Advocates of repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ are ready to re-enlist

[nofurylike]

By Liz Goodwin
September 16, 2011

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/advo...23279.html

Former Army Sgt. Stacy Vasquez and Air Force Maj. Mike Almy became leaders for the movement to repeal the military's ban on openly gay servicemembers. The military veterans who were discharged for being gay lectured senators in press conferences on Capitol Hill, argued their case on TV news, and even walked down the red carpet at the MTV Video Music Awards with musician Lady Gaga.

But when "don't ask, don't tell" officially ends on Tuesday, Vasquez and Almy hope to return to a normal life in the military. They're ready to put the painful details of their discharges behind them.

-snip

"I think it will be [a non-issue] for straight people, but for the gay people there is really, really going to be a weight lifted off their shoulders," Vasquez said of Tuesday's big change.

-snip-

"I don't think that I ever felt betrayed. I was more embarrassed and ashamed that I had been discharged," Vasquez says. "I felt like maybe I did a bad job for a while when in reality it was just about being gay. As long as I'm judged fairly and equally that's all I care about."

-snip-

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[jaxx]

I'd like to see all who were discharged under DADT to have their previous ranks returned to them when they reenlist. They didn't ask to go, they were forced out.

[Cha]

That was an interesting read..thank you, nofurylike.

Those two advocates are certainly gung-ho for being in the military and DADT repeal is a success story for them and all those who worked for it including who is the President of the USA at this time.

Imagine having your emails read by someone other than who they were intended and getting eventually thrown out even though you didn't tell and they didn't ask. Almy and Vasquez are brave and determined beings and I wish them well in their future Service and thank them for what they've accomplished.

[OptimistesMaddie]

I can attest that the lying, the hiding the threat of getting outed is a huge weight on anyone's shoulders. You could be lying to your family, coworkers etc. It's worse in the military, you don't know who you can trust and your life off base is just an accidental meeting of seeing someone that will rat you out.

I am glad this stupid law was repealed it was a travesty and an embarrassment to the military. I wold propose that if there is any man and women who is afraid of gays being open in the military then what the hell are they doing in uniform. How can we trust them to be dependable if they are afraid of sexuality.