Vet honored for defending country and LGBTQ+ rights

To kick off Pride Month, Dobbs Ferry resident and Air Force veteran Ben Ilany was honored with a proclamation from the Westchester County Board of Legislators for his service and advocacy for veterans’ rights and benefits.

Ilany, who is now commander of the James Daley Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 200 in Hastings, had come out as gay at 18, before enlisting in the Air Force three years later, requiring him to conceal that part of his identity once again.

When Ilany enlisted, in 2006, the U.S. military policy known as “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT) was in place. The policy, which was repealed in December 2010 after 17 years, allowed gay, lesbian, and bisexual people to serve in the military on the condition they didn’t disclose their sexual orientation. Doing so would be grounds for expulsion.