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Home : Media : News
NEWS | June 15, 2017

NAVSEA celebrates Pride Month

By Naval Sea Systems Command Office of Corporate Communication

WASHINGTON -- June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month and NAVSEA hosted an observance in the Humphreys Building, June 14.

 

“This is a critical time to reflect on the importance of LGBT issues for the Navy and learn from the experiences of others,” said Nicholas Malay, NAVSEA’s 2017 LGBT Pride Event chair. The event featured keynote speaker, Paula Neira, and a panel discussion that focused on this year’s theme, Understanding through Education: Ask, Share, Learn.

Paula Neira is John’s Hopkins Center for Transgender Health clinical program director. Her remarks were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Department of the Navy’s Diversity Management Director Victoria Bowens and panelists Alexandra Chandler, senior analyst for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Intelligence; David Do, director of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs; and Alex Wagner, former chief of staff for the Secretary of the U.S. Army.

 

Neira graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. A Surface Warfare Officer, she served as a regular and reserve officer, including time in mine warfare combat during Operation Desert Storm.

 

“This is a story of progress,” she said describing her long internal struggle with her gender identity. Eventually Neira resigned her commission. Following her eventual transition, Neira was able to continue serving both her country and her community by being involved in the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy in 2010.

“The repeal had to happen,” she said. “It was against our core values, and it asked people to hide and to lie.”

According to Malay, it is fitting the command chose June to focus on people as part of the five-month Expand the Advantage campaign plan push.  Diversity and inclusion are critical for high velocity learning organizations, and these types of pride and heritage events help foster an open and tolerant environment. “The enterprise helps the warfighter secure an area, both physically and intellectually. Part of that responsibility is to secure a tradition of diversity and inclusivity through communicative events such as this," he said.

 

The command’s LGBT-A ERG formed in March 2016. The group added Allies to its name to include all employees who might want to join. In addition to hosting the Pride event, the LGBT+A ERG works to advance the understanding and inclusion of all employee orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

The event was more than a diversity event, celebration, or remembrance of history and traditions, according to JaeLee Waldschmidt, systems engineer with the Virginia Class Propulsion Systems Integration Team and LBGT+A Employee Resource Group (ERG) co-lead. “The NAVSEA LGBT Pride event is an opportunity for everyone to come together to ask questions, share their experiences, and learn about each other as coworkers, friends, and family.”

In less than two years, the LGBT-A ERG has had a lot of success and leads the way for similar ERGs to stand up across the NAVSEA enterprise, something Vincent Culliver, Naval Systems Engineering business financial manager and the LGBT-A ERG vice-lead, attributes to the tremendous support from volunteer members and from command leadership.

According to Culliver, the ERG is a way to reach out and share their experiences with people who may not be familiar or have an understanding of what it means to be part of the LGBT community. “Our event has a really diverse and exciting background, and is really geared to provide a forum for those outside of the LGBT community to ask questions and learn,” he said.

Following the LGBT Pride Event on Wednesday, representatives from the command’s other ERGs will be in the Humphrey’s Building Atrium to present information, field questions and offer volunteer opportunities.

"We understand each other through education and exposure,” said Malay. “Continuing to ask, share, and learn from others' experience will only improve the Navy's culture, ideals, and principles.”