VICTORY!
As I write this note, I am beaming with delight at the U.S. Senate’s 65-31 vote to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) on December 18. Throughout the day, my phone and Facebook page lit up with eager text messages and anticipatory posts as the Senate moved from ending discussion to cloture to the final vote. One of the most moving texts was from a friend stationed at Fort Sam Houston and who has been in the Army for many years. He expressed how he teared up watching the impassioned Senators speaking about their conviction to the do the right thing.
Our LGBT servicemen and women are one step closer to equality, but it’s important to note that even when President Obama is ready to sign the bill into law, the change will not take immediate effect. The legislation requires that the president and his top military advisers certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' fighting ability. Even after that, there's a 60-day waiting period for the military. That may be sobering news to those of you who are reading it for the first time, but no victory is ever completely seamless.
Despite the time it will take, what better way could we possibly round out 2010 and begin the journey through a brand new year? At ignite, we believe that 2011 has many great things in store for our community—locally, regionally, and nationally. We’re excited to announce, however, that some positive changes are occurring right here in the way we cover the LGBT community in San Antonio. This month, we are rolling out our brand new website, which has been redesigned from the ground up! Go to www.igniteisonline.com to see what we have to offer.
Going forward, ignite Magazine is committed to its presence in print. We continue to be San Antonio’s only monthly LGBT publication, and our print edition will offer more in-depth articles, enhanced profiles of local LGBT leaders and organizations, and occasional investigative pieces. If you like what you read in here, help us to grow by telling your friends about us and by supporting our advertisers, who make this wonderful magazine possible.
Online, we are pledging to make our website a more dynamic and community-focused resource. Igniteisonline.com will be San Antonio’s premier LGBT news source, and we hope it will be a place you can visit daily. Our new blog, The SPARK, will be updated regularly with news, events, and happenings, plus we’ll have an improved Business Directory and Community Calendar. We’ll also have unique articles for the web including community forums and places for visitor comments.
In 2011, ignite will continue reaching out to our San Antonio community. Visit our site and be a part of the action. Let us know what you’d like to see from us in the next year and beyond!
Together in Pride,
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