Maj. Marilyn Burden is optimistic lawmakers are on the right track toward addressing workplace discrimination and retaliation issues she witnessed over 17 years working at the Wyoming Air National Guard.
Three years after transferring to the Colorado Air Reserve, the Cheyenne resident in November proudly “infiltrated” her former employer’s “source of power,” by showing up for a meeting of the Wyoming Legislature’s Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Committee. She publicly shared her own experience working within a military culture she described as “toxic” and lacking accountability, and presented the committee with eight recommendations to address those alleged systemic problems. Two months later three military-related bills emerged from the same committee, one of which creates a new state position overseeing complaints and broadens options for guard members and employees seeking redress.
“The bottom line is this bill is a really good start,” Burden told WyoFile.
The committee’s effort to craft legislation followed a WyoFile investigation that spotlighted the stories of several former guard members and employees whose reports of harassment and dsicrimination were met with excuses, suspicion, hostility and retaliation.
“Recent media attention highlighting sexual harrassment, sexual assault, abuse of power, failure to investigate complaints, allegations of child abuse and failure to properly use Airforce and Army regulations for the past 15-plus years have...
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