Front and Center

"Sexual orientation and gender identity are core identity issues," says Emily Fischer, a social-work intern at the Denver Veterans Affairs hospital. "It doesn't make sense to get medical and mental-health treatment without talking about the ways sexuality and your sense of your own gender identity impact your life — whether you're straight or not."

Seems logical. But for a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered or questioning veteran, disclosing everything to your doctor is not quite that simple. Between the top Pentagon general — Peter Pace — spouting off anti-gay rhetoric like nobody's business and that oh-so-effective policy about not asking and not telling, how can queer veterans be certain they'll get quality treatment from their VA hospitals?

Get some answers and share your opinion at this evening's Community Forum for GLBT Veterans and Allies, taking place at 6:30 p.m. at the GLBT Center of Colorado, 1050 Broadway. "My sense is that there's not a lot of education for veterans," Fischer explains. "In this climate, it would be shocking if, when they left the military, they were told, 'Oh, don't worry about telling your doctors that you're gay.' There's not a lot of information about that."

Contact Fischer at 303-399-8020, ext. 2594, with questions or for details.
Thu., March 29, 6:30 p.m.