ABOUT US
Sacramento Valley Veterans (SVV) was initially founded in 2004 by Ray Allen, a U.S. Marine veteran. SVV was and is the only lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) servicemember and veteran group in the Sacramento, California area. In 2010, Ray, along with a group of servicemembers and veterans, has started SVV back up and running in order to give a voice and a face to the LGBTQI servicemember and veteran community in Sacramento.
Sacramento Valley Veterans is a chapter of the American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER), Inc. AVER is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran servicemembers dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces
Sacramento Valley Veterans is looking to address the needs of the LGBT servicemember and veteran community by offering events for camaraderie and holding monthly meetings to discuss how we can ensure our men and women are taken care of. In these, the beginning stages, SVV is looking to find out what we can do to ensure you, fellow brethren and sistren, have not only a great time but also a resource you can use.
We look forward to seeing you at future events and meetings.
OUR FOUNDER
Ray Allen, U.S. Marine & Founder of Sacramento Valley Veterans (SVV)
For our members, new and old, Ray was the driving force behind building and maintaining an organization to represent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) veterans and servicemembers in the Sacramento Valley. While SVV has been out and about since mid-2010, the group was originally founded by Ray back in 2004. SVV began out of a call to action responding to the silence following vigorous, vocal opposition to the laying of a LGBT Veteran placard on the Capitol Mall. It was this silence that prompted Ray and a small group of veterans to stand up and speak out. In the years that followed, SVV strived to build and maintain a group that provided a voice and a face to the local LGBT Veteran community. Under his leadership, SVV lobbied for the inclusion of a commemorative brick in the memorial that now stands in front of the Mather VA Medical Center. Ray also served as the Vice President for American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER).
When SVV reactivated in April/May 2010, Ray provided guidance and served as a mentor to the current Board of Directors. In a sense, he passed the baton to another generation of veterans. Without his knowledge and skill, SVV would not be where it is today. SVV now has over 100 members comprised of active duty servicemembers, veterans, and supporters. Ray's drive to keep this group going forward will be missed but will not be forgotten or discontinued.
"I want to thank the new board of Sacramento Valley Veterans for all the hard effort they are putting into getting this group of veterans up and moving. It is with a sad heart that I will need to step down off the board as Secretary. I am currently over booked with my time and unable to fulfill my duties, home life and becoming a full-time student again is taking everything I have. This new board and all that will come after it will always have my support and I will always be around to help in guiding when needed. Thank you again for all you are doing."
So, while it is with a heavy heart that we see Ray Allen depart from our Board of Directors, it is not without an extreme level of gratitude and motivation to move forward. His guidance has given SVV a clear eye for the future.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Tyson Redhouse | E-mail: president@saclgbtveterans.org
Bio: Staff Sergeant Tyson Redhouse was an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Air Force for eight years. He enlisted after graduating in 1998 and shipped out to Texas for basic training and intelligence analysis school. Tyson was assigned to the 13th Intelligence Squadron at Beale AFB, CA, where he worked to provide direct intelligence support to Operations ALLIED FORCE (OAF), ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF), and IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). He was honorably discharged in 2006. He is currently pursuing a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
Since his discharge, Tyson has been involved in activism and advocacy. In 2007, he provided testimony for a Senate Joint Resolution authored by Senator Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego). The resolution passed both the California Assembly & Senate Judicial Committees; the resolution would announce that the State of California would be in support of the repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He now serves as the Military/Veteran Community Liaison for Marriage Equality USA (MEUSA).
Vice-President: Tina Stidman | E-mail: vicepresident@saclgbtveterans.org
Bio: Staff Sergeant Tina Stidman, U.S. Army Retired, served her country for almost nine years before getting a medical retirement in 1990. Tina served in Missouri, Geogia, Germany and California. She started her career as a transportation operator. Following successful completion of every training course to which she could get the Army to send her,she was made the Master Driver and lead trainer for the 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) in Korea. She then went to the 4th Infantry Division at (4ID) Fort Carson, Colorado. Ms. Stidman held the Senior Driver Trainer position until she retired. She holds an A.A. degree from Pike's Peak Community College in Colorado Springs.
Since retirement from the Army, Ms. Stidman has been a strong LGBT activist with several organizations. She has been working to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marraige Act, and currently is on the U.S Attorney General's Greater Sacramento-area Hate Crime Task Force. In 2008, prior to the passage of Proposition 8, Ms. Stidman and her partner became one of the 18,000 same-sex couples to legally wed in California.
Secretary: Gene Silvestri | E-mail: secretary@saclgbtveterans.org
Bio: PFC Gene Silvestri is a U.S. Army and Gulf War-era disabled veteran. Gene served with the 14th Military Police Brigade, 787th Battalion in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He received an honorable medical discharge in 2003. Since his discharge, Gene has been very active in the local Sacramento veteran community as well as the Sacramento transgender community. He is currently a member of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as well as American Legion. In 2009, Gene became involved with the Sacramento County veteran service organization (VSO) as a local liaison. He has a wide array of knowledge on VA claims processes as well other benefits information. Currently, Gene continues to advocate for the rights of all veterans locally and nationally. He supports the repeal of U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy.
Treasurer: Charles Peer | E-mail: treasurer@saclgbtveterans.org
Bio: CPO Peer retired in 1997 after 26 years in the U.S. Navy, including five years on active duty and 21 years active reserve, in the rating of Storekeeper. He is proud to have served on four Navy ships, including active duty on the destroyer USS Bigelow (DD 942) and the destroyer tender USS Hector (AR 7), and active reserve on the fast frigate USS Gray (FF 1054) and the mine sweeper USS Excel (MSO 439), as well as in reserve units at NSC Oakland, Treasure Island, Travis AFB and Sacramento. He is the Editor of Outword Magazine, and can often be seen at LGBT events with camera in hand recording Sacramento's LGBT history.
PREAMBLE TO THE NATIONAL CONSTITUTION OF AMERICAN VETERANS FOR EQUAL RIGHTS (AVER)
Throughout our history, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirit Americans served in the Armed Forces. They took an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies both foreign and domestic. We aver that it is the right of these Americans to express personal aspects of their lives, and, in particular, aspects of their sexual orientation and/or gender identification. Furthermore, they should be allowed to do this in an environment free from harassment and discrimination based on prejudice, fear, ignorance, or intolerance in order to fulfill their human potential to the fullest.
Working as individuals or in cohesive units with others while serving our country in either war or peace our members have accumulated distinguished records of military service that demonstrate a resolve and a commitment to cherished American ideals. We are active duty personnel, reservists, and veterans of the United States Air Force, Army, Army Air Corps, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Merchant Marine, National Guard, and Navy, or any reserve components thereof, or the various State Militia. In pursuit of common goals we proudly join together as the American Veterans for Equal Rights.
For more information on becoming a member or sponsor of American Veterans for Equal Rights, visit www.aver.us.