Serve Openly - DADT is done...

[hookahdude]

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ended at midnight last night.

I served for 9 years in the Army in both combat arms and MI. I am very pleased that this has occured. I knew a couple of gay service members when I was in and the one thing that they were always hurt by was the fact that they were willing to die for a country that made them lie to do it.

I am very proud today of this event, but bummed it took so fucking long.

I am interested to see how other eplayans feel about this moment in our history - I feel it is similar to the day that women were allowed to serve.

(Edited for spelling.)

[troubledenergy]

I AM SO FREAKING HAPPY AND EXCITED ABOUT THIS!!

What a historically AWESOME, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE DAY!!

[thelionking]

I am happy for all the people who have been serving under false pretenses and sorry for the anxiety they must have felt and what a relief it must be.

I wish there was a way to make it up to the 11,000 that were kicked out becuase of the previous policy.

[Elderberry]

Finally. And what do you know, the world hasn't come to an end, no birds dropping from the sky or fish dying in the seas.

[ibdave]

Glad it has finally came to be and only hope that it stays this way and that the Teapulicans don't change it if they get the power..

[Lassen Forge]

Always amazed me, you have the military academy and the code of honor on one hand telling people it is their foresworn duty to ALWAYS be honest...

On the other you have these same officers telling their troops (or each other) they have to lie to be in the Military.

Something really fucked up there. REAL morale chunker there.

- - - - -

On a personal note... not that it matters (past the age limit) but yeah, otherwise I'd go back if I could... really miss it at times, all the secret squirrel shit, hiding under the innocence of youth and a secondary MOS... At least this removes that sword over one's neck. 'Bout time the US grew the fuck up!

[ygmir]

I'd rather be in a foxhole (the battle kind) with JK, than Hugh Hefner.........

[Elderberry]

Thanks. (I think.)

[Lassen Forge]

I wonder how foxfur feels about this desire to be in his hole... --giggles--

OOOHHH you said Battle. Sorry about that. Tho he DOES look damn cute in those famous camo pants...

[Elderberry]

I wonder if he and I are the only two gay (meaning gay/bi/lesbian) veterans (or currently serving military) that are on the board? It's safe to come out now!

[theCryptofishist]

I wonder if he and I are the only two gay (meaning gay/bi/lesbian) veterans (or currently serving military) that are on the board? It's safe to come out now!

No. I won't name names, however.

And yes, it is a grand thing that we are growing up and this has happened.
Three cheers.

[Eric]

I almost joined in the 80's- officer material (apparently I got the one of the highest ASVAB scores at that location that year), was going to go to Monterrey for language training (back when that base existed), all paperwork was signed except the final entry one, physical passed, my career in military intelligence was going to start, but I needed to wait 30 days because I had "simple childhood seizures" when I was young & I had to get a medical waiver.

In those 30 days I decided I couldn't hide who I was I and decided against joining. One of the hardest decisions of my life, but I'm one of those who wanted to serve & didn't because I couldn't live in a closet. I'm happy that this current generation won't have to make that choice (and isn't it ironic that I ended up a military spouse?)

It's amazing to see people on my fb "out" themselves now that they can. If you haven't seen this yet, it's pretty powerful. This is an active duty soldier based in Germany who has been answering questions on youtube while concealing his identity. Yesterday he not only showed his face on youtube for the first time; he called his family & came out to them as well:

[youtube][/youtube]

[Elderberry]

Probably a wise decision...considering the dress code hasn't changed!

I almost joined in the 80's- officer material (apparently I got the one of the highest ASVAB scores at that location that year), was going to go to Monterrey for language training (back when that base existed), all paperwork was signed except the final entry one, physical passed, my career in military intelligence was going to start, but I needed to wait 30 days because I had "simple childhood seizures" when I was young & I had to get a medical waiver.

In those 30 days I decided I couldn't hide who I was I and decided against joining. One of the hardest decisions of my life, but I'm one of those who wanted to serve & didn't because I couldn't live in a closet. I'm happy that this current generation won't have to make that choice (and isn't it ironic that I ended up a military spouse?)

It's amazing to see people on my fb "out" themselves now that they can. If you haven't seen this yet, it's pretty powerful. This is an active duty soldier based in Germany who has been answering questions on youtube while concealing his identity. Yesterday he not only showed his face on youtube for the first time; he called his family & came out to them as well:

[youtube][/youtube]

[OregonRed]

Thanks for sharing that, Eric. I wish all of my friends had such positive experiences coming out to their family.

YAY for the US Military who finally stopped asking service men and women to lie about who they are. Better late than never!

[Eric]

Probably a wise decision...considering the dress code hasn't changed!

Yeah, but can you imagine how hot I'd be in Full Dress?

[Lassen Forge]

Oooh yeah... I could so see that...

[Elderberry]

Oooh yeah... I could so see that...

I think we already have!

[maryanimal]

that was such a beautiful and moving video. I'm so happy that DADT is over with. It's been a long time coming.

and Eric, you would look sizzling in Full Dress!!

[ygmir]

Thanks. (I think.)

it was meant as a total compliment.
you, I feel I could always depend on, have integrity, and courage.

[dr.placebo]

Although I may be an optimist on this issue, I don't think that they will be able to turn back the clock and force the military to be gay oppressive again. Not that there won't be a long tail of homophobia, it's just that every recent liberalization has stayed in place. We've had religious integration, racial integration, gender integration, and now preference integration. I think that it stays, and it's good that it does.

[Foxfur]

I wonder if he and I are the only two gay (meaning gay/bi/lesbian) veterans (or currently serving military) that are on the board? It's safe to come out now!

That's something I've wondered about as well. I hope they are comfortable enough with us here to share.
Thank you for your service.

[Ugly Dougly]

Now we're all free to kill foreigners for our government.

[AntiM]

I had gay roommates in the Navy, and that was before DADT when you were supposed to snitch. No one cared enough to make an issue of sexual preference.

Over on Navy 4 Moms, they are being very accepting so far, which surprised me. The only truly ignorant remarks are coming about transgendered folk.

[Lassen Forge]

Wanna hear a story? All Rightey then... I'll sing you a song. Call it the Ballad of BB...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It would have become an issue had I stayed in... It was a different part of why I bailed - couldn't talk about it till now. Funny how the old crap still stays with you, even on the outside.

Her name was Teri. She was about my height, maybe a little taller, wtih wavy blonde hair, an eagle's glance, and F'n gorgeous. She had about 3 years on a career on me... Somewhere, there's a picture of us dancing at some club somewhere... think it was somewhere in the midwest, or maybe in DC... Anyway, we were head over heels, and became a bit too obvious with our PDA's. Shit.

I kindasorta fell on my sword, to save her career (which at the time I didn't think was worth it - stupid moi!!) ... which I hope she did well at. One of the best C&C NCO's I ever worked with (in more ways than one ) ... Still think of her sometimes. Yeah... wonder how she did.

So yeah... the DADT policy sucked. The one before it was worse (the "You hear, You tell" policy AntiM mentioned above)... While I ended up starting to go out with guys (don't laugh - oiginally I did it because of her security clearance - something about Gay+Security Clearance = Paranoia shit, and I didn't want them looking at hers the next time around, finding me, and, well, you know....) and found they weren't half bad, it still sucked at the time to have to walk. Still hurts a bit.

Would I go back in? In a hot Tejas Heartbeat, if I were younger. I loved it, and was good at what I did. But the past always looks rosier than reality, too... ))shrug(( I sure wouldn't give up my Shelli for it, tho. No fracking way.

So there you go. And Bobs your uncle.

[Sham]

DADT was an outstanding policy that the military adopted, as it was a stepping stone to abolish the discrimination. Our country simply could not have made the jump without it. We only understand baby steps.

[Elderberry]

DADT was an outstanding policy that the military adopted, as it was a stepping stone to abolish the discrimination. Our country simply could not have made the jump without it. We only understand baby steps.

And sometimes we have trouble understanding those!

[Foxfur]

Thank you Sue!
What a beautiful and tragic story. Thanks for putting it out there.
Makes me love you that much more. Hope that's not too icky fer ya

[Lassen Forge]

Icky? From you??!! Are you making... assumptions?

Be careful, I may just have you drop and give me 50!!

I don't tell that side of the story very often, mainly because until a couple days ago I never wanted to endanger Teri or her job, if she was still in, or somehow was tied to the old job. Now that it's not an issue, well... not a big deal.

Anyway, that was long long ago.

So, soldier... you Vant to explain this "Icky"? Or vill ve haff to rezorrrt to... Interrrrrrogation? Heh heh heh...

[AntiM]

Heartwrenching, Sue, so sad.

Hey, the Navy is where I confirmed that sex with women may be comfy and fun, but men are my primary passion. Nothing serious though, nothing to break a heart over. Just memories.

Sex and the Navy... so much sex, so much secrecy for so many situations. That hasn't changed. We had a gay man and a gay woman get married, just so they could live offbase in privacy. The lengths they had to go through just for a little personal space was terrible. My good friend was enlisted, dating an officer, and they had as much trouble too, she (0-2) was sent to another base. And I'm one reason MyLarry never quite made chief. There will still be hidden relationships.

[Eric]

DADT was an outstanding policy that the military adopted, as it was a stepping stone to abolish the discrimination. Our country simply could not have made the jump without it. We only understand baby steps.

Don't look at DADT through rose-colored glasses: more people were thrown out under DADT than before it. Supposedly you would only be thrown out if you "told", but most cases involved anonymous tips, military snooping and innuendo, not gay soldiers coming forward. Every gay/lesbian soldier I know (with a couple of well known exceptions) kept their orientation hidden because they wanted to serve their country. The ones who were booted got thrown out because of someone else, not themselves.

The "Don't Ask" part was completely broken.

It was a failed policy to try to make it easier for the conservatives to take (which of course was a complete failure itself). It kept gays & lesbians as second class citizens in the military and in danger of losing their careers for 20 years, engendered witch hunts and threw out badly needed personnel (remember the gay Arabic specialists thrown out right as we went to war?). Now we're only second class citizens in the non-military world.

Our country made "the jump" to admitting African-Americans & women without baby steps, the military is strong, it could have made this jump as well. It was a complete failure of politics that made DADT possible, it was not a necessary step.