FOF #1440 – America’s Proud Gay Marine
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On Tuesday September 20th, the U.S. will officially end “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” a policy that has made life hell for gay, lesbian, or bisexual people serving in the military.
Today we’re talking to Corporal Edward Clayton, America’s Proud Gay Marine, who was discharged from the Marines in 1987 before DADT was even implemented to talk about the new set of challenges for those who serve this country.
FOFA #1506 – Randy Phillips Comes Out to the World – 02.03.12
VIDEO: Soldier Comes Out to His Dad
Obama certifies end of military’s gay ban, DADT over in 60 days
4 Comments
Comments
I am so proud of him and I have never heard his story like that before. I love him and I look up to him. Love you all! ♥
This was by far my favorite show. His story touched me. Also you played my favorite song by Levi. I grew up down the street from Levi’s home town. His dad was a teacher at my high school. Love his music and love you guys.
Amazing story – could not *believe* they were trying to get over 200K back from him? How about *they* pay all his HIV expenses since that happened under their watch with his being attacked?
This was a great show. One of my favorites this year. Edward sounds like he has such a good head on his shoulders. To be passionate about righting the wrongs done against him, but not sound bitter or jaded, that’s a really admirable quality to have.
In response to the anonymous service member whose letter was read in FOF #1447:
Yes, the repeal of DADT did blur the lines. While it did repeal the section of law which mandated the discharge of homosexual military personnel it did not replace it with any sort of mandate allowing open service. So, basically it rolled the clock back to 1992 when the treatment of homosexuals was a matter of Pentagon policy.
Our current Commander-in-Chief has put in place a policy of open service. Perhaps the next one will reverse that decision. And what will it take for him to do that? The stroke of a pen. Just as the existence of DADT prevented Obama from allowing open service, the lack of any law allowing or disallowing open service means that any Commander-in-Chief can change the current open service policy by simply ordering a change.
Would they? Could they? You bet they would … and they could. Then if the Congress disagreed they could intervene and pass a law to stop the policy change. That’s what happened with President Clinton. He tried to change the policy in 1993, Congress objected and passed a law to stop him – thus DADT was born.
As far as answering the question on whether those on active duty should come out, I will simply say that only you can decide. If you come out and then the policy is later reversed what will happen? No one can answer that. On the other hand, the more people who are out the tougher it will be to change the policy back. You also have to realize that while law and policy have changed there may be some in your command structure whose attitudes and minds have not. The hidden enemy is the hardest to fight and even though they may not come out and say your career path has ended because you came out they are able to alter its course in many ways.
An abundance of caution is my recommendation. Personally, if I were still on active duty I would not have done anything differently on September 20th than I did on September 19th. For me, I would replace DADT with JWAS (Just Wait And See)!