In this Memorial Day episode of Critical Defiance, hosts Bill, Neils, and BobbySox dive deep into the often overlooked contributions of marginalized groups in U.S. military history. They examine the roles and sacrifices of African American soldiers, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and immigrants who served the country despite facing numerous barriers and discrimination. The discussion critiques current political issues, including threats to constitutional principles and the treatment of marginalized groups within the military under the Trump administration. The hosts also spotlight successful advocacy efforts like the defeat of anti-LGBTQ+ bills. The episode ends with a preview of their upcoming Pride Month series, questioning if pride has been co-opted by capitalism.

Cover photo by Chad Madden on UnsplashNOTE: Transcripts and subtitles are auto generated and may contain errors.

Contents

00:00 Threads of Honor: Remembering the Diverse Voices of American Service

03:03 News Recap

09:32 Big Thoughts

31:50 Freedom Fumbles

35:03 What Can We Do?

36:46 Sneak Peek/Sign Off

Chapters

• (00:00:00 ) - Critical Defiance: Memorial Day Podcast
• (00:03:05 ) - Trump Administration Considering Suspending Constitutional Right to Hold People in Custody
• (00:07:49 ) - Critical Defiance
• (00:09:32 ) - Unveiling the Diversity of American Service
• (00:16:12 ) - Unsung Heroes of the Military
• (00:19:38 ) - LGBTQ Service Members in the Military
• (00:25:04 ) - Memorial Day 2017: The Immigrant Serving in the Military
• (00:31:50 ) - Republicans Give a Tax Break to Tanning Beddits
• (00:33:29 ) - Queer Wins for Memorial Day
• (00:36:49 ) - The Big Pride Episode