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Rolling Stone: A Gay Marine Reflects on the End of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'
A Gay Marine Reflects on the End of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell'
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/a-gay-marine-reflects-on-the-end-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-20120313
It Is Possible That Someone in the Room is Gay
By Maj. Dirk Diener, U.S. Marine Corps
"The people at work don’t know I’m gay," the sailor said. "I can really be butch when I want to."
My friend the sailor was a stereotype of effeminacy, and I’m fairly certain that using "butch" to describe yourself is an indicator that you’re not fooling anyone.
I’m cognizant of the fact that we don’t always view ourselves with honest eyes. But when I say you would never know I was gay, I am telling the truth. How do I know? I’ve been fooling one of the most fiercely heterosexual organizations in the world throughout my 17-year career.
I was in college when I enlisted in the Army Reserve. In 1988 the recruiters were allowed to ask about sexual orientation, and I lied. I can’t say why, it’s been so long ago, except to say being in the military is something I always wanted to do. I wanted to join after high school but my father’s advice was to go to college first. "You can always join the military after college," he said, "but you probably won’t do college after the military." I think he knew me better than I did, so I enrolled in college and then enlisted.
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/national-affairs/a-gay-marine-reflects-on-the-end-of-dont-ask-dont-tell-20120313
It Is Possible That Someone in the Room is Gay
By Maj. Dirk Diener, U.S. Marine Corps
"The people at work don’t know I’m gay," the sailor said. "I can really be butch when I want to."
My friend the sailor was a stereotype of effeminacy, and I’m fairly certain that using "butch" to describe yourself is an indicator that you’re not fooling anyone.
I’m cognizant of the fact that we don’t always view ourselves with honest eyes. But when I say you would never know I was gay, I am telling the truth. How do I know? I’ve been fooling one of the most fiercely heterosexual organizations in the world throughout my 17-year career.
I was in college when I enlisted in the Army Reserve. In 1988 the recruiters were allowed to ask about sexual orientation, and I lied. I can’t say why, it’s been so long ago, except to say being in the military is something I always wanted to do. I wanted to join after high school but my father’s advice was to go to college first. "You can always join the military after college," he said, "but you probably won’t do college after the military." I think he knew me better than I did, so I enrolled in college and then enlisted.
