Source Dallas Voice Instant Tea: "An El Paso man says he was discharged from the Navy under “don’t ask don’t tell” because a commander found out he was gay when he sought treatment at a hospital after being drugged and raped at a gay nightclub in San Diego."
"Jose Rodriguez, who was missing for three days when he was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a group of men last June, says he woke up in a hotel room with no clothes. He doesn’t recall much about the incident:"
“Me being forced down, held by my neck with a couple of hands holding me down and opening my mouth while I’m yelling, ‘Help,’” said Rodriguez.Dallas Voice
Via JoeAnthony Rodriguez Facebook
~~~NEW RESPONSE FROM US NAVY~~~DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVYNAVY PERSONEL COMMAND
5720 INTEGITY DRIVE......MILLINGTON, TN 38055-00005730Ser00L3E10U000231C
March 30, 2010
The Honorable Susan A. Davis
Member,
United States of Representatives
Attention: Katherine Fortner
4305 University Ave, Suite 515San Diego, CA 92105
Dear Representative Davis:
Thank you for your letter on January 5, 2010 on behalf of Mr. Jose A. Rodriguez a former member of the United States Navy regarding the alleged harassment and his administrative discharge.
Your continue desire to assist Mr. Rodriguez is appreciated. The USS PELELIU (LHA 5) has conducted an immediate through investigation into the claims that Mr. Rodriguez medical treatment was disclosed among members of the LHA 5. The investigation has found that only authorized personnel handled Mr. Rodriguez navy medical record. However, it was concluded that a former shipmate who visited Mr. Rodriguez at the hospital was provided information by the civilian hospital staff member. The former shipmate upon returning to LHA 5, after the visit, did tell Sailors of the incident. Immediately upon learning of the divulgence personal information, the service member in question was disciplined accordingly.
Sincerely,E. A. Wrighitt Congressional Affairs
By direction of the Commander
"My dream was forcefully taken away. To serve my country as a patriotic gay american. I have a new dream. Equality for all! I will continue to fight for equality for all! we are the ones comming up in the world. We must continue to push this movement foward. End Don't Ask, Don't Tell!" JoeAnthony Rodriguez June 24 2010
Today June 22, 2010 DART entered the 21st century, pressured by state advocacy groups and the Dallas city Council to do so. DART finally agreed in a surprising unanimous vote to adopt a amendment to it's nondiscrimination policy protecting its transgender employees.
DART board members first voted to remove the wording that would have left open the interpretation of there nondiscrimination policy and to a standing ovation passed without debate resolution 950155.
Committee member William Tsao then proposed Resolution 950155 "It is the intention of the DART board to adopt language at DART that unequivocally prohibits discrimination against persons based upon their gender identity and gender expression."
I sat next to the transgender woman the state LGBT organizations had united so passionately to protect. In my mind I had envisioned a woman early in transition, perhaps someone DART supervisors would not clearly recognize as female.
I can be such a idiot. Robin is a beautiful fully transitioned rose in full bloom. I was bewildered that anyone could actually deny her the opportunity to live as the woman she is. I had to ask her, if now that the protections were in place would she feel free to transition on the job. Robin simply said, "I have been, I couldn't have done otherwise."
Robin did go on to say that "untill the LGBT community started petitioning DART to change it's nondiscrimination policy I had to put up with harassment from my supervisors" she went on "but now things have been different."
Pam Curry, her friend who brought her plight to our notice was close to tears, her voice quivering as she explained to the board, "my friend, my sister has been crying each time she called me in the past years because of the harassment at work. Maybe now she will be able to live in peace".
I was left amazed by this tiny beautiful woman who stoically braved oppression silently and patiently waiting for her LGBT family to rescue her. I was also in awe of our LGBT family. They send goose bumps down my back transgender back, I am so proud of each and everyone.
