Ignite Action: Nominate a Trans Ohioan (Including Yourself!) for a COVID-19 Service Award Sponsored by...the U.S. Army

by Ken Schneck, Editor

Here at The Buckeye Flame, we strive to end each piece with ideas for readers to “Ignite Action,” prompts to take the words on the screen and move them towards the “community and civic empowerment” embedded right in our mission statement.

Yesterday, I received an e-mail with the header, “The U.S Army asks the Cleveland community to ‘Answer the Call'”:

Nominate someone who “Answers the Call” in your community for the opportunity to earn a $500 contribution to their efforts!

The United States Army is sponsoring the “Answer the Call” campaign to recognize individuals who have showcased extraordinary action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Individuals are encouraged to nominate those who rise up to “Answer the Call”. The community then votes on those nominated with the top choice provided a donation for the continuation of their efforts.

My immediate reaction was, “Um…no.”

On April 12, 2019, the United States military began instituting a complete ban on transgender military service following tweets from President Trump. Why would we then participate in their service award?

The answer: Because any opportunity to amplify the great work of our trans siblings is a good thing. And even better if we do so in the face of an institution that currently does not recognize the heroism of transgender Americans.

So IGNITE ACTION: Nominate a trans Ohioan–including yourself–who is working hard to lift up their community during COVID-19. Nominations can be submitted at www.answerthecall2020.com. Online voting will then take place to select the Army’s “Answer the Call” honor recipient. You can follow the campaign on Facebook (@answerthecall_community), Instagram (@answerthecall_community), and Twitter(@americanrivalry) to nominate and vote for your “Answer the Call” candidate.

Ken Schneck is the Editor of The Buckeye Flame. He is the author of Seriously, What Am I Doing Here? The Adventures of a Wondering and Wandering Gay Jew (2017), LGBTQ Cleveland (2018), LGBTQ Columbus (2019), and LGBTQ Cincinnati (2020). In his spare time, he is a professor of education at Baldwin Wallace University. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.