Readers:

As we transition to a post-repeal environment where Gays and Lesbians can openly serve side-by-side with their colleagues, it seems important to us here at the Magazine to describe where we see the future of both OutServe Magazine and our sister organizations moving forward. At our first OutServe Armed Forces Leadership Summit in Las Vegas this past October, many readers asked: “How does the Magazine plan to stay relevant now that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) is gone?” It is an important question and something I’d like to address.

First, DADT’s death does not mean that LGBT troops in the military have full equality yet, due in part to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). One of the missions of OutServe Magazine is to continue to report on DOMA’s impact on our LGBT service members and to also educate and inform our readers so that they can contact their legislative leaders in support of changes to the law that will allow LGBT troops full and equal rights. This will not be an easy task, and OutServe will certainly not be undertaking this challenge alone.

Second, OutServe Magazine will continue to evolve to include broader features that expand beyond a military-only focus. In this issue alone, we have added a new “travel” section, and future issues will expand on this to include features such as fitness and culture. We’re continually seeking ways to help readers find new avenues of both intellectual and personal growth. As always, the editors of the Magazine eagerly welcome our readers’ feedback and ideas for future content.

OutServe Magazine has also teamed up with integral organizations such as Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) and the Palm Center in the past in order to collaborate and highlight our unique missions under one cohesive banner. In this issue, OutServe Magazine will be introducing six more organizations that continue to play a key role in advocating for LGBT rights; the Military Partners and Family Coalition (MFPC) , the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), Servicemembers United (SU), Log Cabin Republicans (LCR), Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the Military Acceptance Project (MPC). Though each of these organizations has different missions and goals, collectively, we can be a force that continues to drive the national conversation surrounding LGBT inequality.

I hope you all enjoy this new issue of OutServe Magazine and continue to support us in our efforts to both educate and create a stronger, more equitable military.

–Eddy Sweeney
Managing Editor