Army Capt. Stephen Hill hopes the days of DADT are long over

http://lgbtweekly.com/2011/11/21/army-capt-stephen-hill-hopes-the-days-of-dadt-are-long-over/

Army Capt. Stephen Hill says he did not intend to reveal his sexuality after asking GOP presidential candidates if the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy would ever make a comeback should the candidates become victorious in their win. Hill instead explains in an interview with the Associated Press that his debate question was aimed toward his future with husband Joshua Snyder in Columbus Ohio and whether or not his marriage would be recognized by the military.

“I was looking forward to the future and hoping everybody would realize we are soldiers first, always,” said Hill, 41. “I was hoping ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ would be a distant memory for everybody.”

The question Hill posed that was simple: “In 2010, when I was deployed to Iraq, I had to lie about who I was because I’m a gay soldier and I didn’t want to lose my job. My question is, under one of your presidencies, do you intend to circumvent the progress that’s been made for gay and lesbian soldiers in the military?”

Hill’s question was met with audience boos. GOP candidates did nothing to interfere with the inappropriate reaction. Santorum was first to reply that “any type of sexual activity has absolutely no place in the military” and that he would indeed reinstate the discriminatory policy.


Stephen Hill, left, and his husband Joshua Snyder, pictured on the right. // PHOTO: AP Photo/Jay LaPrete

"I’m fighting every day to protect everyone’s rights as human beings, and it seems counterintuitive for me to be fighting for those rights and not have them."

What more needs to be said? How about this, I salute you Capt. Hill.

Recommended.