Our History

June 17, 2008:

The Do Ask Do Tell group at the Milwaukee VA wanted an external website where information about veteran programs for the LGBT community could be consolidated and made available to all LGBT service men and women. In response to this request Vets Do Ask Do Tell was born on June 17, 2008.

The main purpose of this site is to research information from other VA's and LGBT veterans to let our community know what is available to them. We are small, but hope this site will bring to the attention of other LGBT veterans that there is support for our community no matter how small or silent that support is.

As we start to build this medium, we are in hopes that some of you who read this can contribute to the site. This is your site and we need your input.

So if you have any information at all please send it in by Clicking Here.

Writers heres your chance to tell your story. We will accept stories about your experiences in the service. Good, bad or indifferent. Let us know.

If you have ideas on what you'd like to see on this site we want to hear them. So don't be shy. Everything is confidential unless you agree to attach your name to it.

August 17, 2008:

Filed Vets Do Ask Do Tell to become an LLC under Wisconsin state laws.

August 18, 2008:

The Title "Vets Do Ask Do Tell" is a trademark of Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC.
Official Logo is placed on our logo page and is the official logo of Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC.
The modified logo in our pin version is also an official logo of Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC.

Logos and Title may not be used without specific permission from the Board of Directors, and may only be used in conjunction with news paper ads, links back to our site and in press releases. Any unauthorized use will be prosecuted. These items remain property of Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC, and may only be used in conjunction with supporting our organization.

August 24, 2008:

The first board meeting of Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC was held at it's temporary headquarters in Wauwatosa, WI. After nomination and appointment of officers a reading of the first draft of bylaws took place. The were several changes adopted and the final draft, if no further changes are needed will be voted on at our next meeting on September 21, 2008. Also at the meeting, the start of discussion of of local chapters was presented. The board came up with some excellent suggestions. Our main concern was what can we offer individual chapters. We agreed that we wanted active participation. We also agreed that a chapter should be more than a bunch of names on a roster. Also brought up as a fund raiser would be to sell LGBT businesses space on our pages. This will require further study on how to implement the plan without taking way from our site. VA Milwaukee has request from us LGBT Vet Friendly signs for doors of staff that are accepting to the lifestyles. This will be a good low cost initiative and trademarked signs would be free advertising where it counts. There's a lot of enthusiasm amongst board members, placing a lot of work ahead for members.

September, 2008:

At the request of staff at the VA Milwaukee, we manufactured magnetic door signs for their doors. At first this seemed like a small request, but in the end over 100 door signs were manufactured and are now displayed throughout the facility and also at VA clinics all over Wisconsin.

December, 2008:

Our first event was held. In collaboration with the Countryside Christian Church, we held a holiday party for the homeless vets in building 123 at the VA Medical Center, Milwaukee. Moving through the halls of the VA, many of those vets have come up to us and thanked us for remembering them during the hoilday season.

Pilot chapter given to Spring Hill, FL. Wendi Goodman given the honors of being the first Chapter Commander.

January 25, 2009:

Our first open house was held. Many organizations including VA staff attended in support of our organization. A film was shown on Vets Journey home along with staff from their organization. The crowd was less than hoped for, but it was deemed a success beecause of all the support that was given by other organizations. Awards were handed out to include the VA Milwaukee Medical Center for their effort in making their facility more friendly to LGBT vets.

March, 2009:

One of the founders, Russell Amaya moves to Dallas, TX. His goal is to form a chapter in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area.

Bumper Sticker campaign started. Bumper stickers are sold for $5.00 to raise money for the organization and Vets Journey Home.

April 20, 2009:

New website launched. After a year of work we decided to upgrade the website with new functionality and with more of a regional and national flavor.

May 30 and 31st, 2009:

Participate in Heritage Weekend at VA grounds, Milwaukee, WI. The event was a very positive event received well by veterans and families pleased to see that LGBT veterans were finally being recognized for their service.

June 12th, 13th, 14th, 2009:

Pridefest Milwaukee became our first exposure to the entire LGBT community. It gave us a chance to speak with a lot of LGBT veterans. As well as handing out some delicious apples and having some games and fun. We mad a lot of new friends.

July 31st - Aug 2nd, 2009:

Working in collaboration with the Center of Creative Learning, The Starfish Foundation, Milwaukee LGBT Center, Vets Do Ask Do Tell helped financially and by recruiting participants for the Vets Journey Home retreat. Because of our efforts we had four LGBT veterans particpate in the program this year. This helped make the program a success for the Milwaukee area.

April 16th, 2010:

A historic event. With a majority of the membership voting Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC voted to dissolution the organization and form Vets Do Ask Do Tell, Inc. This vote was made to form Vets Do Ask Do Tell as a non-profit organzation under a 501(c)3 status. All assets and capital will be turned over to the new corporation and all memberships will be transferred as well.

April 19th, 2010:

Vets Do Ask Do Tell, LLC is officially dissolved and is nownon-profit Vets Do Ask Do Tell, Inc. under Wisconsin statutes. Process now starts in filing for non-profit status as a veterans organization under federal statutes.