Margarethe Cammermeyer
Encyclopedia
Margarethe "Grethe" Cammermeyer (born March 24, 1942) is a former colonel
in the Washington National Guard
and a gay rights activist
. Born in Oslo, Norway, she became a United States
citizen in 1960. In 1961 she joined the Army Student Nurse Program. She received a B.S. in Nursing
in 1963 from the University of Maryland
. She furthered her education at the University of Washington
in Seattle, Washington, earning a master's (1976) and Ph.D. (1991) from the School of Nursing.
She met her partner, Diane Divelbess, in 1988, when she was 46 — after she had ended a 15-year marriage to a man and had four sons.
In 1989, in response to a question during a routine security clearance interview, she disclosed that she is a lesbian
. The "don't ask, don't tell
" policy was not yet in effect at the time, and the National Guard began military discharge
proceedings against her. On June 11, 1992, she was honorably discharged from the military. Cammermeyer filed a lawsuit
against the decision in civil court. In June 1994, Judge Thomas Zilly of the federal district court
in Seattle
ruled her discharge, and the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, unconstitutional. She returned to the National Guard and served as one of the few officially accepted openly gay or lesbian people in the military until her retirement in 1997.
A television
movie
about Cammermeyer's story, Serving in Silence, was made in 1995, with Glenn Close
starring as Cammermeyer. Its content was largely taken from Cammermeyer's autobiography of the same name.
After retirement, Cammermeyer ran for the United States Congress
in Washington's 2nd congressional district
in 1998. She won the Democratic primary
, but lost in the general election
to Republican incumbent
Jack Metcalf
.
In June 2010, she was appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a committee which is appointed by the United States Secretary of Defense
and which reports to the United States Department of Defense
.
The Point Foundation
announced that it will honor Cammermeyer with its Point Legend Award in April 2011.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the Washington National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
and a gay rights activist
Activism
Activism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
. Born in Oslo, Norway, she became a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen in 1960. In 1961 she joined the Army Student Nurse Program. She received a B.S. in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing is an American four year academic degree in the science and principles of nursing, granted by a tertiary education university or similarly accredited school...
in 1963 from the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, Baltimore
University of Maryland, Baltimore, was founded in 1807. It comprises some of the oldest professional schools in the nation and world. It is the original campus of the University System of Maryland. Located on 60 acres in downtown Baltimore, Maryland, it is part of the University System of Maryland...
. She furthered her education at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
in Seattle, Washington, earning a master's (1976) and Ph.D. (1991) from the School of Nursing.
She met her partner, Diane Divelbess, in 1988, when she was 46 — after she had ended a 15-year marriage to a man and had four sons.
In 1989, in response to a question during a routine security clearance interview, she disclosed that she is a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
. The "don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
" policy was not yet in effect at the time, and the National Guard began military discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
proceedings against her. On June 11, 1992, she was honorably discharged from the military. Cammermeyer filed a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against the decision in civil court. In June 1994, Judge Thomas Zilly of the federal district court
United States District Court for the Western District of Washington
The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties of the state of Washington: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan,...
in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
ruled her discharge, and the ban on gays and lesbians serving in the military, unconstitutional. She returned to the National Guard and served as one of the few officially accepted openly gay or lesbian people in the military until her retirement in 1997.
A television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
about Cammermeyer's story, Serving in Silence, was made in 1995, with Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
starring as Cammermeyer. Its content was largely taken from Cammermeyer's autobiography of the same name.
After retirement, Cammermeyer ran for the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in Washington's 2nd congressional district
Washington's 2nd congressional district
Washington's 2nd congressional district encompasses the northern portion of Western Washington from the vicinity of the King/Snohomish county line to the Canadian border, including the San Juan Islands. Since 2001, it has been represented by Democrat Rick Larsen.Originally created in 1909 when...
in 1998. She won the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
, but lost in the general election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
to Republican incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Jack Metcalf
Jack Metcalf
Jack Metcalf was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Washington as a Republican....
.
In June 2010, she was appointed to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a committee which is appointed by the United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
and which reports to the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
.
The Point Foundation
Point Foundation (LGBT)
The Point Foundation is the first and largest national foundation to support academic achievement in higher education among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students by providing financial support, mentoring and hope to meritorious students who are marginalized due to sexual orientation,...
announced that it will honor Cammermeyer with its Point Legend Award in April 2011.