THOMAS SWANN, PAST CHAIR
Appointed to Emeritus Officer by Chair Lawson Stuart in 2013 to commemorate his service as the Founding and First Chair of the Veterans Caucus.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Tom served on the national AMVETS Diversity Committee that added sexual orientation to the national bylaws.
Tom founded Riverside County Veterans for Peace and spoke at Camp Casey (Crawford, Texas) with Cindy Sheehan.
Twice, Tom led workshops at the Veterans For Peace national convention on DADT.
Tom attends AMVETS national conventions, Catholic War Veterans national convention and Blinded Veterans Association national conventions.
Spoke on steps of Minnesota state capitol at a peace rally.
Protested 2008 Republican national Convention with Iraq Veterans Against War.
VFP dedicated the peace pole outside Cathedral City Library and at Desert Mirage High Schol in Thermal CA.
Dedicated late Morris Kight peace tree in Palm Springs CA
Tom Swann has donated over $10,000 to charities in the Coachella Valley. This includes $3,000 to Metropolitan Community Church, the flags, rifles and belts for both the Palm Springs Gay Veterans and AMVETS Post 66; also 29 tickets, the cost of the awards and singer at the CA Gay Veterans Memorial Association dinner in September 2000.
Tom Swann graduated from VA blind rehabilitation training and has an injured hand yet he continues to serve the community.
The BottomLine described Venerable Morris Kight and Tom Swann as two of America's 100 heroes when they co-founded Gay Liberation For 21st Century. This small group asks candidates the toughest questions and attracts the largest crowds at forums. They made the first endorsements ever by gays in Ranch Mirage and sponsored the Morris Kight tree. They met with Assemblymember John Longville on reform of Megan's Law.
Tom received the 2002 Community Service Organizational Leader of the Year award from the Desert Business Association.
Tom Swann is a legally blind veteran's activist who has been a leader in civil rights and political causes since 1972. He has turned his AIDS status and HMO Horror Story that caused his blindness to rally and uplift veterans to support the Democratic Party. Three members of Congress nominated him to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS for the next vacant position. Tom was appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs HIV and AIDS Community Advisory Board.
As a student-body high school president in Florida he overcame threats from the KKK when an African-American young woman was selected as homecoming queen. Swann has met with both Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks.
Tom Swann was the only state party officer of the California Democratic Party to endorse Mario Obledo for Governor in 1982. Swann marched with the late Cesar Chavez and was campaign treasurer for Gilbert Saldana, Democratic nominee for Congress in 1986.
Tom Swann won an ACLU case vs. Dept. of the Navy in 1994 based upon sexual orientation and AIDS discrimination. Swann's case won sexual orientation protection for all Navy civilian workers four years before President Clinton signed an Executive Order. Swann was the last gay federal employee to have his access to classified information challenged by the government.
Tom Swann filed California's first AIDS medical malpractice case and testified before the State of California Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force.
Swann was an original member of LIFE Lobby (1986) and Ventura County Co-Chair of the 1986 No on LaRouche Proposition 69 campaign. He received a report card grade of A on World AIDS Day 1999 from the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc. for his crusade to improve health care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Swann was nominated to attend the White House Conference on AIDS and has spoken at the POZ-Life Expo in Hollywood. Tom Swann organized the first meeting of veterans with the White House National AIDS Policy Office and scheduled meetings during AIDS Watch 99 and 2000.
Tom Swann has participated in AIDS medical research since 1985. He has attended AIDS Watch in Washington D.C. and AIDS Lobby Day in Sacramento.
Tom Swann has been a delegate to the William Joiner Conference on the Concerns of Veterans sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. He has received the American Legion Medal of Merit and Heroism Medal.
Tom received an award from the CA. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Founding Chair, California Democratic Party Veterans Caucus
California Asst. Coordinator Veterans for Gore 2000
Co-Chair, Salute to Veterans Democratic National Convention
Tom is the first LGBT appointed to the Riverside County Veterans Advisory Committee.
Tom Swann is founding chair of the only certified Democratic Party veterans' caucus in America. The Governor of Kentucky promoted Tom to be an honorary Kentucky Colonel for his work on veteran issues at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
As President of Palm Springs Gay Veterans, he was shown on CNN Headline News when the organization won the right to march in the Palm Springs Veteran's Day Parade. The group also won the right to join the Desert Veteran's Memorial Association and sponsored California's first celebration of the 55th anniversary of victory in World War II.
This veteran's organization sponsored the April 29, 2000 memorial wreath ceremony at Congressional Cemetery. Also placed the only wreath for gay veterans in California (in Palm Springs) on Memorial Day May 29, 2000.
Governor Gray Davis and State Assembly recognized Tom Swann for spearheading the drive to dedicate Americas first LGBT Veterans Memorial on May 27, 2001.
Tom organized a January 12, 2002 ceremony to honor veterans and American heroes of 9/11. President George Bush sent a letter and President Gerald Ford wrote a letter thanking gay veteran Oliver Sipple for saving his life in 1975.
Tom Swann was called a national hero by NOW President Patricia Ireland when he spoke before the national convention in 1993. Swann voted for women to be eligible for membership in Lions Clubs International.
Tom Swann recieved an award from Palm Springs city council member Ginny Foat
In 2008 a Superior Court jury ruled in favor of Tom's medical malpractice lawsuit. A doctor delayed referal to a hand surgeon when Tom had a severed nerve in his left wrist.
2008 award from Veterans For Peace at national convention
2011 award from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for service to the HIV Community Advisory Board
Organized a memorial wreath laying ceremony at Congressional cemetery on the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau Nazi Concentration camp. The ceremony included the 6th US Army color guard, the same unit that liberated Dachau.
Tom received an award from the Human Rights campaign and I am in the VA Western Blind Rehab center Hall of Fame
In 1974 Tom was a delegate to the national 4-H Citizenship Short Course in Washington DC
In 1975 Tom attended Florida American Legion Boys State. I won the VFW Voice of Democracy essay contest.
In 2000 Tom received the Kentucky Colonel award from the Governor
In 2002 Tom received an award from the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Tom served on the national AMVETS Diversity Committee that added sexual orientation to the national bylaws.
Tom founded Riverside County Veterans for Peace and spoke at Camp Casey (Crawford, Texas) with Cindy Sheehan.
Twice, Tom led workshops at the Veterans For Peace national convention on DADT.
Tom attends AMVETS national conventions, Catholic War Veterans national convention and Blinded Veterans Association national conventions.
Spoke on steps of Minnesota state capitol at a peace rally.
Protested 2008 Republican national Convention with Iraq Veterans Against War.
VFP dedicated the peace pole outside Cathedral City Library and at Desert Mirage High Schol in Thermal CA.
Dedicated late Morris Kight peace tree in Palm Springs CA
Tom Swann has donated over $10,000 to charities in the Coachella Valley. This includes $3,000 to Metropolitan Community Church, the flags, rifles and belts for both the Palm Springs Gay Veterans and AMVETS Post 66; also 29 tickets, the cost of the awards and singer at the CA Gay Veterans Memorial Association dinner in September 2000.
Tom Swann graduated from VA blind rehabilitation training and has an injured hand yet he continues to serve the community.
The BottomLine described Venerable Morris Kight and Tom Swann as two of America's 100 heroes when they co-founded Gay Liberation For 21st Century. This small group asks candidates the toughest questions and attracts the largest crowds at forums. They made the first endorsements ever by gays in Ranch Mirage and sponsored the Morris Kight tree. They met with Assemblymember John Longville on reform of Megan's Law.
Tom received the 2002 Community Service Organizational Leader of the Year award from the Desert Business Association.
Tom Swann is a legally blind veteran's activist who has been a leader in civil rights and political causes since 1972. He has turned his AIDS status and HMO Horror Story that caused his blindness to rally and uplift veterans to support the Democratic Party. Three members of Congress nominated him to serve on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS for the next vacant position. Tom was appointed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs HIV and AIDS Community Advisory Board.
As a student-body high school president in Florida he overcame threats from the KKK when an African-American young woman was selected as homecoming queen. Swann has met with both Coretta Scott King and Rosa Parks.
Tom Swann was the only state party officer of the California Democratic Party to endorse Mario Obledo for Governor in 1982. Swann marched with the late Cesar Chavez and was campaign treasurer for Gilbert Saldana, Democratic nominee for Congress in 1986.
Tom Swann won an ACLU case vs. Dept. of the Navy in 1994 based upon sexual orientation and AIDS discrimination. Swann's case won sexual orientation protection for all Navy civilian workers four years before President Clinton signed an Executive Order. Swann was the last gay federal employee to have his access to classified information challenged by the government.
Tom Swann filed California's first AIDS medical malpractice case and testified before the State of California Managed Health Care Improvement Task Force.
Swann was an original member of LIFE Lobby (1986) and Ventura County Co-Chair of the 1986 No on LaRouche Proposition 69 campaign. He received a report card grade of A on World AIDS Day 1999 from the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Inc. for his crusade to improve health care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Swann was nominated to attend the White House Conference on AIDS and has spoken at the POZ-Life Expo in Hollywood. Tom Swann organized the first meeting of veterans with the White House National AIDS Policy Office and scheduled meetings during AIDS Watch 99 and 2000.
Tom Swann has participated in AIDS medical research since 1985. He has attended AIDS Watch in Washington D.C. and AIDS Lobby Day in Sacramento.
Tom Swann has been a delegate to the William Joiner Conference on the Concerns of Veterans sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives. He has received the American Legion Medal of Merit and Heroism Medal.
Tom received an award from the CA. Department of Veteran Affairs.
Founding Chair, California Democratic Party Veterans Caucus
California Asst. Coordinator Veterans for Gore 2000
Co-Chair, Salute to Veterans Democratic National Convention
Tom is the first LGBT appointed to the Riverside County Veterans Advisory Committee.
Tom Swann is founding chair of the only certified Democratic Party veterans' caucus in America. The Governor of Kentucky promoted Tom to be an honorary Kentucky Colonel for his work on veteran issues at the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
As President of Palm Springs Gay Veterans, he was shown on CNN Headline News when the organization won the right to march in the Palm Springs Veteran's Day Parade. The group also won the right to join the Desert Veteran's Memorial Association and sponsored California's first celebration of the 55th anniversary of victory in World War II.
This veteran's organization sponsored the April 29, 2000 memorial wreath ceremony at Congressional Cemetery. Also placed the only wreath for gay veterans in California (in Palm Springs) on Memorial Day May 29, 2000.
Governor Gray Davis and State Assembly recognized Tom Swann for spearheading the drive to dedicate Americas first LGBT Veterans Memorial on May 27, 2001.
Tom organized a January 12, 2002 ceremony to honor veterans and American heroes of 9/11. President George Bush sent a letter and President Gerald Ford wrote a letter thanking gay veteran Oliver Sipple for saving his life in 1975.
Tom Swann was called a national hero by NOW President Patricia Ireland when he spoke before the national convention in 1993. Swann voted for women to be eligible for membership in Lions Clubs International.
Tom Swann recieved an award from Palm Springs city council member Ginny Foat
In 2008 a Superior Court jury ruled in favor of Tom's medical malpractice lawsuit. A doctor delayed referal to a hand surgeon when Tom had a severed nerve in his left wrist.
2008 award from Veterans For Peace at national convention
2011 award from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for service to the HIV Community Advisory Board
Organized a memorial wreath laying ceremony at Congressional cemetery on the 55th anniversary of the liberation of Dachau Nazi Concentration camp. The ceremony included the 6th US Army color guard, the same unit that liberated Dachau.
Tom received an award from the Human Rights campaign and I am in the VA Western Blind Rehab center Hall of Fame
In 1974 Tom was a delegate to the national 4-H Citizenship Short Course in Washington DC
In 1975 Tom attended Florida American Legion Boys State. I won the VFW Voice of Democracy essay contest.
In 2000 Tom received the Kentucky Colonel award from the Governor
In 2002 Tom received an award from the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission
