The San Diego LGBT Community Center has opened the nomination process for inductees to the Benjamin F. Dillingham III & Bridget Wilson LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor.
The process, now live online, continues through June 30, the deadline to submit applications.
The Wall of Honor, located at the Hillcrest center, recognizes veterans with ties to San Diego who served under anti-LGBTQ policies, preventing their ability to serve safely and openly, as well as those who have served after the end to those policies.
The idea for the LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor was conceived by activist Nicole Murray Ramirez, and created with the support of Dillingham and Wilson, both veterans. The wall was unveiled at the Center on Nov. 10, 2011.
The aim of the LGBT Veterans Wall of Honor is to commemorate veterans’ lives in hopes that their courage, bravery and sacrifices, along with their stands to advance equality, will continue to inspire future generations.
Nominees are eligible regardless of rank, branch of service or component (active, reserve or National Guard), and nominees may be living or deceased.
The criteria that an individual must meet in order to be nominated:
- Must qualify as a veteran.
- Have take the Oath of Enlistment or Oath of Office.
- Embody the core values of their respective service branch.
- Submit copy of DD214 discharge form.
Nominees will be evaluated based on their military service, support of the local LGBTQ community, other local organizations and national LGBTQ organizations and service to the greater San Diego region.
The induction ceremony takes place annually on the Thursday before Veterans Day.
