Gay People's Chronicle Pride Guide 2003 Section B

pride 2003

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No kisses at dockside

Although they served with openly gay and lesbian British troops in Iraq, American GIs still come home to a closet

by Eric Resnick

important to support gay and lesbian servicemembers overseas and at home regardless of what your political opinions about the war are," said Jen of San Diego. "Gay servicemembers are working hard to keep themselves safe. 'Don't ask, don't tell' is a burden to all of them and their families."

Jen, 27, who asked that her last name not be used, served in the Navy from 1995-2002 before she was kicked out for being a lesbian. Her partner Cathie, 34, (not her real name) returned home in May, after eight months of training and deployment aboard a ship during the attack on Iraq.

This Navy couple experienced the events of the past four months far differently than their heterosexual counterparts, and will celebrate Pride knowing that they must continue to hide until Cathie has enough years of service to retire.

"Pride has a special meaning this year," said Cathie. "I feel like I have been missing out by not coming out, so it's like a relief to be able to be around the gay community."

It has been ten years since Congress enacted the "don't ask, don't tell" policy after President Clinton's attempt to lift the ban on gays serving in the armed forces.

The policy was a compromise between Clinton, military leaders and members of Congress who fought the president's attempt to keep a campaign promise.

It is not known how many U.S. servicemembers are gay or lesbian, but a study by sociologist Rhonda Evans for the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military in 2001 found that two to eight percent of men and one to six percent of women serving have engaged in same-sex sexual behavior.

Approximately one in every 2,000 servicemembers is discharged for homosexuality, and men who are veterans have same-sex sexual experiences at the high end of the general population.

Historically, the military has been used as a laboratory fór social design, and military personnel policies such as desegregation have been copied throughout the civilian sector.

Spouse support not available

Iraq was the largest military mobilization since the enactment of "don't ask, don't tell," The earlier Afghanistan operation was the first where U.S. forces served alongside the British military since Britain lifted its gay military ban in 2000. These recent deployments indicate that while "don't ask, don't tell" continues to harm gay servicemembers, the reasons given by the military and many in Congress for developing the law ten years ago are proving baseless.

Jen and Cathie met 19 months ago while both were in the Navy. Jen, a Naval Academy graduate with dreams of being a pilot, always knew she is a lesbian. Cathie was married to a man för the first few years of her naval career.

Jen got tired of lying and sent a letter to her commanding officer telling him she is a lesbian. Because she was good at her job, her commanders stalled her discharge process for two years, four months.

Cathie, who has one more tour of duty before she can retire with a military pension, hides her orientation and any indication that she has a partner.

That hiding made her active duty rough for both of them.

"The support networks for other [heterosexual] partners and spouses were not available to me," said Jen.

That network includes access to the commissary where purchases can be made below retail cost, health benefits for spouses of active duty military personnel, guidance services, parties, and ability to view videotapes of servicemembers at their jobs. Partners of wounded servicemembers cannot visit their loved ones in military hospitals or assist in treatment. Because Jen and Cathie were both in the Navy, they were more prepared than most couples for Cathie's departure. "You have to tell how you are feeling in order to maintain a bond," said Jen, "so we didn't censor too much." The women set up a separate e-mail account in Cathie's name for Jen to e-mail her daily so as not to trigger an investigation. "And I never signed my name," said Jen.

Unlike Army and Marine units, Navy personnel have access to daily e-mail, though it can be monitored. But Cathie said her hiding has a negative impact on her unit.

"I supervise a division of about 20-30 people,” she said, "and we are supposed to be role models on duty and off duty.

I can't even have them over for a get-together, and that closes me off to the junior personnel."

"It's an insult not to be able to come out," said Cathie, "and it's worse with the lower ranks. The new generation is hardworking, intelligent, and very accepting. Some times they tell me about their siblings who are gay, which is their way to tell me it would be okay for me to come out to them."

career

Trip home ends Air Force career

Jason Pickart of Dayton never made it to Iraq. The 21-year-old Chinese translator, who served as a team leader for neurosurgery at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, was discharged February 28 for homosexual conduct.

Pickart had confided to a friend that he was going home Thanksgiving to come out to his father. This started an investigation that led to his discharge. He had been in the Air Force since one week after high school.

He says he still can't get the military out of his life, though. His father, upon learning that his son was discharged for being gay, told Pickart it was the worst thing that ever happened to him (the father).

"I came from a military family, and went to a military boarding school," said Pickart. "Now, I need to learn how the civilian world works.

Pickart said that by not going to Iraq, he feels like he missed out on an experience he will never understand. Pickart was set to speak at Dayton's Pride rally May 31.

But despite friends' attempts to get him to do otherwise, Pickart says he won't appear at any Pride events in his Air Force uniform.

"I'm not comfortable doing that," said Pickart. "It wouldn't be a good way to represent the Air Force, and my personal values make

termopriate.

Continued on page B-9