . But you 378 00:16:01,810 --> 00:16:04,120 just laid out that uh there may be some 379 00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:06,580 similar ground there but there is tons 380 00:16:06,590 --> 00:16:09,830 of unplowed ground period 381 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,870 certainly within lit that you just laid 382 00:16:12,870 --> 00:16:15,080 out . Sure . And I think the language 383 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,240 one is definitely one that can go 384 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,020 across the teams because that's 385 00:16:20,020 --> 00:16:22,490 important . Uh and the whole education 386 00:16:22,490 --> 00:16:24,980 piece Is definitely one . So yes sir . 387 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:27,740 Yes . So Brenda , if we could shift 388 00:16:27,740 --> 00:16:30,170 gears just a little bit . You and I 389 00:16:30,170 --> 00:16:32,392 have known each other literally decades 390 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:36,690 but suffice to say our experiences in 391 00:16:36,690 --> 00:16:39,350 the military probably even though we're 392 00:16:39,350 --> 00:16:42,160 both special operators by trade 393 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,910 probably couldn't be more desperate . I 394 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:48,320 was wondering if you would share with 395 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:50,680 us ? Kind of your journey ? If you 396 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,240 would . Yes , sir , I will . And most 397 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:56,910 of my journey was under . Don't ask . 398 00:16:56,910 --> 00:16:59,080 Don't tell . And it's been an 399 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:01,191 interesting journey because I came in 400 00:17:01,191 --> 00:17:03,600 at the time when women in combat , uh , 401 00:17:03,610 --> 00:17:05,910 that was being overturned and women 402 00:17:05,910 --> 00:17:08,021 were allowed to come in combat . Um , 403 00:17:08,021 --> 00:17:10,132 and also don't don't ask , don't tell 404 00:17:10,132 --> 00:17:12,770 was in place or put in place and then 405 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:16,020 was in place for years . And so , um , 406 00:17:16,030 --> 00:17:19,350 I when I first came into the Air Force , 407 00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:21,420 um , kind of being here is a special 408 00:17:21,420 --> 00:17:23,840 operator and talking about my spouse , 409 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,007 my wife and Harrington would have been 410 00:17:26,007 --> 00:17:29,720 impossible . So being here is 411 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:32,490 it's really special . So , thank you 412 00:17:32,490 --> 00:17:34,823 for this opportunity to talk about this . 413 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:37,518 Um , in my early years under don't ask . 414 00:17:37,518 --> 00:17:39,629 Don't tell . And I know I speak for a 415 00:17:39,629 --> 00:17:39,470 lot of my friends when I talk about 416 00:17:39,470 --> 00:17:41,450 this . Uh , by the way , we're 417 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:43,672 celebrating the 10th anniversary of the 418 00:17:43,672 --> 00:17:46,770 repeal in 2011 . Uh , we lived really 419 00:17:46,770 --> 00:17:48,992 compartmented lives because don't ask . 420 00:17:48,992 --> 00:17:52,180 Don't tell was an interesting policy in 421 00:17:52,180 --> 00:17:55,770 that it allows you to be in . But 422 00:17:55,940 --> 00:17:58,440 you just couldn't say anything . And 423 00:17:58,450 --> 00:18:00,672 people think , well , you just couldn't 424 00:18:00,672 --> 00:18:04,370 say you were gay or or bi . I get 425 00:18:04,370 --> 00:18:07,500 that . But that comes with a whole lot 426 00:18:07,500 --> 00:18:10,700 of , um , difficulties and challenges , 427 00:18:10,710 --> 00:18:13,060 uh , that people don't even realize . 428 00:18:13,740 --> 00:18:15,890 Um , and don't , you know , so don't 429 00:18:15,890 --> 00:18:17,779 ask . Don't tell . So our friends 430 00:18:17,779 --> 00:18:20,030 couldn't ask and we couldn't tell the 431 00:18:20,030 --> 00:18:21,808 problem . Well there's multiple 432 00:18:21,808 --> 00:18:24,030 problems with it , but it just requires 433 00:18:24,030 --> 00:18:26,141 you to live this super compartment of 434 00:18:26,141 --> 00:18:28,670 life where I and my friends had to come 435 00:18:28,670 --> 00:18:30,726 to work every day and do the mission 436 00:18:30,726 --> 00:18:32,890 and support the mission that we love 437 00:18:32,900 --> 00:18:36,410 without ever saying anything about our 438 00:18:36,410 --> 00:18:38,640 family , our partner or significant 439 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,900 others . And I tell my friends who did 440 00:18:41,900 --> 00:18:44,122 not live under . Don't ask , don't tell 441 00:18:44,122 --> 00:18:47,940 um , try going through 20 hours without 442 00:18:47,940 --> 00:18:50,162 mentioning anything that indicates that 443 00:18:50,162 --> 00:18:53,690 you have a family or that you are 444 00:18:53,690 --> 00:18:56,420 married or any of that try for 20 hours 445 00:18:56,430 --> 00:18:58,780 or tried for 20 days . So we did it for 446 00:18:58,780 --> 00:19:02,610 20 , almost 20 years . We had to live 447 00:19:02,620 --> 00:19:04,910 in a way that we are allowed to show up 448 00:19:04,910 --> 00:19:06,854 every day and be a part of the Air 449 00:19:06,854 --> 00:19:08,799 Force family but not really have a 450 00:19:08,799 --> 00:19:11,670 family . And those compartments were 451 00:19:11,670 --> 00:19:14,240 really difficult and things as simple 452 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,480 as deployments , which as you know , 453 00:19:16,480 --> 00:19:19,400 we've played a lot and when you deploy , 454 00:19:19,410 --> 00:19:21,466 usually your family drives you up to 455 00:19:21,466 --> 00:19:23,688 the squadron , drops you off , you grab 456 00:19:23,688 --> 00:19:25,688 your bags and everything and you go 457 00:19:25,688 --> 00:19:25,520 into the squadron in the family , 458 00:19:25,530 --> 00:19:27,697 families come in and you kind of spend 459 00:19:27,697 --> 00:19:29,863 those last moments together before you 460 00:19:29,863 --> 00:19:32,086 jump on the rotator and go down range . 461 00:19:32,086 --> 00:19:34,350 Well , I could never do that . And so 462 00:19:34,370 --> 00:19:36,780 my partner would drive me . You know , 463 00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:39,980 it's always zero darker , zero dark 30 464 00:19:39,980 --> 00:19:42,140 in the morning . So drive up to the 465 00:19:42,140 --> 00:19:44,196 squadron and I would just get out of 466 00:19:44,196 --> 00:19:46,418 the car and grabbed my bags . No hugs , 467 00:19:46,418 --> 00:19:48,640 no , nothing . Just okay . See you kind 468 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:50,751 of waving as if I had taken an Uber , 469 00:19:50,940 --> 00:19:53,330 which didn't exist at the time , but it 470 00:19:53,330 --> 00:19:55,840 was like that . And then I go into the 471 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:57,896 squadron and I'd be around everybody 472 00:19:57,896 --> 00:20:01,010 else and try to kind of act like I'm 473 00:20:01,010 --> 00:20:03,177 cool . You know , everything's good to 474 00:20:03,177 --> 00:20:05,343 go and then you get on the rotator and 475 00:20:05,343 --> 00:20:07,621 you go and then when you're down range , 476 00:20:07,621 --> 00:20:09,732 everybody else , if something were to 477 00:20:09,732 --> 00:20:09,170 have happened to you , they would have 478 00:20:09,180 --> 00:20:11,330 called Miss Donna and if you know the 479 00:20:11,330 --> 00:20:13,441 worst happened to you , then somebody 480 00:20:13,441 --> 00:20:15,386 would have shown up a team in , in 481 00:20:15,386 --> 00:20:17,274 service dress and they would have 482 00:20:17,274 --> 00:20:19,330 provided all the support . Well that 483 00:20:19,330 --> 00:20:21,386 wasn't the case for us , uh , in our 484 00:20:21,386 --> 00:20:23,441 community . Um , we just had to hope 485 00:20:23,441 --> 00:20:25,441 that nothing happened . Um , and if 486 00:20:25,441 --> 00:20:27,500 something did that somehow , our 487 00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:30,370 friends who knew in the squadron would 488 00:20:30,380 --> 00:20:32,990 be able to go handle things the best 489 00:20:32,990 --> 00:20:35,690 they could . But that was really scary 490 00:20:35,690 --> 00:20:37,634 living like that . And then on the 491 00:20:37,634 --> 00:20:40,340 return side of deployments , the 492 00:20:40,340 --> 00:20:42,451 rotator pulls up and as you know , we 493 00:20:42,451 --> 00:20:44,618 had operation homecoming every month , 494 00:20:44,618 --> 00:20:46,673 the rotator would come in and he had 495 00:20:46,673 --> 00:20:48,840 the families and the dogs and the kids 496 00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:48,810 and everybody in balloons and everybody 497 00:20:48,810 --> 00:20:50,977 gets off the airplane and greets their 498 00:20:50,977 --> 00:20:53,610 loved ones . And uh , I just got off 499 00:20:53,610 --> 00:20:56,270 the airplane right walk through and I 500 00:20:56,270 --> 00:20:58,780 mean I was happy to see people , but I 501 00:20:58,780 --> 00:21:01,540 had to go outside and bring my bags and 502 00:21:01,550 --> 00:21:03,550 kind of load him in a car and again 503 00:21:03,550 --> 00:21:06,000 pretend like I just had somebody I knew 504 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:08,167 picked me up when in fact it was , you 505 00:21:08,167 --> 00:21:10,500 know , my significant out of there . So , 506 00:21:10,500 --> 00:21:12,760 but as a squadron commander , I really 507 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:14,982 loved that the Air Force did all that . 508 00:21:14,982 --> 00:21:17,038 So I supported it and I went to them 509 00:21:17,038 --> 00:21:19,093 and I wanted to support our families 510 00:21:19,093 --> 00:21:21,204 like that . So I I kind of lived this 511 00:21:21,204 --> 00:21:23,300 this dual life . Um The other thing 512 00:21:23,300 --> 00:21:25,522 that was interesting about living under 513 00:21:25,522 --> 00:21:27,578 don't ask , don't tell is it created 514 00:21:27,578 --> 00:21:29,744 this artificial vulnerability in terms 515 00:21:29,744 --> 00:21:33,050 of security clearances . Because if we 516 00:21:33,050 --> 00:21:35,910 have this artificial requirement or or 517 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:39,450 or restriction on being 518 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,450 ah gay in the military , because we 519 00:21:43,460 --> 00:21:46,020 decide that , then there was always the 520 00:21:46,020 --> 00:21:47,742 issue of , well , you could be 521 00:21:47,742 --> 00:21:49,964 blackmailed if anybody finds out you're 522 00:21:49,964 --> 00:21:52,076 gay . It was like why are we imposing 523 00:21:52,076 --> 00:21:55,460 that on ourselves ? Um And so we want 524 00:21:55,460 --> 00:21:57,627 to don't ask , don't tell was lifted . 525 00:21:57,627 --> 00:21:59,682 It was like , okay , yeah , that was 526 00:21:59,682 --> 00:22:01,627 easy . We got rid of that security 527 00:22:01,627 --> 00:22:03,849 vulnerability , literally for no reason 528 00:22:03,849 --> 00:22:06,420 that was in place . The other thing too 529 00:22:06,420 --> 00:22:09,880 is I love the Air Force , I love 530 00:22:09,890 --> 00:22:12,110 abstract , I love the mission , but I 531 00:22:12,110 --> 00:22:14,221 could not be fully present . I wanted 532 00:22:14,221 --> 00:22:16,443 to , I gave everything I could , but it 533 00:22:16,443 --> 00:22:18,750 was you know , half of myself because I 534 00:22:18,750 --> 00:22:20,861 always had half of myself tied behind 535 00:22:20,861 --> 00:22:23,083 my back because it was that compartment 536 00:22:23,083 --> 00:22:24,972 of who my family was and what was 537 00:22:24,972 --> 00:22:27,083 important to me outside of that . And 538 00:22:27,083 --> 00:22:29,260 so there was just and I know our other 539 00:22:29,260 --> 00:22:31,427 airmen were very restricted by that as 540 00:22:31,427 --> 00:22:35,320 well or other LGBTQ Plus Airman . So 541 00:22:35,330 --> 00:22:37,670 uh let's if you don't want to I want to 542 00:22:37,670 --> 00:22:39,837 talk a little about the Air Force core 543 00:22:39,837 --> 00:22:42,300 values and Air Force core values were 544 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:44,356 something that I thought about a lot 545 00:22:44,356 --> 00:22:46,411 and I was in the Air Force when when 546 00:22:46,411 --> 00:22:50,330 they were created and yeah , you look 547 00:22:50,330 --> 00:22:52,441 at service before self excellence and 548 00:22:52,441 --> 00:22:54,497 all . We do an integrity and service 549 00:22:54,497 --> 00:22:56,900 before self . That is something that I 550 00:22:56,900 --> 00:22:59,340 will tell you that uh your L . G . B . 551 00:22:59,340 --> 00:23:01,660 T . Q members who were serving under . 552 00:23:01,660 --> 00:23:03,604 Don't ask don't tell and today but 553 00:23:03,604 --> 00:23:05,604 really under Don't ask don't tell . 554 00:23:05,604 --> 00:23:07,827 They were all about service Before Self 555 00:23:07,827 --> 00:23:10,300 I think the Secretary Defense a couple 556 00:23:10,300 --> 00:23:12,578 weeks ago said it really well in his D . 557 00:23:12,578 --> 00:23:14,578 O . D . Pride speech , he said they 558 00:23:14,578 --> 00:23:16,633 fought for our country even when our 559 00:23:16,633 --> 00:23:18,800 country wouldn't fight for them and we 560 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,650 put everything we love and no aside to 561 00:23:21,650 --> 00:23:24,720 continue fighting to for our country . 562 00:23:24,730 --> 00:23:26,920 So service before self is something I 563 00:23:26,930 --> 00:23:30,490 really relate to excellence and all we 564 00:23:30,490 --> 00:23:32,657 do . And this is kind of a one that my 565 00:23:32,657 --> 00:23:34,434 friends and I in the LGBTQ plus 566 00:23:34,434 --> 00:23:36,657 Community kind of joke about because we 567 00:23:36,657 --> 00:23:38,768 wanted we wanted to be so bad that we 568 00:23:38,768 --> 00:23:40,768 gave everything we had to it and we 569 00:23:40,768 --> 00:23:42,879 would joke that you could almost tell 570 00:23:42,879 --> 00:23:44,990 who was in the LGBTQ Plus community 571 00:23:44,990 --> 00:23:47,700 because they have all these awards when 572 00:23:47,700 --> 00:23:49,811 you talk about excellence and all you 573 00:23:49,811 --> 00:23:52,033 do , Including one of my friends who is 574 00:23:52,033 --> 00:23:54,089 a retired chief and for the 30 years 575 00:23:54,089 --> 00:23:56,200 that she was in , she had a quarterly 576 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,200 or yearly award every year that she 577 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,311 served . And part of that was wanting 578 00:24:00,311 --> 00:24:02,478 to be excellent and wanting to serve . 579 00:24:02,478 --> 00:24:04,589 But part of it was also wanting to be 580 00:24:04,589 --> 00:24:06,890 above reproach so that if somebody 581 00:24:06,900 --> 00:24:09,410 thought , well I don't really like you . 582 00:24:09,410 --> 00:24:12,350 So I'm going to report you to us . I 583 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:14,930 that you could find yourself in a 584 00:24:14,940 --> 00:24:17,740 situation that could ruin your career . 585 00:24:17,750 --> 00:24:19,860 And so you wanted to be that airmen 586 00:24:19,870 --> 00:24:22,092 that your commanders in your leadership 587 00:24:22,092 --> 00:24:24,540 said , you know what ? She's so awesome , 588 00:24:24,540 --> 00:24:27,470 He's so awesome . Like we're just gonna 589 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,220 keep going from here . And uh , and so 590 00:24:30,220 --> 00:24:31,942 that was , you know , that was 591 00:24:31,942 --> 00:24:34,053 something that was always present for 592 00:24:34,053 --> 00:24:36,220 us . And then , you know , integrity , 593 00:24:36,220 --> 00:24:38,276 I I always had to live under . Don't 594 00:24:38,276 --> 00:24:40,442 ask , don't tell with the nobody could 595 00:24:40,442 --> 00:24:42,609 ask me , but people in the course of a 596 00:24:42,609 --> 00:24:44,498 normal conversation talking about 597 00:24:44,498 --> 00:24:44,260 family , we're talking about the air 598 00:24:44,260 --> 00:24:46,460 force all the time , which is great . 599 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:48,696 You know , you're married , you have 600 00:24:48,696 --> 00:24:50,751 kids . And so sometimes people would 601 00:24:50,751 --> 00:24:52,807 just say , oh , you're so you're not 602 00:24:52,807 --> 00:24:54,862 married yet , are you going to be or 603 00:24:54,862 --> 00:24:57,250 something very innocent like that ? And 604 00:24:57,260 --> 00:25:00,630 I would say to them , if I meet the man 605 00:25:00,630 --> 00:25:03,190 who was my match , I will marry him and 606 00:25:03,190 --> 00:25:05,468 I knowing that was an infant testimony , 607 00:25:05,468 --> 00:25:07,900 small chance probably . But you know , 608 00:25:07,910 --> 00:25:10,077 I suppose it would have been true to . 609 00:25:10,077 --> 00:25:12,299 So that's , that's kind of how I handle 610 00:25:12,299 --> 00:25:14,521 that . But living under don't ask Santo 611 00:25:14,521 --> 00:25:16,743 was very confusing . The other thing it 612 00:25:16,743 --> 00:25:18,966 was confusing for , it was not just the 613 00:25:18,966 --> 00:25:21,730 gay bi members . It was also everybody 614 00:25:21,740 --> 00:25:24,420 like you and our other airmen who knew 615 00:25:24,420 --> 00:25:26,750 us . So we had to be really careful 616 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:28,694 because we never wanted to put our 617 00:25:28,694 --> 00:25:30,861 friends and our co workers in a bind . 618 00:25:30,861 --> 00:25:33,770 So those of us who knew about us also 619 00:25:33,770 --> 00:25:35,870 had kind of keep it hidden . So they 620 00:25:35,870 --> 00:25:39,360 had and if you , 621 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,970 if we wanted to share ourselves 622 00:25:41,980 --> 00:25:44,950 authentically with our co workers now 623 00:25:44,950 --> 00:25:46,950 we're putting them in a position of 624 00:25:46,950 --> 00:25:48,783 having to hold hold that in case 625 00:25:48,783 --> 00:25:50,561 something were to come up in an 626 00:25:50,561 --> 00:25:52,672 investigation or whatever . It really 627 00:25:52,672 --> 00:25:52,620 just put everybody in this strange bind . 628 00:25:52,630 --> 00:25:55,840 So when it was repealed , that was that 629 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,340 was a fantastic before we shifted that 630 00:25:59,340 --> 00:26:01,284 I just want to comment on the core 631 00:26:01,284 --> 00:26:03,451 values because I love the way you laid 632 00:26:03,451 --> 00:26:05,507 that out . Uh and every all three of 633 00:26:05,507 --> 00:26:08,460 those examples . Excellence one I would 634 00:26:08,460 --> 00:26:11,010 comment on just because I was recently 635 00:26:11,010 --> 00:26:13,066 made aware , by the way , you know , 636 00:26:13,066 --> 00:26:15,399 you're kind of award winners , you know , 637 00:26:15,399 --> 00:26:17,399 you know , is kind of a signal or a 638 00:26:17,399 --> 00:26:19,566 sign or whatever . I was recently made 639 00:26:19,566 --> 00:26:22,510 aware of Airmen . Uh that was as a 640 00:26:22,520 --> 00:26:24,742 serving , you know , Blue Suit airman . 641 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:28,280 Uh she was a firefighter and was 642 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,336 chairman of the Outstanding Women of 643 00:26:30,336 --> 00:26:33,720 the Year , select the and 644 00:26:33,730 --> 00:26:36,960 because of the challenges that she's uh , 645 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:40,090 you know , confronted along her journey , 646 00:26:40,100 --> 00:26:42,590 I got out of the uh active duty blue 647 00:26:42,590 --> 00:26:45,030 suit wearing Air Force was A GS . And 648 00:26:45,030 --> 00:26:48,580 she's now a she's now a two time uh 649 00:26:48,590 --> 00:26:50,640 Sandy Airman of the Year award 650 00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,020 recipient now as a G . S . And it kind 651 00:26:53,020 --> 00:26:55,570 of backs up the point , your 652 00:26:57,110 --> 00:26:59,332 level of excellence . Okay , so tell us 653 00:26:59,332 --> 00:27:01,443 about the repeal of don't ask . Don't 654 00:27:01,443 --> 00:27:04,710 tell in September 20 , 2011 , 11 . Yes . 655 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,190 Um the the most terrifying and 656 00:27:08,200 --> 00:27:11,380 unremarkable day of my career . Uh and 657 00:27:11,380 --> 00:27:13,602 I say that , you know , no , and I done 658 00:27:13,602 --> 00:27:15,658 a lot of combat and been in a lot of 659 00:27:15,658 --> 00:27:18,070 challenging situations . But the repeal 660 00:27:18,070 --> 00:27:20,480 of don't ask , don't tell Congress 661 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:22,830 worked on that for quite a while . And 662 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:26,310 they did the vote at the end of 2010 . 663 00:27:26,310 --> 00:27:28,477 But They said there's going to be this 664 00:27:28,477 --> 00:27:30,720 cooling off period for nine months , 665 00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,942 which is why it didn't actually go into 666 00:27:32,942 --> 00:27:35,109 the repeal into effect in September of 667 00:27:35,109 --> 00:27:37,331 2011 . And I remember watching the vote 668 00:27:37,331 --> 00:27:39,520 on tv , I was actually in California , 669 00:27:39,530 --> 00:27:41,910 senior developmental education at 670 00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,130 stanford and I watched the vote and I 671 00:27:45,130 --> 00:27:48,670 was so excited when it passed . And 672 00:27:49,140 --> 00:27:51,362 And then afterward it was like , well , 673 00:27:51,362 --> 00:27:53,362 that that's great , but what are we 674 00:27:53,362 --> 00:27:55,473 holding on to for the next nine or 10 675 00:27:55,473 --> 00:27:57,529 months for this cooling off period ? 676 00:27:57,540 --> 00:28:00,750 And evidently it was to have a lot of 677 00:28:00,750 --> 00:28:02,910 training . And so a lot of the airmen 678 00:28:02,910 --> 00:28:05,100 who who were in back then , No . And 679 00:28:05,100 --> 00:28:07,620 they had to go through this repeal of 680 00:28:07,620 --> 00:28:09,787 don't ask don't tell training and what 681 00:28:09,787 --> 00:28:12,010 it was going to be like . And um , I 682 00:28:12,010 --> 00:28:13,843 had to go through it , I think I 683 00:28:13,843 --> 00:28:16,930 probably did it , my CBT . Um , and uh 684 00:28:16,940 --> 00:28:20,220 and I thought , wait , I've been in the 685 00:28:20,220 --> 00:28:23,030 Air Force this whole time and now 686 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,207 everybody has to take training because 687 00:28:25,207 --> 00:28:27,318 they're going to just find out that I 688 00:28:27,318 --> 00:28:29,429 am who I am . And the other thing too 689 00:28:29,429 --> 00:28:32,970 was um there was no 690 00:28:32,970 --> 00:28:36,650 training specifically for me or for 691 00:28:36,650 --> 00:28:39,500 people like me who were going to have 692 00:28:39,500 --> 00:28:42,640 the option out to serve freely and be 693 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:44,807 who we were . So if you wanted to come 694 00:28:44,807 --> 00:28:46,973 out or if you wanted to tell people or 695 00:28:46,973 --> 00:28:48,862 if you're just going through this 696 00:28:48,862 --> 00:28:50,307 transition of living this 697 00:28:50,307 --> 00:28:52,362 extraordinarily compartmented life , 698 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:54,451 you're allowed to open those 699 00:28:54,451 --> 00:28:56,784 compartments . Now , how do you do that ? 700 00:28:56,784 --> 00:28:58,840 There was no training for us . There 701 00:28:58,840 --> 00:28:58,640 was nothing , it was just , you know , 702 00:28:58,650 --> 00:29:01,770 good luck , Have fun with that . And I 703 00:29:01,780 --> 00:29:03,780 thought this is really strange . It 704 00:29:03,780 --> 00:29:05,780 seemed backwards , but the day that 705 00:29:05,780 --> 00:29:08,220 came along September 20 , 2011 , I was 706 00:29:08,220 --> 00:29:10,109 working on the joint stuff in the 707 00:29:10,109 --> 00:29:12,276 Pentagon and for everybody's worked in 708 00:29:12,276 --> 00:29:14,276 the pentagon , you know , the metro 709 00:29:14,276 --> 00:29:16,900 pulls up And 23,000 or whatever , 710 00:29:16,900 --> 00:29:18,733 people pour off the metro in the 711 00:29:18,733 --> 00:29:21,310 parking into the pentagon , it fills up 712 00:29:21,310 --> 00:29:23,477 a reason their office of their cubes . 713 00:29:23,477 --> 00:29:25,366 And then at the end of the day it 714 00:29:25,366 --> 00:29:27,588 empties out and it's just day after day 715 00:29:27,588 --> 00:29:30,530 after day . and so the day before I was 716 00:29:30,530 --> 00:29:32,641 going to go in on September 20 and it 717 00:29:32,641 --> 00:29:34,808 was repealed . Um , I was at home with 718 00:29:34,808 --> 00:29:38,730 an and I was nervous as a cat on a hot 719 00:29:38,730 --> 00:29:40,786 tin roof , like what it was gonna be 720 00:29:40,786 --> 00:29:43,080 like tomorrow . I don't know , I was 721 00:29:43,090 --> 00:29:45,257 like , I don't get this nervous before 722 00:29:45,257 --> 00:29:47,146 going on a combat mission , right 723 00:29:47,146 --> 00:29:49,312 mission plan , You're like , okay , we 724 00:29:49,312 --> 00:29:51,312 got this and off you go , I did not 725 00:29:51,312 --> 00:29:53,770 have this , I was , wow , what do I do ? 726 00:29:53,770 --> 00:29:56,420 And and said just go to work , just put 727 00:29:56,420 --> 00:29:59,720 on your uniform and go to work and uh 728 00:29:59,730 --> 00:30:01,940 okay , so that that was the , that was 729 00:30:01,940 --> 00:30:04,610 the commander's intent . I was given go 730 00:30:04,610 --> 00:30:06,721 to work the big boss , the big boss . 731 00:30:06,740 --> 00:30:09,170 So what did I do ? I got on the metro , 732 00:30:09,740 --> 00:30:12,870 um rode the metro , got off the metro , 733 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,520 got onto the escalator , went into the 734 00:30:15,530 --> 00:30:17,880 office or went into the hallways and 735 00:30:17,890 --> 00:30:20,680 everybody else did too . It was totally 736 00:30:20,680 --> 00:30:23,440 boring , totally normal . I just walked 737 00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:26,770 in and I was like , you know what ? 738 00:30:27,340 --> 00:30:31,100 Um my existence today and my 739 00:30:31,110 --> 00:30:34,400 freedom to be who I fully am did not 740 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:36,622 melt down the military . The Department 741 00:30:36,622 --> 00:30:38,844 of Defense is still operating just like 742 00:30:38,844 --> 00:30:41,310 every other day . Um and it's so normal 743 00:30:41,320 --> 00:30:44,490 and that felt so good because I've met 744 00:30:44,500 --> 00:30:46,722 up until that day , had never been able 745 00:30:46,722 --> 00:30:49,780 to just feel normal in the military and 746 00:30:50,060 --> 00:30:52,300 that was this huge sense of relief and 747 00:30:52,300 --> 00:30:54,400 my friends that I talked to felt the 748 00:30:54,400 --> 00:30:57,450 same way , like God , it's just great . 749 00:30:57,940 --> 00:31:01,760 Um and that day went on like in 750 00:31:01,770 --> 00:31:04,130 all the days after it . And so we've 751 00:31:04,130 --> 00:31:07,440 done a lot since then um to to become 752 00:31:07,440 --> 00:31:10,660 more vocal and more out and represent , 753 00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:13,270 but at the time I didn't , I didn't 754 00:31:13,270 --> 00:31:16,020 tell anybody , I just just showed up to 755 00:31:16,020 --> 00:31:18,076 work and that was pretty cool , so , 756 00:31:18,076 --> 00:31:20,620 and the military did not come apart and 757 00:31:20,620 --> 00:31:22,564 the pentagon did not sink into the 758 00:31:22,564 --> 00:31:24,580 ground . So we made it . Yes sir , 759 00:31:24,590 --> 00:31:27,900 awesome . Maybe one more acronym that 760 00:31:27,900 --> 00:31:30,590 we should go through Doma Doma , can 761 00:31:30,590 --> 00:31:32,940 you explain that to us in our audience ? 762 00:31:32,950 --> 00:31:35,380 Yes , sir . So Doma was passed in the 763 00:31:35,380 --> 00:31:37,630 19 nineties Defense of Marriage Act and 764 00:31:37,630 --> 00:31:40,170 it uh stated that marriage would be 765 00:31:40,170 --> 00:31:42,392 recognized only between one man and one 766 00:31:42,392 --> 00:31:46,350 woman . And um and 767 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:50,690 that was the thing about 768 00:31:50,690 --> 00:31:54,040 Doma is that it did not allow military 769 00:31:54,040 --> 00:31:58,000 members in LGBTQ relationships to be 770 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:01,700 married . So you could 771 00:32:01,700 --> 00:32:04,330 though individual states started 772 00:32:04,330 --> 00:32:06,720 allowing same marriage in their states . 773 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:11,240 And The repeal or 774 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,650 that in 2013 the Supreme Court 775 00:32:14,660 --> 00:32:17,760 took a case called Windsor vs us 776 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:21,070 and this was actually a case about 777 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:24,170 taxes , but it ended up 778 00:32:24,840 --> 00:32:28,400 implementing the policies that we have 779 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:30,456 today in the federal government with 780 00:32:30,456 --> 00:32:32,780 regard to recognizing marriage . And so 781 00:32:32,790 --> 00:32:36,210 Edie Windsor and her partner were same 782 00:32:36,640 --> 00:32:38,807 female couple and they were married in 783 00:32:38,807 --> 00:32:40,584 Canada . But their marriage was 784 00:32:40,584 --> 00:32:43,280 recognized in new york and her partner 785 00:32:43,740 --> 00:32:46,970 fear died and they had been together 786 00:32:46,980 --> 00:32:49,530 for over 40 years and they were legally 787 00:32:49,530 --> 00:32:53,450 married . But the they 788 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:57,170 their marriage was not recognized for 789 00:32:57,180 --> 00:32:59,402 from the federal government and the I . 790 00:32:59,402 --> 00:33:03,360 R . S . And they came after uh 791 00:33:03,740 --> 00:33:06,220 Edie Windsor for between three and 792 00:33:06,220 --> 00:33:10,110 $400,000 in taxes . So a straight 793 00:33:10,110 --> 00:33:12,710 married couple wouldn't have had to pay 794 00:33:12,720 --> 00:33:16,620 those taxes but Edie was 795 00:33:16,620 --> 00:33:19,370 told she had to and so that she took 796 00:33:19,370 --> 00:33:21,481 that to court and that went up to the 797 00:33:21,481 --> 00:33:25,180 Supreme Court and they ruled that that 798 00:33:25,190 --> 00:33:28,650 violated uh that 799 00:33:28,650 --> 00:33:32,410 Doma Violated the 5th 800 00:33:32,410 --> 00:33:34,688 Amendment . I believe the constitution . 801 00:33:34,688 --> 00:33:37,500 And so by overturning the Defense of 802 00:33:37,500 --> 00:33:41,110 Marriage Act , they recognized 803 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:43,390 that the federal government would 804 00:33:43,390 --> 00:33:45,557 recognize same marriages . And this is 805 00:33:45,557 --> 00:33:47,980 important because what that meant for 806 00:33:47,980 --> 00:33:51,970 military members is now our marriage is 807 00:33:51,970 --> 00:33:53,803 if we got married in D . C . Are 808 00:33:53,803 --> 00:33:55,859 married in a state that allowed it . 809 00:33:55,859 --> 00:33:58,081 Now the military would recognize it and 810 00:33:58,081 --> 00:34:00,192 you could be married , you could have 811 00:34:00,192 --> 00:34:02,359 full access to the family care and and 812 00:34:02,359 --> 00:34:04,581 everything that the military provided . 813 00:34:04,581 --> 00:34:07,750 But what it didn't do was legalize 814 00:34:07,750 --> 00:34:11,000 marriage across all 50 states . So if 815 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:13,370 you are a same couple like an and I . 816 00:34:13,370 --> 00:34:15,481 And your Pcs and you're in D . C . We 817 00:34:15,481 --> 00:34:18,300 got married in october 2013 and you're 818 00:34:18,300 --> 00:34:20,633 in Washington D . C . You're good to go . 819 00:34:20,633 --> 00:34:24,460 But as soon as you pcs and you drive on 820 00:34:24,460 --> 00:34:26,627 the interstate depending on what state 821 00:34:26,627 --> 00:34:28,404 you're in , if you got in a car 822 00:34:28,404 --> 00:34:30,500 accident or something happened that 823 00:34:30,500 --> 00:34:33,050 state may or may not recognize you as 824 00:34:33,330 --> 00:34:36,400 the spouse . And so they could say , 825 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:40,160 yeah I'm sorry you're partner is in the 826 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:43,190 hospital but you can't go see her . But 827 00:34:43,200 --> 00:34:45,570 somebody else who was a family member 828 00:34:45,570 --> 00:34:47,626 could and they could also say that I 829 00:34:47,626 --> 00:34:49,792 couldn't go in to see her if that were 830 00:34:49,792 --> 00:34:52,340 to happen . So it was a really complex 831 00:34:52,350 --> 00:34:54,750 environment to be in at the time . And 832 00:34:54,750 --> 00:34:56,639 that created a lot of interesting 833 00:34:56,880 --> 00:35:00,200 conundrums for us . And so then 834 00:35:00,210 --> 00:35:04,200 2015 actually , it was june 26 2013 835 00:35:04,210 --> 00:35:06,377 was the repeal of Doma , and then june 836 00:35:06,377 --> 00:35:08,800 26 2015 , So exactly , so 13 to 15 , 2 837 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:12,750 years later was the the Supreme 838 00:35:12,750 --> 00:35:14,806 Court ruled , ruled on what's called 839 00:35:14,806 --> 00:35:16,861 Lagerfeld versus Hodges . And okay , 840 00:35:16,861 --> 00:35:20,260 what was that ? And that was The 841 00:35:20,270 --> 00:35:22,492 Supreme Court determined that there was 842 00:35:22,492 --> 00:35:24,437 a fundamental right under the 14th 843 00:35:24,437 --> 00:35:26,659 amendment in this case for same couples 844 00:35:26,659 --> 00:35:28,714 to marry and that's guaranteed under 845 00:35:28,714 --> 00:35:30,826 the 14th amendment , the constitution 846 00:35:30,826 --> 00:35:32,937 and our marriages would be recognized 847 00:35:32,937 --> 00:35:35,103 in all 50 states . Okay , so the first 848 00:35:35,103 --> 00:35:37,330 one overturn Doma , which led federal 849 00:35:37,340 --> 00:35:39,507 government recognize us , and then the 850 00:35:39,507 --> 00:35:41,729 second one was Marriage equality in all 851 00:35:41,729 --> 00:35:45,440 50 states and now we could really 852 00:35:45,440 --> 00:35:48,670 truly live um as a married couple 853 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:51,329 wherever we were stationed in the 854 00:35:51,329 --> 00:35:53,384 United States . So those are sort of 855 00:35:53,384 --> 00:35:56,090 the big yeah , well , Brenda , thanks 856 00:35:56,100 --> 00:36:00,050 that I know that that uh there's a 857 00:36:00,050 --> 00:36:03,550 lot to digest historical wise , but the 858 00:36:03,550 --> 00:36:05,494 fact the point is , you've been an 859 00:36:05,494 --> 00:36:08,700 airman serving airman through all of 860 00:36:08,700 --> 00:36:12,070 this historical time frame . Uh and 861 00:36:12,070 --> 00:36:14,237 when we , you know , we kind of stated 862 00:36:14,237 --> 00:36:16,348 up front the initiatives that lit has 863 00:36:16,348 --> 00:36:18,570 is underway , which is pretty healthy , 864 00:36:18,570 --> 00:36:20,514 just from the smallest of that you 865 00:36:20,514 --> 00:36:22,570 articulated . There's there's been a 866 00:36:22,570 --> 00:36:24,626 lot , so I guess really the point is 867 00:36:24,626 --> 00:36:24,290 there's been a lot of ground covered 868 00:36:24,300 --> 00:36:26,870 and a lot of positive ground uh but but 869 00:36:26,870 --> 00:36:29,260 this is maybe only the , it's not the 870 00:36:29,260 --> 00:36:31,093 end , it maybe is the end of the 871 00:36:31,093 --> 00:36:33,810 beginning . Uh you could say that 872 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:38,300 Marilyn are , do we have some 873 00:36:38,300 --> 00:36:40,411 folks that are looking to chime in by 874 00:36:40,411 --> 00:36:42,411 chance ? We have a few shout outs . 875 00:36:42,411 --> 00:36:44,300 This is the time for us to remind 876 00:36:44,300 --> 00:36:46,411 everybody to get their questions in . 877 00:36:46,411 --> 00:36:48,522 We only have a few questions so far , 878 00:36:48,522 --> 00:36:48,400 but we have something that we can add 879 00:36:48,400 --> 00:36:52,020 into . Um , so we have a 880 00:36:52,030 --> 00:36:54,197 Jeanette santos who says thank you for 881 00:36:54,197 --> 00:36:56,086 visiting kessler and sharing your 882 00:36:56,086 --> 00:36:58,252 knowledge and wisdom with our airmen . 883 00:36:58,252 --> 00:37:00,308 Thank you Jeanette . She was part of 884 00:37:00,308 --> 00:37:02,308 the committee and led the committee 885 00:37:02,308 --> 00:37:04,419 that put together that that part of a 886 00:37:04,419 --> 00:37:06,641 fantastic . So thank you Captain Santos 887 00:37:06,641 --> 00:37:09,330 someone you know , and Harrington shout 888 00:37:09,330 --> 00:37:11,640 out to the great work lid is doing and 889 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:13,880 major general ladder backs , vision and 890 00:37:13,880 --> 00:37:15,880 leadership in getting that dog team 891 00:37:15,880 --> 00:37:19,740 started . Kathy miller says , thank you 892 00:37:19,740 --> 00:37:21,462 for all your brave service and 893 00:37:21,462 --> 00:37:23,573 sacrifice for the freedom we continue 894 00:37:23,573 --> 00:37:27,380 to enjoy . God bless you all . I'd like 895 00:37:27,380 --> 00:37:29,750 to ask a question that that we had just 896 00:37:29,750 --> 00:37:31,960 in case we needed to chime in with 897 00:37:31,970 --> 00:37:34,081 other questions and and that would be 898 00:37:34,081 --> 00:37:37,160 ma'am . So is the focus on 899 00:37:37,170 --> 00:37:40,640 LGBTQ Plus making the military 900 00:37:40,640 --> 00:37:43,030 weaker ? What would you say to someone 901 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:44,818 if you were assad ? I would say 902 00:37:44,818 --> 00:37:46,929 absolutely not . In fact the opposite 903 00:37:46,929 --> 00:37:49,450 is true . It's making it stronger . And 904 00:37:49,460 --> 00:37:52,780 here's why when I talked about living 905 00:37:52,780 --> 00:37:54,947 the compartments and kind of not being 906 00:37:54,947 --> 00:37:57,058 able to be your full self even though 907 00:37:57,058 --> 00:37:58,947 you want to and you want to bring 908 00:37:58,947 --> 00:38:01,002 everything you have to the mission , 909 00:38:01,002 --> 00:38:03,330 the worry , the concerns , the 910 00:38:03,330 --> 00:38:06,610 distractions around being found 911 00:38:06,610 --> 00:38:10,420 out . Our family is not being 912 00:38:10,430 --> 00:38:13,160 supported or recognized at all . That 913 00:38:13,170 --> 00:38:17,110 kept us from being 100% in our mission . 914 00:38:17,130 --> 00:38:19,352 So even though you know we win awards , 915 00:38:19,352 --> 00:38:21,630 we do good things and we and we thrive . 916 00:38:21,630 --> 00:38:25,370 It was it's not full . And so once 917 00:38:25,370 --> 00:38:27,370 don't ask don't tell was repealed . 918 00:38:27,520 --> 00:38:29,742 Doma was overturned and we were allowed 919 00:38:29,742 --> 00:38:32,370 to be open full members of the air 920 00:38:32,370 --> 00:38:34,870 Force community . We became stronger 921 00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:38,180 because then we started to be able to 922 00:38:38,180 --> 00:38:40,347 go do the mission knowing if something 923 00:38:40,347 --> 00:38:42,569 happened , our families were taken care 924 00:38:42,569 --> 00:38:44,870 of , they had um all the resources , 925 00:38:44,870 --> 00:38:46,926 medical , family , resource center , 926 00:38:46,926 --> 00:38:50,340 anything like that . Um and it made , 927 00:38:50,350 --> 00:38:53,690 it makes me stronger and able to bring 928 00:38:53,690 --> 00:38:56,490 my full power of what I want to do and 929 00:38:56,490 --> 00:38:58,601 can do for the military to work every 930 00:38:58,601 --> 00:39:00,657 day . And I know that our LGBTQ Plus 931 00:39:00,657 --> 00:39:03,400 Airmen feel that way as well because if 932 00:39:03,400 --> 00:39:05,233 something is distracting you and 933 00:39:05,233 --> 00:39:07,567 something is holding you back that hard . 934 00:39:07,567 --> 00:39:10,120 Um I think under don't ask don't tell 935 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:12,720 we were Actually a weaker military then 936 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:15,720 and now we're stronger because you got 937 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:18,600 us 100% . Um and 938 00:39:18,650 --> 00:39:21,920 we we are 939 00:39:21,920 --> 00:39:24,630 stronger , not just in the LGBTQ Plus 940 00:39:24,630 --> 00:39:27,210 community , but we're stronger because 941 00:39:27,220 --> 00:39:29,442 of diversity across the board . And you 942 00:39:29,442 --> 00:39:31,664 said earlier in our discussion sir with 943 00:39:31,664 --> 00:39:33,776 the different initiatives , the teams 944 00:39:33,776 --> 00:39:35,887 under the bog . Mhm . There are cross 945 00:39:35,887 --> 00:39:38,250 cutting initiatives and now we have 946 00:39:38,260 --> 00:39:41,400 really focused teams looking at this at 947 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:44,840 all levels and bringing that up and as 948 00:39:44,840 --> 00:39:47,340 we fix policies and we work together , 949 00:39:47,350 --> 00:39:50,980 um it makes us stronger and better and 950 00:39:50,990 --> 00:39:53,101 it also were an all volunteer force , 951 00:39:53,101 --> 00:39:56,270 so if we need to recruit , train and 952 00:39:56,270 --> 00:39:59,530 retain the best quality being a place 953 00:39:59,530 --> 00:40:03,530 that is open and supportive people are 954 00:40:03,530 --> 00:40:05,808 going to look at the Air Force and say , 955 00:40:05,808 --> 00:40:07,919 or the military , but look at the Air 956 00:40:07,919 --> 00:40:10,030 Force and say I want to go do that um 957 00:40:10,030 --> 00:40:12,141 because they take care of me and they 958 00:40:12,141 --> 00:40:14,308 take care of our families . That makes 959 00:40:14,308 --> 00:40:16,474 us stronger because we can retain , we 960 00:40:16,474 --> 00:40:18,752 can recruit and retain the best talent . 961 00:40:18,752 --> 00:40:20,641 I fully feel that we are stronger 962 00:40:20,641 --> 00:40:22,870 because of it . I like the point I've 963 00:40:22,870 --> 00:40:25,110 heard you state earlier , hey , okay , 964 00:40:25,110 --> 00:40:27,332 there's been some repeals of these acts 965 00:40:27,332 --> 00:40:30,230 and so forth , but that didn't just say , 966 00:40:30,240 --> 00:40:33,340 hey , gay and transgender , so you're 967 00:40:33,350 --> 00:40:36,400 free to join the military . They've 968 00:40:36,410 --> 00:40:39,910 always been in the military , right ? I 969 00:40:39,920 --> 00:40:42,087 mean , I don't let me steal your words 970 00:40:42,087 --> 00:40:44,198 on that . But you know , I think from 971 00:40:44,198 --> 00:40:47,820 that standpoint , it's uh 100% always 972 00:40:47,820 --> 00:40:49,598 been , we've always been in the 973 00:40:49,598 --> 00:40:52,590 military and that is so it's not that 974 00:40:52,590 --> 00:40:54,646 suddenly the doors were open and all 975 00:40:54,646 --> 00:40:56,920 the LGBTQ plus people rushed in and 976 00:40:56,920 --> 00:40:59,510 diluted the military . We just , like I 977 00:40:59,510 --> 00:41:02,340 said , we just showed up to work again 978 00:41:02,350 --> 00:41:04,850 on september 2020 11 and kept doing our 979 00:41:04,850 --> 00:41:07,290 thing , but we could do it even better 980 00:41:07,290 --> 00:41:10,950 and just feel better . And so we have 981 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:14,330 been among the services 982 00:41:14,710 --> 00:41:17,170 for years and um the Secretary Defense 983 00:41:17,170 --> 00:41:19,281 mentioned that as well in his remarks 984 00:41:19,281 --> 00:41:21,392 and he talked about some of the folks 985 00:41:21,392 --> 00:41:23,281 in the past that have done really 986 00:41:23,281 --> 00:41:26,940 meritorious work in combat and not 987 00:41:27,310 --> 00:41:30,640 so Right . That's a great point , sir . 988 00:41:31,110 --> 00:41:34,140 The uh I've got another question if you 989 00:41:34,810 --> 00:41:38,540 we uh we've been spending this time 990 00:41:38,540 --> 00:41:40,700 here talking , you know , I can't 991 00:41:40,710 --> 00:41:44,520 principally on gay , but there's 992 00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:47,930 been a number of policies and 993 00:41:47,930 --> 00:41:50,440 policy reversals and reenactments of 994 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:52,607 policies with respect to transgender . 995 00:41:52,607 --> 00:41:54,773 Would you mind uh sharing some of that 996 00:41:54,773 --> 00:41:56,884 perspective with us ? So I was a wing 997 00:41:56,884 --> 00:41:58,996 commander when our transgender airmen 998 00:41:58,996 --> 00:42:02,910 were allowed to um serve and that was 999 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:05,142 brought on board that policy . That was 1000 00:42:05,142 --> 00:42:08,750 terrific . And we had I had 1001 00:42:08,750 --> 00:42:11,190 transgender airmen who were really 1002 00:42:11,190 --> 00:42:13,730 nervous about coming forward and 1003 00:42:13,740 --> 00:42:15,900 talking to their commanders , front 1004 00:42:15,900 --> 00:42:19,370 line supervisors or to me about that 1005 00:42:19,380 --> 00:42:23,360 because they were very concerned about 1006 00:42:23,370 --> 00:42:26,270 would the policy be reversed ? And I'll 1007 00:42:26,270 --> 00:42:28,159 tell you what , there are , gay , 1008 00:42:28,159 --> 00:42:31,990 bisexual service members who served on 1009 00:42:32,000 --> 00:42:34,000 way before . Don't ask . Don't tell 1010 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:36,222 back when they were witch hunts and you 1011 00:42:36,222 --> 00:42:37,889 could get arrested and put in 1012 00:42:37,889 --> 00:42:40,620 confinement for being gay . And this 1013 00:42:40,620 --> 00:42:44,150 happened . And um they 1014 00:42:44,150 --> 00:42:47,500 served under such a 1015 00:42:47,510 --> 00:42:50,240 hostile environment that to this day , 1016 00:42:50,250 --> 00:42:52,880 even at long retired , they still won't 1017 00:42:52,890 --> 00:42:55,030 come out because they were concerned 1018 00:42:55,030 --> 00:42:57,308 after donuts . Don't tell was repealed , 1019 00:42:57,308 --> 00:42:59,086 that at some point it might get 1020 00:42:59,086 --> 00:43:01,141 switched and now everybody's out and 1021 00:43:01,500 --> 00:43:03,850 now , well , it's kind of hard to say . 1022 00:43:03,850 --> 00:43:06,017 I'll marry the man . You know , when I 1023 00:43:06,017 --> 00:43:08,128 uh if I meet the man who's my match , 1024 00:43:08,128 --> 00:43:10,239 I'll marry him because I'm married to 1025 00:43:10,239 --> 00:43:11,960 an Harrington . So that's a 1026 00:43:11,960 --> 00:43:14,960 vulnerability , Right ? And so for the 1027 00:43:14,960 --> 00:43:17,350 LGBT community that worked out okay . 1028 00:43:17,360 --> 00:43:19,360 But for the transgender community , 1029 00:43:19,400 --> 00:43:22,780 that policy actually was reversed . And 1030 00:43:22,790 --> 00:43:25,900 um transgender airman or transgender 1031 00:43:25,900 --> 00:43:28,067 people who wanted to come into the Air 1032 00:43:28,067 --> 00:43:30,690 Force , we're told , nope , you you're 1033 00:43:30,690 --> 00:43:34,210 not allowed uh and turned away . And 1034 00:43:34,210 --> 00:43:38,120 so that trust that we rely on as 1035 00:43:38,290 --> 00:43:42,140 airmen , as special operators , as when 1036 00:43:42,140 --> 00:43:44,307 we go into those tough situations , we 1037 00:43:44,307 --> 00:43:46,560 rely on our trust for each other . And 1038 00:43:46,560 --> 00:43:50,140 we broke that trust with our airmen and 1039 00:43:50,150 --> 00:43:52,590 we broke that trust with the people who 1040 00:43:52,590 --> 00:43:54,850 prepared and took the test and did 1041 00:43:54,850 --> 00:43:57,380 everything it did took to become 1042 00:43:57,380 --> 00:43:59,710 qualified to come in . And that was 1043 00:43:59,710 --> 00:44:02,780 heartbreaking for me because as I said , 1044 00:44:02,780 --> 00:44:06,530 I had transgender airman in my wing and 1045 00:44:06,530 --> 00:44:09,300 I know of some today who had to live 1046 00:44:09,310 --> 00:44:12,890 that that terrifying experience . So I 1047 00:44:12,900 --> 00:44:15,122 think things have turned around now and 1048 00:44:15,122 --> 00:44:17,530 have stabilized , but that is something 1049 00:44:17,530 --> 00:44:19,990 that we need to be really cognizant of 1050 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:22,222 and let's not make that mistake again , 1051 00:44:23,490 --> 00:44:27,370 that's her . In that same vein where 1052 00:44:27,380 --> 00:44:29,324 you were talking about serving all 1053 00:44:29,324 --> 00:44:31,980 along , um Robben Island asked how do 1054 00:44:31,980 --> 00:44:33,813 you think that the Air Force can 1055 00:44:33,813 --> 00:44:36,320 improve the way that we recruit ? L G B 1056 00:44:36,320 --> 00:44:39,560 T . Q . Plus Airmen ? Some simple 1057 00:44:39,560 --> 00:44:42,740 things are just , again , the language 1058 00:44:42,750 --> 00:44:46,140 and the way that we represent what the 1059 00:44:46,140 --> 00:44:48,084 Air Force looks like when you talk 1060 00:44:48,084 --> 00:44:49,918 about , you know , go to central 1061 00:44:49,918 --> 00:44:52,029 casting and get me the the the person 1062 00:44:52,029 --> 00:44:54,490 to put on the poster . Uh let's let's 1063 00:44:54,490 --> 00:44:56,601 put a person on the recruiting poster 1064 00:44:56,601 --> 00:45:00,040 or the people that um let our 1065 00:45:00,050 --> 00:45:03,620 LGBTQ Plus communities , no , that 1066 00:45:03,630 --> 00:45:06,340 there are represented and their welcome 1067 00:45:06,350 --> 00:45:08,406 um events like this in general web . 1068 00:45:08,406 --> 00:45:10,406 You've been doing a terrific job of 1069 00:45:10,406 --> 00:45:14,320 just bringing this out , not just our 1070 00:45:14,320 --> 00:45:16,550 group , but all of the real talks that 1071 00:45:16,550 --> 00:45:18,620 you've done that say , hey , your 1072 00:45:18,620 --> 00:45:20,731 leadership , if you come into the Air 1073 00:45:20,731 --> 00:45:22,953 Force , your leadership cares about you 1074 00:45:22,953 --> 00:45:25,100 and not because you have to , but 1075 00:45:25,100 --> 00:45:27,322 because you generally genuinely want to 1076 00:45:27,322 --> 00:45:30,010 and that starts at the top . 1077 00:45:30,690 --> 00:45:33,550 And so for people looking , you know , 1078 00:45:33,550 --> 00:45:35,550 hey , I want to join the military . 1079 00:45:35,550 --> 00:45:37,606 What , where , where should I want ? 1080 00:45:37,606 --> 00:45:39,772 Where should I go ? Um , the Air Force 1081 00:45:39,772 --> 00:45:41,994 is a place that is open and welcoming . 1082 00:45:41,994 --> 00:45:44,930 So if we can have our recruiters 1083 00:45:44,940 --> 00:45:46,884 messaging that and we can have our 1084 00:45:46,884 --> 00:45:49,320 material that's online or any of that , 1085 00:45:49,320 --> 00:45:51,487 that's just represent a representative 1086 00:45:51,487 --> 00:45:54,920 and uses inclusive language . Mhm 1087 00:45:55,490 --> 00:45:57,712 Heather Hodge says , thank you for this 1088 00:45:57,712 --> 00:46:01,310 and happy pride . I'm , I'm curious are 1089 00:46:01,310 --> 00:46:03,477 there any programs being discussed for 1090 00:46:03,477 --> 00:46:05,940 parents of transgender kids ? I've 1091 00:46:05,940 --> 00:46:08,051 struggled with the thought of getting 1092 00:46:08,051 --> 00:46:10,162 an assignment to someplace that would 1093 00:46:10,162 --> 00:46:12,162 cause challenges for my child . For 1094 00:46:12,162 --> 00:46:14,162 example , many states this year are 1095 00:46:14,162 --> 00:46:16,273 proposing to ban affirmative care for 1096 00:46:16,273 --> 00:46:18,329 trans kids or ban them from sports . 1097 00:46:18,980 --> 00:46:20,980 That is an excellent question , and 1098 00:46:20,980 --> 00:46:24,800 that's one , I don't know uh 1099 00:46:25,680 --> 00:46:27,900 what policies and programs we may be 1100 00:46:27,900 --> 00:46:30,122 working on along those lines , but I've 1101 00:46:30,122 --> 00:46:32,233 taken a note and I will bring that up 1102 00:46:32,233 --> 00:46:34,178 at the lit to make sure that we're 1103 00:46:34,178 --> 00:46:36,067 looking at that . Thanks for that 1104 00:46:36,067 --> 00:46:38,011 question . Mhm . That's it for the 1105 00:46:38,011 --> 00:46:41,100 questions for now . Okay . Um 1106 00:46:42,780 --> 00:46:46,320 well , Brenda , you know , I think I 1107 00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:48,760 would just just summarize this and 1108 00:46:48,760 --> 00:46:51,710 saying uh thank you very much . 1109 00:46:52,080 --> 00:46:54,520 Uh I can only , like I said , we've 1110 00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:56,800 known each other for uh at least two 1111 00:46:56,800 --> 00:47:00,120 decades , uh and uh and have a very 1112 00:47:00,130 --> 00:47:02,130 similar background from a special 1113 00:47:02,130 --> 00:47:04,240 operations background and the past 1114 00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:07,100 couldn't be more different and uh this , 1115 00:47:07,110 --> 00:47:09,221 you know , what really resonates with 1116 00:47:09,221 --> 00:47:11,443 me is the is your really the discussion 1117 00:47:11,443 --> 00:47:15,350 on corvis and service and , you 1118 00:47:15,350 --> 00:47:18,500 know , there's just like a number of 1119 00:47:18,500 --> 00:47:20,720 these initiative groups , there are a 1120 00:47:20,730 --> 00:47:22,730 lot of extra rocks in this rucksack 1121 00:47:22,980 --> 00:47:26,210 that's being carried , that we may not 1122 00:47:26,210 --> 00:47:28,580 even be aware of , from those of us 1123 00:47:28,580 --> 00:47:31,910 that aren't LGBTQ Plus or what have you . 1124 00:47:32,380 --> 00:47:35,810 Um so uh so really you've hit on this 1125 00:47:35,820 --> 00:47:38,660 a few times and it's my kind of 1126 00:47:38,670 --> 00:47:40,910 concluding remarks every time . And 1127 00:47:40,910 --> 00:47:44,450 that is uh you know , the events that 1128 00:47:44,450 --> 00:47:46,600 happened last summer , first with the 1129 00:47:46,600 --> 00:47:48,822 protect our defenders report , and then 1130 00:47:48,822 --> 00:47:50,544 with the death of George Floyd 1131 00:47:50,544 --> 00:47:53,670 fundamentally changed America , it 1132 00:47:53,670 --> 00:47:55,726 fundamentally for sure , changed the 1133 00:47:55,726 --> 00:47:57,726 Air Force . Uh the charge could not 1134 00:47:57,726 --> 00:48:00,810 have been more clear from our past , uh 1135 00:48:00,820 --> 00:48:03,520 Secretary of the Air Force and Chief uh 1136 00:48:03,520 --> 00:48:05,560 and our current Chief and Active 1137 00:48:05,560 --> 00:48:08,220 Secretary . And that is to engage 1138 00:48:08,230 --> 00:48:11,160 because I remain absolutely convinced 1139 00:48:11,580 --> 00:48:15,030 that history is being made and we as 1140 00:48:15,030 --> 00:48:18,120 leaders and frankly all service members 1141 00:48:18,130 --> 00:48:21,790 in our Air Force will be judged on this . 1142 00:48:21,800 --> 00:48:24,022 And if and if all that is true . And if 1143 00:48:24,022 --> 00:48:27,550 all that is as we believe , diversity 1144 00:48:27,550 --> 00:48:29,550 is a war finding imperative . It is 1145 00:48:29,550 --> 00:48:31,717 absolutely we're fighting imperative . 1146 00:48:31,717 --> 00:48:33,828 And this is about readiness . This is 1147 00:48:33,828 --> 00:48:36,050 about mission accomplishment . Then why 1148 00:48:36,050 --> 00:48:38,930 don't we make good history ? So , folks , 1149 00:48:38,930 --> 00:48:41,410 thanks very much for tuning in to this 1150 00:48:41,410 --> 00:48:44,070 edition of Real Talk Brenda . I really 1151 00:48:44,070 --> 00:48:46,510 appreciate you being our , our honored 1152 00:48:46,510 --> 00:48:49,060 guest for this . And uh , thanks very 1153 00:48:49,060 --> 00:48:50,600 much . Thank you . Thanks