About the Veterans
Jarrod Chlapowski
Jarrod Chlapowski, 27, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2000 and trained as a Korean linguist and cryptologic voice interceptor at the Defense Language Institute and Goodfellow Air Force Base, finishing second in his class. He worked as an interpreter and translator in Korea, supporting the 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion on more than 300 sensitive reconnaissance operation missions, and as a squadron school’s non-commissioned officer at Ft. Lewis, Wash., in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Chlapowski came to terms with his sexuality after joining the Army and, after coming out within his unit, he experienced widespread acceptance by his peers. He was awarded both the Army Achievement Medal and the Army Commendation Medal during his time in the Army; however, after witnessing the discharges of quite a few fellow service members, Chlapowski chose not to re-enlist because of the excessive burden of the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" law.
In November 2005, Chlapowski teamed up with Alex Nicholson to develop the aggressive Call to Duty Tour, a seven-week public education initiative geared toward putting a human face on the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" issue. Along with Adm. Alan Steinman and nine other veterans, Chlapowski visited 18 cities in spring 2006, educating thousands of opponents and moderates around the country on the reality of living, serving and leading under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" Outside of the tour, Chlapowski has spoken before U.S. House of Representatives and Senate staffers regarding the financial costs of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and has met with a number of politicians and military leaders, the results of which have been directly responsible for contributing to the current momentum in the movement to repeal the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" law. Chlapowski also was a key member of HRC’s 2007 Legacy of Service Tour, and was instrumental in placing 12,000 flags on the National Mall to commemorate the 14th anniversary of the implementation of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell"
Chlapowski earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in December 2007 from North Georgia Military College, where he was active in educating the Corps of Cadets and the wider military community on aspects related to "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" He was chosen by faculty to represent North Georgia Military College at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point's Student Conference on United States Affairs in November 2006. Chlapowski went on to earn a master’s degree in international relations from the University of South Carolina and is a 2009 Boren Fellow, which he will use to study Chinese in Beijing and write his master’s thesis on the political perceptions of North Korean refugees.
Chlapowski has been featured on "60 Minutes", CNN’s "Situation Room", and in the Advocate and more than 100 published national and local media stories. Chlapowski is also a principle subject in the PBS documentary Ask Not.
Alexander Nicholson
Alexander Nicholson is the founder and executive director of Servicemembers United, the nation's largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, and is one of the nation's top leaders in the fight to repeal the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. A former U.S. Army human intelligence collector who speaks multiple foreign languages, including Arabic, Nicholson was discharged from the military because of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" just six months after 9/11.
In 2005, Nicholson went public about his own experience with DADT and began organizing to encourage other gay, lesbian and straight veterans, especially Iraq- and Afghanistan-era troops and veterans, to get involved in advocacy and activism on the DADT issue. Nicholson is the creator of several of the most well-known initiatives to highlight and draw nationwide attention to the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" issue, including the 2006 "Call To Duty Tour" and the 2007 "12,000 Flags for 12,000 Patriots" event on the National Mall. He is also one of the primary organizers behind the 2007 "Legacy of Service Tour" and the 2009 "Voices of Honor Tour."
Nicholson was featured on the cover of the Advocate in 2006 and has also appeared in countless other media pieces on "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" as a representative of the gay military and veteran community. Along with Servicemembers United, he is prominently featured in the new PBS documentary Ask Not, which chronicles the evolution of the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy and profiles the contemporary movement to overturn the law.
Nicholson holds a bachelor’s degree in political science, a master’s degree in public administration and has nearly completed his Ph.D. in political science. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Stephen Vossler
Stephen Vossler, 26, enlisted in the United States Army in 2000 and graduated basic combat training four days prior to 9/11. He then went on to train as a Korean language cryptologic linguist at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, Calif., and at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, where he graduated second in his class. His first duty station was Camp Humphreys, South Korea, where he worked as a strategic reconnaissance specialist and was put in charge of his company’s physical training program. He then spent two years at Ft. Lewis, Wash., where he worked as a tactical reconnaissance specialist and led tactical reconnaissance teams. While at Ft. Lewis, he also graduated with distinction from the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy and received multiple Army Achievement Medals and the Army Commendation Medal.
While at the Defense Language Institute, Vossler had the opportunity to be the roommate of a gay soldier who was being discharged under the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. As an 18-year-old from rural Nebraska, living in the same room with a gay man seemed daunting. During the months-long process of his roommate’s discharge, Vossler came to know his roommate and they became friends. Vossler noticed that the process of discharge was emotionally draining to his roommate. It caused him to be alienated from new soldiers of the unit because it gave him the stigma of being a "bad soldier." Vossler was angered that his friend was considered "bad" simply for being himself.
At that same time, Vossler began developing a close friendship with another colleague in his unit, Jarrod Chlapowski. For the first several months of the friendship, Vossler had no idea that his new friend was gay. When he finally discovered Chlapowski’s sexual orientation, the awkwardness Vossler initially felt quickly subsided as he came to the realization that knowing that Chlapowski was gay was a good thing. The fact that Chlapowski had been so genuinely respectful actually strengthened their friendship, as it was a testament to Chlapowski’s honesty and integrity.
Vossler got out of the Army at the end of his enlistment in June 2006 so that he could use his G.I. Bill to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in both political science and international affairs in December 2009.
Julianne Sohn
Julianne Sohn served for five years as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Reserve. She graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with a degree in anthropology and political science and was commissioned as a second lieutenant after completing Officer Candidate School in December 1999. She then graduated from the basic officer course in June 2000.
Sohn’s active-duty assignments include serving with the consolidated Public Affairs Office of the III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, from 2000 to 2001. During her tour there, she deployed to Korea, Thailand and mainland Japan to support joint, combined military exercises such as Cobra Gold, Ulchi Focus Lens and an artillery relocation exercise. She also served as the public affairs officer for the 6th Marine Corps Recruiting District, headquartered in Parris Island, S.C., from 2001 to 2003. Sohn left the Marine Corps in 2003 due to the strain of serving under the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy.
In 2005, Sohn was activated from the Individual Ready Reserve and served with the 5th Civil Affairs Group in Fallujah, Iraq, and then later in Ramadi. During her tour in Iraq, Sohn worked with civil affairs teams that operated in al-Anbar province to generate media coverage for infrastructure projects, earning a Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal. In spring 2006, Sohn chose to speak out about her experiences serving under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and joined the Call to Duty Tour, a national speaking tour that sought to reignite debate about the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" law. Sohn was subsequently forced to resign her commission under the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy while in the Individual Ready Reserve in 2008.
Sohn is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Legion and is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. She was the honor graduate for her class from the Los Angeles Police Academy in February 2006 and currently serves as a police officer in LAPD's Use of Force Review Division. She is also an on-call public information officer for the LAPD.
Washington, D.C.
Eric Alva
Eric Alva was born in San Antonio, Texas, in December 1970. Upon graduation from high school in 1989, he attended community college for two semesters, but then decided to join the United States Marine Corps. After serving in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope and being stationed in Japan and California for 10 years, Alva was called upon to serve in the Iraq war.
In January 2003, in the buildup to the war, Alva’s unit, the 3rd Battalion 7th Marines, was deployed to the Middle East. His unit was among the first to cross the border of Kuwait into Iraq for the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Three hours into the ground war, his unit stopped to rest near the date1 of Basra. While stepping out of his vehicle, Alva triggered a landmine. The violent explosion threw him 15 feet from the vehicle, and left him with a broken left leg, a broken right arm that was torn open and had severe nerve damage, and a badly injured right leg that was later amputated. He became the first American wounded in the war and the war’s first Purple Heart recipient.
After 13 years of military service, Alva retired as a staff sergeant and went back to college to finish his degree. While at school, he decided to be true to himself and help others, and came out as gay. On Feb. 28, 2007, he joined Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., in introducing the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, a bill designed to repeal the military’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. With this step, he openly admitted to the military and the world that he is a gay man, and one who had served and proudly sacrificed for his country. Alva took a courageous step toward fighting for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and, in particular, for those who have served and are serving in the military but who are unable to be true to themselves. His goal is to help achieve civil rights for all citizens of the United States.
Alva is the national spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign’s fight to repeal the military's discriminatory LGBT policy. Since coming out, he has been featured on "Good Morning America," "Anderson Cooper 360°," "Live with Paula Zahn," Newsweek, USA Today and numerous other newspaper and radio stations across the country. Alva recently graduated with his master’s degree in social work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, where he lives with his partner Darrell and their two dogs, Champ and Bo. He hopes to pursue a career working with diverse groups and continuing to work toward social justice.
Genevieve Chase
Genevieve Chase is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and the founder and executive director of American Women Veterans.
Chase enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve in 2003 and, following training, volunteered to serve 32 months with the Army’s 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry). She deployed as a sergeant to Afghanistan and, on April 7, 2006, while returning from a routine meeting, Chase’s vehicle was attacked by a suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The passengers survived the attack with minor external injuries, but suffered varying degrees of traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Chase is currently a staff sergeant waiting to attend Warrant Officer Candidate School and works as a defense contractor. Chase resides in Alexandria, Va.
Philadelphia
Joe Soto
Joe Soto was born and raised in Hershey, Pa., and received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, where he majored in history. Soto received his B.S. degree upon graduation and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He served for eight years as a supply/logistics officer, achieving the rank of captain before he was honorably discharged.
Soto’s military assignments included command positions at Parris Island, S.C., a recruiting tour in Pennsylvania and staff assignments at Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Okinawa, Japan. While he was in the Marine Corps, he received his M.B.A. from Webster University. Soto competed nationally as a member of the Marine Corps triathlon team, and has run six Marine Corps Marathons, with a personal best of 2:55:11.
He is presently executive vice president and general manager of Dorland Global Corporation, a global pharmaceutical/biotech advertising agency with offices in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Europe. Prior to joining Dorland, Soto held several senior positions in the advertising and pharmaceutical industry. He is a lifetime member of the USNA Alumni Association, as well as a member of its "President’s Circle."
Anu Bhagwati
Anu Bhagwati is a former Marine Corps captain. She served from 1999 to 2004 as a communications officer and a martial arts instructor trainer (black belt, first degree). She was a radio platoon commander in Okinawa, Japan, and a company commander at Marine Combat Training Battalion, School of Infantry, Camp LeJeune.
In 2009, Bhagwati became the executive director of Service Women’s Action Network, a New York City-based non-partisan advocacy and legal services organization for servicewomen and women veterans. She has testified before Congress on the challenges faced by women in the military, including military sexual trauma and obstacles in accessing VA healthcare and benefits.
Bhagwati earned her bachelor's degree in English from Yale University and a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she concentrated on international security and political economy, with a particular focus on international human rights policy.
Charlotte
Michael Noftzger
Michael Noftzger enlisted in the US Army in July of 1999. Upon completion of basic training at Ft. Benning, GA, he attended Psychological Operations training at Ft. Bragg, NC where he graduated on the commandant's list. He then became airborne qualified and attended the Basic Military Language Course located at Ft. Bragg, NC.
Once at his duty station, Noftzger worked in support of US operations in South America, spending six month attached to the Military Information Support Team in Bogota, Colombia in support of programs to further US goals in the region, specifically Interdiction, Eradication, and Human Rights campaigns. Noftzger was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal for his contributions to the efforts in Colombia.
Noftzger achieved the rank of Specialist/E-4 before being honorably discharged in May of 2003. During his time in service he was awarded the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Service Medal.
Following his tenure in the Army, Noftzger graduated Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science where he was named Outstanding Senior by the Political Science department. He plans on attending Law School and hopes to work with soldiers who are being discharged under the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy.
Norfolk
Megan Scanlon
Megan McDonald Scanlon grew up in Ridgewood, N.J. Upon graduation from high school, Scanlon entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, where she majored in systems engineering and minored in legal studies. Upon graduation from West Point, Scanlon was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Transportation Corps. Her first duty assignment was Fort Eustis, Va., where she served as a platoon leader in a cargo handling company. While at Fort Eustis, Scanlon was selected from among all of the lieutenants in her battalion to command the transportation detachment charged with supporting all of the field exercises of the U.S. Army Transportation School. Also while at Fort Eustis, Scanlon was temporarily assigned to the U.S. Department of State in support of the 50th Anniversary NATO Summit, for which her battalion provided transportation services for the international delegates.
After graduating from the officer’s advanced course and the Combined Arms and Services Staff School in 2001, Scanlon was stationed at Fort Polk, La., as a transportation support operations officer in a corps support battalion. Immediately following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, Scanlon’s battalion was mobilized to the England Air Force Base in Alexandria, La., where Scanlon coordinated the airfield operation and deployment of units to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Scanlon holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy and a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of law. She is a practicing attorney in Williamsburg, Va., where she lives with her partner and their two children.
Phoenix
Ruben Gallego
Ruben M. Gallego was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1979. Gallego enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves in 2000, fulfilling a lifelong dream of service to his country. He did his basic training at Parris Island, S.C., and Infantry School at Camp Lejeune, N.C. Ruben was trained in the military occupational specialty designation of 0311 (infantryman) and 0341 (mortarman).
Gallego served in the USMCR concurrently while attending Harvard University. In his senior year, he was activated in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and served in Operation Noble Eagle. His second activation took him to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom III. In Iraq, Gallego served with Lima 3/25, a frontline combat unit. Gallego participated in 16 combat operations and many more combat patrols. Lima 3/25 operated near the Syrian border and was primarily responsible for interdicting insurgents and weapons. He is the recipient of the Combat Action Ribbon.
While in Iraq, Gallego grew frustrated with the lack of reliable interpreters and intelligence. Upon returning, he found out that many Arab linguists had been separated due to the "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. Gallego became more sympathetic about the need to repeal of the policy when his lifelong friend and fellow veteran came out as gay. His friend explained to him the difficulty he encountered with "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell." Gallego soon found himself working as an ally for LGBT issues.
Gallego was honorably discharged in 2008. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in international relations.
Julie Mendoza
Julie Mendoza was born in Santa Fe, N.M. In 1987, after graduating from high school, she enlisted in the United States Air Force. Upon completion of basic military training and technical training, she was assigned duties at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. As an airman, she attended the non-commissioned officers preparatory course, where she finished as a distinguished graduate and later attended Airman Leadership School, where she received the Commandant’s Award for Leadership. As a non-commissioned officer, she attended the Non-Commissioned Officers Academy at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., where she again finished as a distinguished graduate and was also nominated for the Commandant’s Award.
During Mendoza’s career, she was stationed at various locations around the world. She deployed in support of humanitarian/military operations in Panama, the Persian Gulf, Turkey, Somalia/Rwanda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Haiti, Afghanistan and Iraq. For her actions, she received a number of military honors, including the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service (Army) Commendation Medal, three Air Force Commendation Medals, two Air Force Achievement Medals, a Joint Meritorious Unit Citation, three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards as well as the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award.
Mendoza earned two Associate in Applied Science degrees, a Bachelor of Science degree (cum laude) and a Master of Arts degree. She retired in 2008 from active duty — in silence — as a master sergeant, with full military honors, and now resides in Glendale, Ariz.
Kansas City
Robert E. Taylor
Robert E. Taylor is a husband and father of three children. He served in the United States Army from 2000-2005 as a Korean Linguist.
While training at the Defense Language Institute, Taylor served and became friends with a number of gay and lesbian troops. From August 2003 until May 2004, he served in Afghanistan in support of OEF IV with the 110th MI Battalion out of Ft. Drum, NY. He is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Counseling at Covenant Theological Seminary in Saint Louis, MO, where he resides with his family.
Miami
Pepe Johnson
Pepe Johnson, 31, enlisted in the US Army in 2000 and completed One-Station-Unit Training as a cannon crewmember at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He remained at Fort Sill following training and was selected as the Fort Sill Soldier of the Year in 2001. His awards in the the Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal (5OL).
Like many gay veterans, Pepe did not come to terms with his sexual orientation until he was serving in the military. As a soldier, and later as a noncommissioned officer, he was taught the importance of values - including integrity. He chose to confront "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" head on and came out to his commander.
A native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, Pepe graduated from Fairmont State College with a degree in Economics and currently owns his own business.
Felix Arrieta
Born in Panama on Jan 1962, Felix graduated from Instituto Panamericano in 1980 and in September 1981 Felix joined the U.S. Air Force, where his tours of duty included Japan, Hawaii, Panama, and Oklahoma. In Panama Felix participated in Operation Just Cause, and in Oklahoma Felix supervised daily operations of all cargo transported to the Middle East during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In December 1992 Felix was honorably discharged from active duty and 2 years later joined the Texas Air National Guard in Dallas, Texas. In the spring of 2002, Felix volunteered to participate in a support mission for Operation Enduring Freedom in Rhein Main Air Base, Germany. In April 2005, Felix retired from military service after serving 20 years under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’–11 years active duty and 9 years in the Guard.
Felix now works for the City of Dallas.
San Diego
Tess Banko
Tess Banko enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2000. She attended Engineer School in Camp Lejeune, NC, training as an Electronic Equipment Repair Specialist, and was assigned to Camp Hansen in Okinawa, Japan, where she earned two sea service deployment ribbons.
As a Marine, Banko was dedicated to the quality of life issues facing fellow service members including those of the gay and lesbian members of the Armed Forces with whom she served. It was upon witnessing a gay counterpart’s harassment following a routine room inspection and the challenges that he faced at Cp. Hansen that Banko realized she could help by serving as an advocate.
Banko is currently a student of Social Work at San Diego State University (SDSU) and serves as the Executive Vice President of the SDSU Student Veteran Organization.
Houston
Kevin Vick
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Mississippi College with a BA in modern languages, Kevin Vick, 30, enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2003. He trained as an Arabic language airborne cryptologic linguist at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA where he graduated top of his class, earning him the Commandant's Award and the Army Achievement Medal. Vick was then stationed at Offutt AFB where he maintained top proficiency in Arabic, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Additionally, he worked as the primary Cryptologic Responsible Officer, accountable for the communications security of one of the largest intelligence squadrons in the USAF. Concurrently Vick was assigned to work as the command language program manager, supporting training and language proficiency for squadron personnel. He deployed in support of various operations and missions including Operation Enduring Freedom.
Vick was aware of his sexuality before joining the armed forces, but his desire to serve his country outweighed his frustration with the military's discriminatory policies. During his service, however, Vick became increasingly appalled at the hypocrisy of DADT as he saw coworkers, exemplary of moral character and integrity, discharged simply on the basis of their sexuality. As he felt this systemic discrimination undermined the very foundation of unit cohesion and the principles the military upholds, in 2009 Staff Sergeant Vick chose to not re-enlist. Vick now lives in Houston, TX, where he plans to pursue a second degree in biochemistry and attend medical school.
Appearing in
All Cities:
Washington, D.C.:
Philadelphia, PA:
Charlotte, NC:
Norfolk, VA:
Phoenix, AZ:
Kansas City, MO:
Miami, FL:
San Diego, CA:
Houston, TX: