An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News | June 23, 2016

Philly news anchor helps Troop Support celebrate LGBT Pride Month

By Alex Siemiatkowksi DLA Troop Support Public Affairs Specialist

One of the first openly gay news broadcasters on TV in Philadelphia said that even at the age of 18, while filling out his selective service paperwork, he marched to the beat of his own drum.

Jim Donovan, a co-anchor of CBS 3’s Eyewitness News morning show, shared the journey of his 30-year career in TV with Naval Support Activity Philadelphia employees during the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month program June 21. Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support employees work on NSA Philadelphia.

“I remember filling out the paperwork and ... asking, ‘Well if they do draft me, how do I know which branch of service? Do they assign you or do you pick where you want to go?’” said Donovan.

Donovan’s dad was a Marine and said that he and his brother would therefore also be Marines.

“And I turned to him and I said, ‘First I would have to see what the uniform looks like,’” Donovan said.

Donovan has worked in broadcasting markets in New York, North Carolina and Ohio before arriving in Philadelphia in 2004 to be a consumer reporter. He is a 14-time Emmy Award winner and became anchor of the CBS 3 morning newscast in April.

Donovan said he attributes his success to hard work, making good decisions and being in the right place at the right time.

Another guest speaker for the program was Karen Faber, Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support Logistics Engineering Change Proposal Manager. Faber also moonlights as an aspiring comedian where she shares life experiences and the message that “we all are really all the same.”

“Being gay wasn’t a choice for me,” said Faber. “I didn’t choose to be different. I just wanted to fit in and be like everybody else.”

The program began with a moment of silence to remember the victims of the shooting in Orlando. The Jazz Feds, a four-piece band of base employees, also played “I'll Be Seeing You (In All the Old Familiar Places)” for the families who lost their loved ones.

The Department of Defense theme for this year’s LGBT Pride Month is “Celebration.”

“Today we celebrate our nation’s rich diversity and reaffirm our beliefs in equal treatment for all Americans,” said Lynn Kohl, NAVSUP WSS vice commander. “Getting here wasn’t easy and the road still has many challenges ahead. It has taken years of hard work, dedication and self-sacrifice from countless men and women determined to end the struggle for LGBT rights.”

The LGBT Pride Month program was hosted by DLA Troop Support Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity office and the NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support’s Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee. The observance is held annually to recognize the importance of diversity in the workforce and the achievements of LGBT individuals.