AVERNY NEWS

American Veterans for Equal Rights New York

January 2016

AVERNY working for your rights:
On November 6^th AVERNY attended the Queens Borough Hall Veterans Day celebration honoring World War II vets.  America’s Greatest Generation was well represented by a large group of proud veterans in their 80s and 90s!  In addition, Commissioner Sutton of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs attended along with other dignitaries and elected officials hosted by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz.

AVERNY President Denny Meyer greeted NYC Council Veterans Committee Chairman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens), explaining that as NYC’s LGBT veterans service organization, we are currently advocating the passage of the Congressional ‘Restore Honor to Service Members Act,’ which would streamline discharge upgrades for gay veterans who were less than honorably kicked out of our armed forces due to discrimination.  Chairman Ulrich immediately said he’d be in touch with us about that, and within a few weeks had organized a Council Veterans Committee hearing to consider a NYC Council Resolution urging passage of the bill in Congress.  A second Council Resolution, also considered at the hearing, would advocate passage of a NY State measure, in Albany, called the Restoration of Honor Act, introduced by openly gay State Senator Brad Hoylman (D-NYC), which would ensure provision of NY State veterans benefits to LGBT veterans regardless of their discharge status.

On December 14^th, AVERNY gave testimony at the Council Veterans Committee hearing  regarding both bills.  Congressman Charles Rangel spoke advocating the Congressional bill and State Senator Hoylman spoke regarding his State measure.

L-R: NYC Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, US Representative Charles Rangel, AVERNY President Denny Meyer

L-R: NYC Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, NYC Council Veterans Committee
Chair Eric Ulrich, NY State Senator Brad Hoylman, AVERNY President Denny Meyer

(see testimony details at https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/brad-hoylman/senator-hoylman-introduces-restoration-honor-act-nys-senate)

AVERNY Awards
On Veterans Day, November 11^th, AVERNY was honored with an award presented by City Councilman Danny Dromm
at the Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club of Queens’ annual dinner.

L-R: L.D. Clapper, Mike Mallon, Denny Meyer, NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, NYC Council Member Danny Dromm

Every Spring AVERNY presents awards for community service to members who devoted countless hours on behalf of their fellow veterans.
2015 Awardees were Russell Goeller, Claude Ashby Jr, Tony Breton, and Mark Greenspan.

Legal Help, Discharge Upgrades and Disability Claim Appeals:
AVERNY has been establishing liaison with non-profit local legal services so that our LGBT veterans who use the Manhattan or Bronx VA hospitals can be referred for pro bono assistance with discharge upgrades, disability claim appeals, and other issues.  We will be working to establish liaison with Brooklyn providers as well.  In mid December, AVERNY presented a brief history of Gay Military Service at an LGBT Legal Stand Down at the Bronx VA.  We will be doing further presentations in the coming year.

See AVERNY at the LGBT EXPO March 12 - 13, 2016 at Javits Center
American Veterans for Equal Rights New York will again have a booth at the LGBT Expo at Javits Center as we have every year since 2003.  Come meet our board and special guests, hang out, sign up, make a donation.  Javits Center is now accessible via the new Hudson Yards #7 line subway station.

AVER National Convention in Albuquerque in April
The AVER national convention will be in Albuquerque April 21- 24.  Some super-stars of the LGBT military movement will be there including Major General Patricia Rose and Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer.  Full Information on the convention is at http://www.aver-nm.org/aver-bataan_website_v9_005.htm and http://www.aver-nm.org/linked/convention_agenda__for_registration__final2_11142015.pdf

Parade Marching:
In the Summer, AVERNY will march in the Queens Pride Parade and the NYC Pride Parade in Manhattan.  And in November we march in Pride in the Veterans Day Parade.  Join us as we march under the American and Rainbow flags!

AVERNY 2016 Schedule:
AVER-NY 2016 Meeting and Events Schedule
Meetings are at the LGBT Community Center
208 West 13^th St in Manhattan

2016

Sunday January 24 at 2 PM

Sunday February 21 at 2 PM

March - No meeting
See us at the LGBT Expo March 12-13

Sunday April 3 at 2 PM

Sunday May 22 at 2 PM

June - no meeting
March with us in the June Pride Parades
in Queens and Manhattan

July - no meeting

August - no meeting

Sunday September 18 at 2 PM

October - no meeting

Sunday November 6 at 2 PM
March with us in the Veterans Day Parade on Nov 11th

December - no meeting

AVERNY Parade Marches:
November 11^th Veterans Day Parade
June Pride Parades in Queens and Manhattan

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