Politics

Fox 8 story on Right to Serve in Greensboro (update #2)

by Matt Comer, September 18, 2006, 2:37 pm

Fox 8 WGHP aired their story on the Soulforce Right to Serve (official website & local information) tonight during their 6pm broadcast.

Here is the link to the story on Fox 8’s website (with video now!) (Reported by Janice Caron Myers). The video that aired on Sunday was better, I have to say. The video on the site now is from 5:00am Monday. The Sunday night newscast included comments from Congressmen Mel Watt and Howard Coble (discussed below).

For the mean time, hop on over to Fox 8 Reporter Caron Myers’ blog, “Should they Serve?” and comment away.

I do have one question I’d like to address here, though. Mrs. Myers interviewed both Congressman Mel Watt and Congressman Howard Coble for the story. Congressman Watt said he was “never a big fan of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Congressman Coble said he’d have absolutely no problem with me serving as an openly gay American. Both of them said it on camera, so why haven’t they yet signed up to be co-sponsors of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1059), the bill which would repeal D.A.D.T. currently being considered in the House (with only 121 co-sponsors so far)?

Congressman Brad Miller is the only member of North Carolina’s Congressional Delegation who has signed up as a co-sponsor of the bill. Congressman Miller is telling me, my friend Jessica and every lesbian, gay and bisexual American and North Carolinian that our sexual orientation and honesty is no bar to military service. He supports us fully. If both Congressman Watt and Congressman Coble see no problem in me serving, then why don’t they co-sponsor the bill? Seems like an easy thing to do after going on camera and offering your support for an openly gay American wanting to join the military, right?

And what about our other Congressional representatives? What about Virginia Foxx (my representative in the 5th District), Patrick McHenry, Sue Myrick, David Price, Walter Jones, Robin Hayes, Charles Taylor, GK Butterfield, Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre? Why haven’t they signed up to be co-sponsors, yet? Do they just simply do not know about HR 1059 or do they just not support my right to serve openly and honestly?

If you live in Greensboro or anywhere in North Carolina and you are interested in finding out how you can get involved in an effort to bring focus to the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy this fall, check out the Right to Serve Campaign at the official website, http://www.righttoserve.org as well as MattHillNC.com’s Soulforce Youth page (you can also make a donation to the Greensboro Campaign event via the Right to Serve Greensboro site)

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    About the Author: Matt Comer
    Matt Comer, 24, is an LGBT journalist, blogger and activist currently living and working in Charlotte, N.C., where he serves as editor of QNotes, the LGBT news, arts and entertainment publication of the Carolinas. A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Matt attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is still continuing to pursue his bachelors degree. He is the owner & editor of InterstateQ.com and has been active in LGBT advocacy work since the age of 14. Learn more about Matt, read his extended bio and see press clippings at MattComer.net.

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3 Responses to “Fox 8 story on Right to Serve in Greensboro (update #2)”

  • 1
    Brandon Greeson Says:
    September 17th, 2006 at 10:16 pm

    Hey Matt,
    Just wanted you to know that I voiced my opinion at the reporter’s blog… here is what I had to say:

    gayhickory
    Sep 17, 2006 | 10:14 PM The United States military is commonly referred to as one of the strongest in the world. Allowing open bigotry breaks down the cohesiveness of that argument. Our strength is found not only in our excellent training, our state-of-the-art equipment and our breaking edge scientific & intellegence research… it’s really found in the men & women that make up each unit – the wide range of diversities and creeds.

    The timeless myths concerning gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people have all been prooven to be nothing more than legends of the past. LGBT people make up some of our nation’s leading engineering and research jobs. LGBT people are well educated and show a strong sense of multilateral respect and willingness to be flexible to new ideas.

    For the US Military to say no to LGBT Americans – citizens of this country who want to help defend our rights & liberities – is a disgrace to the outstanding history of our military service.

    History has prooven all too often that we need the best qualified, most dedicated men & women in our armed services… my message to the US Military & the Pentagon and to our Congress is to put an end to DONT ASK – DONT TELL for good. Allow them to serve!!

    Keep up the GREAT WORK!

    Brandon Greeson
    Assistant Exec Director
    North Carolina Advocacy Coalition
    http://www.ncadvocacycoalition.org

  • 2
    Matt Says:
    September 17th, 2006 at 10:21 pm

    Thanks Brandon. Great comment. It is good to know we have your support in this national Campaign. I hope you’ll keep up with what is happening through both my blog and the local media.

  • 3
    Natasha Says:
    September 18th, 2006 at 1:06 pm

    Bob votes the way his constituents think…I know, I can’t believe there’s actually a politician that does that either! lol. He may not feel its a strong issue back home, but I will definitely shoot him an email and get some of my other friends from his district to let him know how we feel!

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