Wholesome Modern AU (5/?)

opposites attract

After the Second World War, many US forces have been discharged from service and most of them because they were homosexual.

Homosexuality was a reason to discharged someone in the military. In 1933, Bill Clinton signed the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” Bill which allowed lesbian, gay and bisexual people to serve in the military as long as they don’t reveal their sexual orientation. In the 1940s, Fannie Mae Clackum and Grace Garner serve in the US Air Force as reservists. However, they are suspected to be lesbian in April 1951 and they are interrogated. At that time, any person suspected to be homosexual was discharged from the US military. But both of them refused to be discharged in 1952 and the case was brought to a court-martial. The two women spend eight years fighting for their rights. In 1960, the court invalidates the charges, awarding them back their military pay for the rest of their enlistment periods. Fannie Mae Clackum and Grace Garner are the firsts to successfully challenge their military discharge. However, it is important to know that the charges were not invalidated because there is nothing wrong with their homosexuality but because of the lack of proofs that they were.

A whole programme on women’s cycling - presented by Jane Garvey, and Astrid Swenson talking bikes in history, Tracy Mosely on MTB, Dr Jane Sterling on saddle sores, Grace Garner and Rochelle Gilmore on road racing, the London Bike Kitchen’s Jenni Gwiasdowski teaching Jane how to fix a puncture, and me, talking about social media and women’s cycling.

For many, today is bullshit. A symbol of hate and literal oppressor is taking in one of the most powerful positions in the world. It is during times like these that we must act, and what better way to be called to action than by recognizing one of the most badass women in history?

Refusing to be dishonorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1952, Fannie Mae Clackum and Grace Garner were accused of homosexuality and fought the charges for eight years before they were dropped. They were demoted from their positions of corporals and lived together in Marietta, Georgia as they fought against their case in the United States Court of Claims.