Panel Discussion on ‘Gays in the Military’ to include servicemen featured in the exhibit, Sat Jan 14th at Fovea
COURTESY VINCENT CIANNI/FOVEA EXHIBITIONS
On Saturday, January 14th at 5pm, the Beacon New York-based non profit Fovea will present a panel discussion featuring the first-hand experiences of those who have served in our armed forces under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The panel will explore the issues–both on a personal and at a national level–raised in the current exhibit Gays in the Military: How America Thanked Me by Vincent Cianni. In addition to presenting a brief history of the project, Mr. Cianni will join several of his subjects, all of whom were at the front lines of this debate. They include:
Lieutenant Colonel Victor Fehrenbach, U.S. Air Force, 1991-2011. Currently retired and living in Washington, D.C., Fehrenbach successfully fought ”Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” after coming out on the Rachel Maddow show in 2009. He is a former F-15E fighter pilot who has flown 88 combat missions with 400 combat hours.
Captain Chuck Maxwell, U.S. Air Force,1980-1991. A graduate of The Citadel, as a commissioned officer he was dismissed for conduct unbecoming an officer/participating in homosexual acts. He will be traveling from Decatur, Georgia.
Lieutenant Don Bramer, U.S. Navy, 2002-present. Lt. Bramer has top secret security clearance and served multiple deployments to the Middle East, and received numerous medals and commendations from his combat operations. He provided anonymous testimony during the hearings to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.
Joining the discussion will be Mary Barber, M.D. She is the clinical director at Rockland Psychiatric Center, and co-editor of the Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health. Her expertise includes the effects of the ban on the mental health and lives of service members.
The exhibition will be followed by a reception.
Suggested Admission is $5.
Gays in the Military: How America Thanked Me will be on exhibit at Fovea through Sunday, February 5th and is open weekends from noon until 6pm, and by appointment.
Fovea is a volunteer run 501(c)3 educational charity.
