Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell from the Inside!

In September of 2008, I received notification that I was going to be discharged for being gay. In April of 2009, I faced a military discharge “board” (a modern-day witch trial) that recommended me for an honorable discharge and came to a baseless conclusion that my continued service was “detrimental to good order, discipline, and morale”.

After that year-long nightmare, I had nothing else to lose – they had taken my job, my livelihood, my career, my pension, my life as I knew it – but I came to the conclusion that they could never take away my honor and my sense of right and wrong.

With that, I decided to come forward and speak out in the media. I felt that telling my story might have a positive impact and help change this law. In all this time, even after I came out publicly in the national media, I have continued to serve in the Air Force, in the same job, in the same squadron, as an openly gay man – with no negative impact on good order, discipline, and morale.

Nearly one year later, in his State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama reaffirmed his promise to end this discriminatory policy in 2010.

“Don’t ask, don’t tell” is wrong – plain and simple.

I agree with President Obama, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm Mullen. I support their calls for repeal and I agree that it is simply “the right thing to do”.

After the Senate hearings, I have never been so proud to wear my uniform. I am proud to serve with Adm Mullen and I am proud to serve under his command.

Today represents a small step on a long journey to justice and equality but it is still a historic step nonetheless. I am optimistic. I look forward to putting my uniform on tomorrow and in days to come”

Watch the BBC report here.

I can only admire his courageous stand and wish him the best of luck, I hope that he’ll be able to continue to serve his country so admirably in the job he clearly loves, but more so, a job that he excels at!

It’s been 10 years since openly gay people have been allowed to enter the UK’s armed forces, free from fear, prosecution, prejudice and discrimination. There were many in the forces that thought ending the ban would be disastrous, would cause too many problems, would be bad for moral, would be unworkable, would create a sense of hostility within the ranks, would make thousands of career soldiers, sailors and airmen resign in protest.

Yet the vast mass resignations, expected by some, never happened.  Most observers at the time were surprised at just how smoothly the new law was implemented. David Small, who was in the Royal Navy at the time, and who now works for Stonewall, the equality charity, says “There was this expectation that there would be problems, but it just didn’t happen. People just got on with their work.”

The fears that by letting gay people in the military, serve on the front line, would cause disruption, weaken moral and break discipline have also proved to be equally groundless and untrue in practice.

Gay British armed forces personal have services in both gulf wars, are currently serving in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in all the places that the UK has a forces presence. Whats more, there are law in place to protect gay service men and women from facing discrimination on the grounds of their sexuality. 2008 was also a ground breaking year, for the the first time openly gay members of the the forces were allowed to march, in uniform, at gay pride parades and marches. The forces, now actually encourage and recruit from the gay community.

When I was young I always wanted to be a soldier, I wanted to join up and fight, alongside my cousin, indeed it was a bit of a family tradition, my father and his two brothers had all been in the forces, yet I wouldn’t have been allowed, because I was open about my sexuality. The law changed a little too late for me, but I am so glad it has, it’s all about equality, about what’s right. I also know a serving gay soldier, whose commanding officer recently said off the record, “He’s the best damn soldier I’ve got. I’ve never seen such determination, ability, enthusiasm, skill and good humor in one man before!”

• Jason Shaw, Brighton. GayAgenda.com’s United Kingdom correspondent.

Jason’s blog, The Seafront Diaries, can be found here,  there is life in the old flower yet!