Posted on 01/12/2018 5:06:00 PM PST by markomalley
Former Airman Second Class Helen Grace James is suing the United States Air Force for getting kicked out more than 60 years ago, because she is a lesbian.
Air base police caught James with another female officer alone in a car with the engine off in March 1955. After being arrested and interrogated, James claims that the military threatened to go to her family if she didn’t agree to a “undesirable” discharge, she told The Washington Post.
At 90 years old, James is now asking the courts to change her “undesirable” discharge to an “honorable” one.
“It has crippled her throughout her life,” James’s attorney, J. Cacilia Kim, told WaPo. “This is really so she’s not treated as a second-class citizen anymore.”
James said she became aware she was a lesbian at the age of 2 and asked to be called “Jim,” according to WaPo.
“I didn’t even know what a lesbian was. I didn’t know that term until later,” James said. “You just didn’t talk about it.”
Several years after James enlisted in the Air Force, rumors began circulating about her sexual orientation and the military began investigating.
James told WaPo that after she appealed the “undesirable” discharge decision, the Air Force claimed that her military records were lost in a fire and delayed the ruling. The board handling her claim finally told James they had reached a final decision, but said it had to be authorized by their executive director. When she didn’t hear back, she sued.
“I’ve done this all because I’ve been pushed. I need to do as much as I can to prove I’m a good person,” James concluded.
Okay, first she has to go back and finish her full term in the military.
I suppose this would really give her a chance to turn her life around and give her the confidence to go out and do great things.
Let her back in, if she passes the PT test. Otherwise she gets no payment
Is this what is called a “frivolous lawsuit”?
My daughter became aware she was a dog at the age of 2.
Could even bark to prove it.
Pay her in funny money?
So now everyone who got discharged before they allowed open homosexuality is going to sue and get an honorable discharge?
Since they followed the law as it was at the time, can we really go back and change what happened?
A court would probably have to determine if current gay rights' laws are retroactive.
Who pushed her and what was their motive? Gay activism? How do courts decide who is a good person and who is not? A person who doesn't believe in what she and friend were doing is right and therefore a bigot and therefore not a good person? Because she has otherwise led a good and productive life? What?
UH, she gets kicked out for “fraternizing with an Officer” as well so TS lady.
so she’s not treated as a second-class..
Oh the irony....
She was an airman second class (2 striper) she was no officer.
50s speak for caught performing oral sex on another woman.
IIRC, the UCMJ considers any sex act with someone other than your spouse an indecent act and any sex act in a public place even with your own spouse at least a case of indecent exposure. Am I remembering incorrectly and if not, has that changed ?
I’m more amenable to lesbians serving in the military than I am trans people...
Does that make me a bad person?
There is a wonderful lesbian lady in my small town who runs an auto body shop. She’s wonderful! And she is accepted by everyone...as far as I can tell.
I consider her a trusted friend.
When they were in HS, she asked my brother-in-law to a school dance. He refused and she punched him and knocked him down...lol True story. :-)
Mentally ill and bittern about it..
Sorry lady. Without even going into anything else. The statute of limitations knocks you out in round one.
Mine was a pony.
this is all about getting precedent in the court system. find the a case that gives the most feel good feelings for setting a wrong right. Then sue for something small like a change in status for discharge from the military. later on use the president from the lawsuit for a class action lawsuit.
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