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In August, as part of my Huffington Post Q&A series, I interviewed Pastor Fred Phelps, the most virulent anti-homosexual activist in the nation. The pastor and his Topeka, Kansas, congregation travel the country picketing the funerals of soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those soldiers, says Phelps, died defending a nation that accepts the "evils of homosexuality." In October, Phelps will defend himself before the Supreme Court, which will consider whether his graveside picketing is constitutionally protected free speech.
The next day I interviewed Dustin Lance Black, Oscar-winning screenwriter of "Milk" and one of the nation's foremost gay rights advocates. Black travels the country speaking to youths about Prop 8, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the unique challenges of growing up gay in America.
 
Over 230,000 women have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, but few of their stories have been told. Laura Browder and Sascha Pflaeging sought to change that. Their new book, "When Janey Comes Marching Home," provides an uncensored look at our female soldiers. In this Huffington Post Q&A, I spoke with Browder about the unique challenges of being a woman in uniform.
I just revamped my Facebook and Twitter pages. Join me for updates on my military reporting, breaking news stories and info on upcoming radio and TV appearances.
 
On July 10 President Obama announced a major change in the military's approach to PTSD. Traumatized soldiers had been required to gather witnesses and documentation to prove their PTSD came from war. Now, announced Obama, soldiers with PTSD would no longer need to prove their case to collect benefits.
The BBC
invited me on their flagship radio program, "Newshour," to discuss the development with host Lyse Doucet and behavioral scientist Terry Schell of the RAND Corporation, who produced a groundbreaking report on PTSD.
 Just before Independence Day General Petraeus vowed to Congress to protect soldiers. Days earlier the Army denied Sgt. Luther's appeal for a medical discharge. In my third Huffington piece, I look at Petraeus' vow in light of that denial.
To read the post, click here.
To read all my Huffington posts, click here.
For Memorial Day, I appeared on Sirius XM to discuss the personality disorder scandal with Bob Edwards. Edwards, a Peabody Award-winning journalist and one of satellite radio's most respected hosts, was perturbed to hear how the military was disrespecting its soldiers on a day meant to honor them.
 On Memorial Day I also released my second Huffington piece: "Facebook Members Rally around Tortured American Soldier."
To read the post, click here.
To check out the Facebook page, click here.
ABC News Radio, San Francisco (KGO) invited me to discuss the personality disorder scandal, the proof system and Sgt. Luther's case. The invite was a real honor for me, as I grew up in the Bay Area and had been listening to the host, Ronn Owens, for years.
Sgt. Chuck Luther and I appeared on two of the nation's top radio shows: BBC's "Here and Now," hosted by Robin Young, and WEAA's
"Marc Steiner Show."
 
 I'm now blogging about veterans' issues for the Huffington Post. My first post, "When the Army
Uses 'Enhanced Interrogation' on an American Soldier," is drawing hundreds of comments.
To read the post, click here.
To keep up on all my blog posts, click here.
At last, after two years of reporting, I have completed Part 3 in my series on the Personality Disorder scandal.
The article will be the cover story in The Nation, April 26. It tells the story of Sgt. Chuck Luther, who was wounded by mortar fire in Iraq, then held captive in a U.S. Army aid station for over a month, under enforced sleep deprivation, until he agreed to sign fraudulent papers saying his wounds came from a pre-existing personality disorder.
In 1983 Bobby Griffith, a gay student from my hometown, committed suicide. In the wake of his death, Griffith's mother, an ardent opponent of homosexuality, became one of the nation's leading gay activists.
In 1995, as a junior in high school, I told the Griffiths' story in an article for the school paper. Soon after it became a book. And this year it was made into an Emmy-nominated movie starring Sigourney Weaver. To celebrate the nomination, I've posted my original article, along with information about the book, film and Bobby's life.
For Memorial Day, I was invited to appear on "GRITtv," a news talk program on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN), to discuss PTSD and veteran suicides.
The show, hosted by Laura Flanders, features video and commentary from Dan Lohaus, whose documentary about homeless Iraq vets, "When I Came Home," was honored at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Also featured in the clip is Iraq vet Darren Subarton, who talks about his struggles with PTSD. On Dec. 27, 2009, Subarton was found dead at his parents' house in Pennsylvania. He leaves behind a wife and young son.
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