“I had gone through three and a half years and all of a sudden I could be totally gone. With nothing to show for it other than my passion to still do the job that I love,” Langford said.
In 2012, he heard that USAFA had its first Pride week.
“It was amazing. We’ve come a long way, and the point of Pride is to be proud of who you are, whatever that means,” Langford said.
Married to his partner of 22 years, Langford is now serving openly as a civilian government employee.
Staff Sgt. Seth Stang took the stage next and spoke honestly about the experiences that brought him to joining the Air Force. Stang was isolated from his friends and family for being a pansexual transgender man. He struggled through homelessness and unemployment before finding his way into the Air Force.
“Initially, the military was a job; it was a means to feed my family. But once I got into basic training, it became so much more than that. For the first time who I was, what I was, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the success of my team and my flight,” said Stang. “I had finally found a family and a place where I could belong and contribute to the world in a meaningful way.”
Joining at the tail end of DADT, Stang still dealt with fears that others would find out about his former wife, his sexuality and gender identity and move to discharge him from the military. When DADT was lifted in 2011, and then the transgender ban was lifted in 2016, Stang was able to pursue a medical transition and serve openly.
Today, Stang is married to a husband, and is the proud father of 15 month old son, Levi.
Following Stang was guest speaker Amy Lowe, chapter leader of Free Mom Hugs Ohio. Free Mom Hugs is an organization of affirming parents and allies who provide support to LGBTQ+ individuals who are not accepted by their families. They attend Pride events nationwide, giving encouragement and hugs and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
After her daughter came out to her at age 13 as bisexual, Lowe and her family were supportive. However, she did not receive this same support from her friends. Upon doing some research to find groups for parents of LGBTQ+ kids, Lowe found the Mama Bears.
“We call ourselves Mama Bears because we will hurt anybody that messes with our kids or anybody in the LGBTQ+ community,” said Lowe.
This organization led Lowe to discovering Free Mom Hugs, that at the time only existed in Oklahoma. Lowe recounted an experience in which she attended a Pride event at Wright State University. Wearing her ‘Free Mom Hugs’ pin, she was approached for a hug by a student in attendance.
The student said to Lowe, “I can’t believe you accept me when my own mom doesn’t.” The experience brought her to tears and led to her become the chapter leader of Free Mom Hugs Ohio.
Following the speakers, attendees were able to ask questions and network with other LGBTQ+ members and allies from across the base. The focus of this year’s Pride Month observance was education. This event not only allowed LGBTQ+ Airmen to speak proudly about who they are but provided an opportunity for everyone to learn something about the community in a productive and supportive way.
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