Blog
Walking into the 1920s-era Naval Reserve Center in Seattle was unsettling in that it took me back to my early training days. Anyone who as served in the military, especially the Marine Corps, can tell stories of how all buildings look the same. Military buildings are constructed for functionality and have very little use for anything else that might be considered fluff. I loved the building in Seattle because I could almost see the troops preparing for their coming deployment across the Pacific and into the Japanese theater. The location was perfect.
We held the event in the Officer's Club. With the view of the lake and historic docks behind us, I began to get nervous about people showing up. I had invited Admiral Steinman to moderate the event and was worried that I wouldn't fill the room to the Admiral's liking. However, by the time the panel discussion started, there was standing room only. The speeches went well and all the speakers really connected with the audience. I noticed how they hung on every word -- almost as if they had experienced the same situations of which we were speaking. It wasn't until Eric Alva invited any servicemember in the room to stand that I realized why. The room was full of both veterans and those currently serving. I was touched because each of the people in the room had joined the military and willingly defended our national interest. The wide variety of people in the room underscored one simple fact: there have always been gays and lesbians serving honorably.
A huge success, we are now looking forward to our sprint through the southwest. We will be speaking in Phoenix, Palm Springs and Las Vegas over the next week and a half. As for now, I am going to go drink a few beers with my fellow Seattle vets.
You know you are in Seattle when it rains twice in three hours. Refreshingly cool, I got in late yesterday and have been going nonstop ever since. This morning, I did an interview with Fox News’ “The Commentators.” Set up with one person speaking on behalf of lifting the ban and the other arguing that the ban must remain, I was nervous about doing an interview with the most conservative radio station in Seattle.
In the course of the interview, I found out that the “conservative” host was actually the executive officer in a reserve battalion. (Translation: He outranks me.) Plus, the callers were making all the expected arguments against keeping gays in the military. However, I started to notice the two hosts coming around halfway through the program. By the end, they were both talking about how gays could and should be allowed to serve openly in the military. Changing a senior-ranking, conservative radio show host’s opinion about gays serving openly gives me hope that the shifts in the military are moving to senior-level officers.
We are getting ready to continue doing a series of radio interviews this afternoon. I cannot believe how many radio stations there are in Seattle. I guess it is appropriate that this is the home of “Frasier.”
Currently in Orlando, we are getting ready to start the second stop of the Legacy of Service tour. The Orlando folk have already been amazing. Last night, we joined the local HRC community for dinner and got to know the local Floridian veterans. It’s incredibly hot here but this has already turned into a successful and very busy trip.
This morning, I awoke and checked my e-mail. In my inbox was an e-mail from a Marine who served for me in Iraq. He wrote: “If there is any thing I can do to help your tour I would be glad to help. You were a great leader and you should not be judged because of your sexual preference. You were the best leader I ever had!” I cannot describe how it feels to have someone with whom I served write me. My biggest fear in speaking out against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was the chance that I might alienate my former Marines — those men I led in Iraq. I knew that my single job as an officer in the Marine Corps was to look out for their interests and bring them home. For me, my being gay had no impact on that mission. It is just amazing to hear my Marines say that they don’t (and didn’t) care about my being gay either.
He continues to say: “I saw the interview you did and I completely support you as a straight man.” In a couple of sentences, he again highlighted how the service is changing. Gay or straight does not matter. In the service, we exist to accomplish the mission and take care of each other. Anyone who believes that banning gays from the military is a necessity should review that — including the outgoing chairman of the joint chiefs. This honorable corporal of Marines could teach the senior staff volumes about what really matters when lives are at risk.
I love the Fourth of July. The most fundamentally American of any holiday, Independence Day marks a time for people across this great nation to take a breath and spend time with those they love. To me, the Fourth of July is a time to remember what is sacrificed in securing America’s freedoms.
Independence Day was first celebrated by firing 13 rifles in Bristol, R.I., in 1777. It had been just one year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the fledgling U.S. government faced an uncertain future. Since then, the United States has been defended countless times by our brave men and women under arms. Many never returned.
I urge every American to take a moment while watching fireworks or listening to the national anthem to reflect. Think of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Think of those families who are missing loved ones. Independence Day requires us to honor these sacrifices, for they transcend all social and political lines.
I want to personally thank all those currently deployed. I am good friends with many currently serving in Iraq. Gay and straight, thank you for all you have willingly done for this nation. I wish you a happy and safe Fourth of July.
I got an e-mail today from Marine Corps Mobilization Command that strikes to the very heart of problems created by “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” The e-mail was a plea from the Marine Corps for linguists titled “DOD aims to recruit linguist.” The need for qualified Arabic linguists is an understatement. I remember being in Iraq and needing an interpreter. In my unit, there were two choices: the first one was called the “good” interpreter and the second one was called the “bad” interpreter. Both were Iraqi males being paid huge sums of money for their services. The difference between the good one and the bad one was simple: the bad one was illiterate. I always got stuck with the bad one.
The e-mail encourages all those with language skills to contact recruiters. It emphasizes: “Effective June 1, 2006, the maximum monthly pay for active-duty service members who are proficient in another language will be increased from $300 to $1,000. For National Guard and reserve members, a $6,000 per-year bonus will be offered.” Obviously the need is real. The e-mail continues to say the incentive program will “focus more on critical languages, such as Arabic and Chinese, and bring 1,000 people into the corps.” Basically, the Marine Corps is projecting a shortfall of 1,000 linguists, but continues to discharge linguists under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Kicking qualified people out of the military is clearly damaging our military and negatively impacting our national readiness. The e-mail I received today speaks only of the critical need for linguists. However, there are urgent needs for many other critical shortfalls. The estimated 10,000 gays and lesbians discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” were holding these strategic jobs and defending this nation. Their posts are now vacant.
Today the Department of Defense strengthened my resolve to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In addition to marginalizing the patriotic service of the 65,000 gays and lesbians currently serving, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is creating strategic vulnerabilities in our military. It is time to get rid of this useless ban.
For information on the new language programs being offered by DOD, please visit: http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/military-foreign-language-proficiency-pay
I had the pleasure of joining Alex Nicholson, Jarrod Chlapowski, Julie Sohn and Admiral Steinman in Chicago for the annual Salute to Gay Veterans. Growing up in the Midwest, I knew Chicago for its blustery winters. Now, I know Chicago as the only city in the nation to publicly support gay veterans.
The event took place in Daly Plaza downtown. Walking up to the platform, I admit I got a little nervous looking at all the spectators. The turnout was massive. There were families, vets and politicians in attendance. Each veteran’s speech was followed by the roar of applause from a crowd thankful for their service to our country. I have never felt so supported by an audience. Highlighting the event, Chicago Mayor Daly officially proclaimed June 21 Gay Veterans Day. Chicagoans are incredibly supportive of all veterans and truly patriotic in the best sense.
Chicago was not all work. I ended up staying through Chicago pride. Similarly to the Salute to Gay Veterans, the parade was lined by all Chicagoans doing their part to urge equality for all Americans — gay and straight. I left Chicago Sunday evening exhausted but grateful for a truly wonderful city.
Last weekend, I headed home to Columbus, Ohio. Growing up, I didn’t realize how wonderful Columbus actually was. Now, I can’t get enough. This weekend in Columbus would be no different.
My partner Brandon and I drove over from Washington, D.C., because we wanted to bring both of our dogs. We arrived around 5 p.m. and immediately dressed to attend a reception with Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. People were wonderful and extremely excited about HRC’s efforts to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The above picture is of my mother, the governor, me and Brandon:This year’s dinner fell on Saturday night. Called “Equality Unmasked,” the dinner was a huge success! I took my parents and Brandon. As an Ohioan, I was extremely pleased to see Gov. Ted Strickland address the dinner. I had a chance to speak with the governor following his speech. He is very committed to the entire gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and is a great ally in working to end the ban on gays and lesbians in the military.
I left Ohio on Sunday to return to D.C. before flying to Chicago for pride. Although short, my trip back home refreshed me because of all the support offered by all Ohioans. I can’t wait to make it back to Columbus again soon!
What an amazing day here in Des Moines, Iowa! I just got back to my hotel room at the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines to get ready for tonight’s big event. I wanted to draft a quick blog entry before having to leave again to go down to the Iowa Historical Society to continue preparations for the kick-off event of our Legacy of Service tour.
Today has been truly phenomenal. We have spent the afternoon stationed out at the Iowa Historical Society with our panel of veterans rolling from one press interview to another. I guarantee that after today, the caucus-goers in Iowa will have heard about the Human Rights Campaign’s Legacy of Service tour. More importantly, they will have heard the stories of courage and sacrifice told by each one of our five veterans joining us here in Iowa.
Even before the event begins tonight, we have already had the opportunity to do press interviews with The Des Moines Register, The Associated Press, local Des Moines ABC and Fox affiliates and City View (the weekly alternative newspaper for Des Moines), and the veterans are sitting down right now with a blogger from the Iowa Independent. Whew!
I have to sign off now and go get ready for the event where Iowa state Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, representatives from most major Democratic presidential campaigns and a whole host of Iowans will be joining us.
We will be sure to take lots of pictures. Also, Michael Cole from HRC’s media center is in tow with a digital video camera to film the event. So, check back and look for those to be posted in the next day or so.
On June 5, 2007, I participated in a briefing before U.S. House of Representatives and Senate staffers. Set up by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, the briefing was intended to convey personal stories and highlight issues with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I went into the briefing not knowing what to expect. Given that each of the service branches provides Capitol Hill fellows and service academies provide Capitol Hill interns, I half expected a hostile audience.
I was joined by three other vets from SLDN: Jason Knight, Austin Rooke and Lee Quillian. The panel was moderated by U.S. Army Colonel Tom Field. The diversity of experiences living under DADT drove the central point: DADT is simply not working. And each of us said we were driven by the desire to serve as the central reason for joining the service in the first place.
More striking was the audience. The event, which was well-attended, produced many questions and looks of disbelief. Some in the crowd couldn’t believe that the military actually supported a policy that was so exclusive. It was apparent that the overall effect of DADT on real troops was not well-known by many who actually participate in making policy. I felt that I was doing a great service by just answering a couple of questions and shedding light on what DADT is actually doing to our nation’s readiness.
At the Senate briefing, it was apparent who in the audience was in the military. The haircut gives us away. One service member approached the table after the panel and had questions about my experiences as a commander. You could tell that he was really thinking about the issue. I asked him where he was stationed. He was taken aback for a moment and then told me. Clearly, the briefing had impacted him and changed (if even a little bit) his views on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” I knew that we had done well that day; we had made people think.
My thanks to my fellow panelists for taking the time to attend the briefing and to SLDN for setting the whole thing up.
Getting out of the Marine Corps was a torturous decision. I had deployed and done well. I wanted to stay in. Yet I could not deploy again and leave my partner, my family, at home under the provisions of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
I am originally from Columbus, Ohio, and am a graduate of Ohio State University. I entered the Marine Corps immediately upon graduation and reported to Quantico, Va., for training. After six months of intense “basic officer” training, the Marine Corps decided that I was to become a combat engineer. I remember wanting to laugh when I was told that I would be trained as an engineer — I am a horrible math student who avoided physics like the plague. However, being a Marine officer was something I took very seriously. I was determined to be the best officer and best engineer in my class.
After graduating from engineer school, I was assigned to my battalion and things were going very smoothly. Then I met Brandon. The timing could not have been worse. We met just as I was starting a “work up” training cycle for deployment. But we made it work. He eventually moved from Washington, D.C., to Wilmington, N.C., to live with me. When I deployed, we were living as any other military family. Deployment forced me to come to terms with many aspects of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” that I hadn’t realized existed. Every day I worried about Brandon not being able to notify me if he was injured. Every time I faced a combat situation, I would wonder how Brandon would find out about me if I were to be injured.
Upon returning, Brandon and I decided that I would not continue my service. I was honorably released from active duty on April 1, 2007. I came to the Human Rights Campaign out of a sense of duty I felt to the gay and lesbian troops still serving. HRC championed my rights when I was serving on active duty and could not speak for myself. I am now humbled to be working in the shadows of those who have fought so long for my rights. I am excited about this tour and can’t wait to get on the road.