By Ryan Thomas Riddle
Guardian photo by Luke Thomas/Fog City Journal. You can see more images from the bingo night held by Post 448 and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence here.
When we called the American Legion’s national office for comment on Post 449, the Alexander Hamilton post, the nation’s only gay Legion post, the director of public affairs didn’t even know such a post existed. Just as our story in this week’s edition was going to press, we received a call from someone else at the national office.
Sean Sparks, assistant director for internal affairs and membership, told us it was also the first time he heard of a gay post. He said each individual post can determine its membership so long as it adheres to the national bylaws. However, Sparks went on to say whatever they do outside the legion is their business.
“We worry about nothing dealing with sex, gender, or sexually orientation,” he said. “We don’t have any opinion on that, so long as they served honorably.”