Keith Kerr
Encyclopedia
Keith Kerr, Colonel, USA-ret, and BG, CSMR-ret., (born 1936) is a retired United States Army Reserve Colonel
, who later was given the rank of Brigadier General
in the California State Military Reserve
, part of the California State Defense Forces who in 2003 became one of the highest ranking military officers to be openly gay
.
on September 21, 1953 and served in the 513th Military Intelligence Group in Germany after the Korean War. After leaving Active Army service, Kerr served in the U. S. Army Reserve and was commissioned a First Lieutenant
in June 1960. Kerr retired from the U. S. Army Reserve in 1986 as a Colonel
.
Kerr was commissioned in the California State Military Reserve
, a state defense force, and was given the rank of Brigadier General on February 21, 1991. The brigadier general rank in a state organization is not recognized by the federal government where his U.S. Army rank for retirement purposes remains a Colonel.
During his tenure with the California State Military Reserve, Kerr was the Inspector General, Chief of Staff, Commanding General of the Northern Area Command at the Alameda Naval Supply Depot in Alameda, California
.
and has a Master’s Degree from San Francisco State University
.
As a member of the faculty at City College of San Francisco
, Mr. Kerr was Chair of the Business Department, Dean of Instruction, and Dean of Instructional Support and Special Assistant to the President before retiring in 1995. After that time, he continued teaching as an adjunct professor.
He currently lives in Santa Rosa, California
.
On December 10, 2003, Kerr revealed in an interview with the New York Times that he is gay.
The interview was critical of the Don't ask, don't tell
policy. Also coming out in the interview were Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
of the Army and Rear Admiral
Alan M. Steinman of the United States Coast Guard
. At the time they were the highest ranking members of the military to acknowledge being gay. In the interview he said, "The culture of the military is that you go along and conform...And you keep your private life to yourself."
He became a member of the Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network. Kerr was a supporter of John Kerry
in his 2004 Presidential run and was listed on a Hillary Clinton press release as a member of the Steering Committee of the "LGBT Americans For Hillary."
on CNN
. Kerr was also present in the audience and was asked to speak in which he said:
After the candidates responded Anderson Cooper
asked him if he got an answer to his question to which he replied, "With all due respect, I did not get an answer from the candidates."
Kerr's question generated criticism of CNN for not disclosing Kerr's Clinton ties. CNN had paid Kerr's traveling expenses to the debate but stated that it was unaware of the connection with the Clinton campaign at the time. When asked if anyone affiliated with the Clinton campaign “put you up to the idea of asking this question,” Mr. Kerr stated that “[t]his was a private initiative of my own.” CNN pulled Kerr's question and response in subsequent replays.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, who later was given the rank of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
in the California State Military Reserve
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed...
, part of the California State Defense Forces who in 2003 became one of the highest ranking military officers to be openly gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
.
Service Record
Kerr enlisted as a private at Fort OrdFort Ord
Fort Ord was a U.S. Army post on Monterey Bay in California. It was established in 1917 as a maneuver area and field artillery target range and was closed in September 1994. Fort Ord was one of the most attractive locations of any U.S. Army post, because of its proximity to the beach and California...
on September 21, 1953 and served in the 513th Military Intelligence Group in Germany after the Korean War. After leaving Active Army service, Kerr served in the U. S. Army Reserve and was commissioned a First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
in June 1960. Kerr retired from the U. S. Army Reserve in 1986 as a Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
.
Kerr was commissioned in the California State Military Reserve
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed...
, a state defense force, and was given the rank of Brigadier General on February 21, 1991. The brigadier general rank in a state organization is not recognized by the federal government where his U.S. Army rank for retirement purposes remains a Colonel.
During his tenure with the California State Military Reserve, Kerr was the Inspector General, Chief of Staff, Commanding General of the Northern Area Command at the Alameda Naval Supply Depot in Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
.
Civilian Record
He is a graduate of the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and has a Master’s Degree from San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is a public university located in San Francisco, California. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers over 100 areas of study from nine academic colleges...
.
As a member of the faculty at City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, or CCSF, is a two-year community college in San Francisco, California. The Ocean Avenue campus, in the Ingleside neighborhood, is the college's primary location...
, Mr. Kerr was Chair of the Business Department, Dean of Instruction, and Dean of Instructional Support and Special Assistant to the President before retiring in 1995. After that time, he continued teaching as an adjunct professor.
He currently lives in Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
.
Gay Activist
The interview was critical of the Don't ask, don't tell
Don't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policy. Also coming out in the interview were Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard
Virgil A. Richard
Brigadier General Virgil A. Richard is a retired Army General who served 32 years of active military service of which 30 were devoted to Financial Management. Richard has become an outspoken critic of the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the U.S...
of the Army and Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Alan M. Steinman of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. At the time they were the highest ranking members of the military to acknowledge being gay. In the interview he said, "The culture of the military is that you go along and conform...And you keep your private life to yourself."
He became a member of the Servicemembers’ Legal Defense Network. Kerr was a supporter of John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
in his 2004 Presidential run and was listed on a Hillary Clinton press release as a member of the Steering Committee of the "LGBT Americans For Hillary."
CNN-Youtube Debate controversy
On November 29, 2007, Kerr submitted a You Tube video that was used as a question in the Republican Presidential Debate in St. Petersburg, FloridaSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. Kerr was also present in the audience and was asked to speak in which he said:
- My name is Keith Kerr, from Santa Rosa, California. I'm retired brigadier general with 43 years of service, and I'm a graduate of the Special Forces Officer Course, the Command and General Staff Course, and the Army War CollegeU.S. Army War CollegeThe United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks...
. And I'm an openly gay man. I want to know why you think that American men and women in uniform are not professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.
After the candidates responded Anderson Cooper
Anderson Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper is an American journalist, author, and television personality. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is normally broadcast live from a New York City studio; however, Cooper often broadcasts live on location for breaking news stories...
asked him if he got an answer to his question to which he replied, "With all due respect, I did not get an answer from the candidates."
Kerr's question generated criticism of CNN for not disclosing Kerr's Clinton ties. CNN had paid Kerr's traveling expenses to the debate but stated that it was unaware of the connection with the Clinton campaign at the time. When asked if anyone affiliated with the Clinton campaign “put you up to the idea of asking this question,” Mr. Kerr stated that “[t]his was a private initiative of my own.” CNN pulled Kerr's question and response in subsequent replays.