Don't ask, Don't tell, Don't LOVE, Don't live, Don't hug, Don't kiss, Don't cuddle...

Don't experience intimacy.

Don't get married.

Don't make love.

Don't be yourself.

Don't express yourself.

Don't come out of the closet.

Don't hold hands.

Instead, be an empty soul, denied of your humanity, unable to love.

There is so much more to DADT than just don't ask and don't tell.

It should be renamed 'Don't live life to the fullest'.
......................................................................................

I'm a proud gay ex soldier.

I served in the Army from 1991-1995 active duty. I enlisted when Bush 41 invaded Iraq because at the ripe age of 20 I thought it was my patriotic duty.

That war ended before I was even deployed. Life in the Army reverted back to peacetime training.

Then along came Bill Clinton. He sure was a smooth talker. He promised to fight for the rights of gay, lesbian, and Bi soldiers to allow them to serve, openly. I donated money to Bill Clinton to defeat Bush 41 based on that promise of equality.

I sat in horror, wearing my battle dress uniform, and watched on TV the day my Commander-in-Chief, Bill Clinton unleashed that policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell upon us, the gay soldiers and sailors.

You ordered us back into the closet but I doubt you understod the fear that we began to experience. Bill.

I still remember that press conference like it was yesterday.

I immediately thought..
I hope my fellow soldiers don't think I'm gay, or one of them might turn me in and get me kicked out of the Army for being gay.

It's taken me 17 years to make my peace with Bubba. I forgive you Bill, I don't know why but I forgive you.

I and all of my gay brothers and sisters served a county that still treats us like a fucking disease.

WE are second class citizens because of policies like DADT and DOMA. Those bigoted policies/laws are perpetuating anti-gay bigotry. Some bigots actually think that if it's OK for the military to hate on gay people that it must be OK in general.

DADT makes anti-gay bigotry a part of our society.

DADT is false advertisement.

There so much more evil to that policy than just DADT.

More like, Don't be equal.

of all the issues facing America, DADT is the most easily fixed. JUST FIX IT ALREADY.

:grr:

If they'd just follow your advice and fix it we could move forward to fix other pressing issues.

:fistbump:

When I joined the Army in 1983, they could still ask the question about whether you were homosexual on the entry paperwork. In 1985, I was kicked out for being a lesbian. Long story, but it was all part of a "witch hunt". Years later, Don't Ask, Don't Tell was rolled out. My first thought was, "The witch hunts won't stop. Big deal, they can't ask the question on entry." I was right, nothing changed. There is no difference between losing your career under Don't Ask, Don't Tell and losing it prior to that lousy policy. It's still gone and it's still devastating.

I remember being asked that question at my enlistment too. I joined Feb, 1991. Days after our initial Operation Desert Storm invasion.

You're 100% correct too. DADT didn't change aything. It almost seemed to worsen the witch-hunt.

When I served, I always feared being 'outed'. Being 'outed' in uniform was a horrifying thought.
I often wondered if my fellow soldiers thought I was gay and would turn me in. I didn't reenlist because of this fear.

DADT ended my military career because of the fear it created.

Thanks for sharing.
Peace
UY

counter productive in Humanity's Advancement toward Better.

:fistbump:

:hi:

K&R

I remember hanging out with lesbian friends who were in the military back in the early 90's and how they always sat in the corner of our favorite diner, so they could have a clear view of the entrance in case someone they knew showed up (in which case they'd duck down behind one of us and wait for an opening to dart out the the rear exit). Just being seen hanging out with us dykes would have been enough to get them discharged. Sick.

I always feared being caught at the clubs on the weekends. Caught dancing or seen 'being gay' or whatever. I always feared my fellow soldiers would become suspicious of me being gay and turn me in and get me kicked out.

I went to some pretty extreme measures to hide my 'gayness'. As all G&L soldiers have had to do.

Like your lesbian friends had to do, I always had to watch and grow eyes in the back of my head. Always careful to conceal our real selves. Always forced to extreme measures to conceal ourselves.

Gay/Lesbian/Bi soldiers.

Testify sister! Thanks for sharing.

Peace
UY

DADT is one of the lamest, most shameful policies ever to deny reality -- one of Clinton's low points, unfortunately.

:hi:

:kick:

:fistbump:

:hi:

Numb U2

Thanks for posting.

So true too. DADT makes us feel numb.

:hi:

I certainly am with you on this, and I am not gay!

I believe that more people who are NOT gay need to become more vocal in supporting full gay rights in every aspects of life.
I did ask in another thread if there was an organization of the type "Hockey mom for gay rights" or "heterosexual for gay rights," but no one answered.

If there is one, I'd like to join.
If there isn't one yet, there should be one, and a vocal one!