Comments on: Courage: An Intelligence Officer Finds Courage – In a Ring http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/ The association of actively serving LGBT military personnel Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:58:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Steven Board http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-479 Steven Board Wed, 12 Oct 2011 22:04:20 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-479 I'm glad you saw to it that you were able to hold out to the repeal of DADT. Thousands of patriotic Americans weren't so lucky and were pushed out of serving the country we love. I am a USAF veteran who served in the late 80's to early 90's and got out. I didn't want to rejoin and live a lie, so instead I proudly have my veterans license plates on my car and a rainbow magnet next to it. I've always been proud of my time in the military and am disgusted at all the lies I've heard over the years. Little ole' Vermont has led the way in establishing equal rights for us and I'm glad to have done my miniscule part. I still represent the Air Force with my restored 1950's USAF military truck and uniform. Now I'm a little bit prouder to have served my country. I’m glad you saw to it that you were able to hold out to the repeal of DADT. Thousands of patriotic Americans weren’t so lucky and were pushed out of serving the country we love. I am a USAF veteran who served in the late 80′s to early 90′s and got out. I didn’t want to rejoin and live a lie, so instead I proudly have my veterans license plates on my car and a rainbow magnet next to it. I’ve always been proud of my time in the military and am disgusted at all the lies I’ve heard over the years. Little ole’ Vermont has led the way in establishing equal rights for us and I’m glad to have done my miniscule part. I still represent the Air Force with my restored 1950′s USAF military truck and uniform. Now I’m a little bit prouder to have served my country.

]]> By: Laura http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-283 Laura Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:54:42 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-283 Eddy, I read this and had to laugh. Recently (2009) I spoke with the commander I am referring to regarding providing a reference for my first job after the military. He happily provided this reference, and we discussed old times. I was a platoon leader at the time (2004), with a highly motivated, beat the other batteries attitude commander. As a collective the LTs had disappointed him in some way. It was my turn to stand at parade rest in his office. I walk into the room, salute, and am placed at parade rest as he begins a rant, that I will never forget (although I don't recall the reason I was in the office). "There are three types of women in the military. Bitches, Sluts and Dykes. Now Lieutenant ___________, she is a slut....... Lieutenant __________, she is a bitch...........,,," The blanks said all they needed to. Although he never asked, and I never told, till this day, there was a large gray elephant in the room. I always had to do my job better, work faster, work harder, and live with the fact that I could not relax under those same freedoms my fellow Soldiers had, just in the simplicity, of not having to recall to change the sex of the person to whom I was referring. They didn't have to have a stand in Gay male friend as a steady escort to all military functions, to serve as the boyfriend, they heard stories about. I never heard of OutServe until today, and if I knew a timeline for the repeal of DADT back in 2008, I may have made other choices. I congratulate all of you who are serving today freely. I can imagine the weight being lifted. Motivations, from wherever they come, experiences, rings, talks. Serve a purpose and make change happen. Best of luck and congratulations, Laura Eddy,

I read this and had to laugh. Recently (2009) I spoke with the commander I am referring to regarding providing a reference for my first job after the military. He happily provided this reference, and we discussed old times.

I was a platoon leader at the time (2004), with a highly motivated, beat the other batteries attitude commander. As a collective the LTs had disappointed him in some way. It was my turn to stand at parade rest in his office. I walk into the room, salute, and am placed at parade rest as he begins a rant, that I will never forget (although I don’t recall the reason I was in the office).

“There are three types of women in the military. Bitches, Sluts and Dykes. Now Lieutenant ___________, she is a slut……. Lieutenant __________, she is a bitch………..,,,”

The blanks said all they needed to. Although he never asked, and I never told, till this day, there was a large gray elephant in the room. I always had to do my job better, work faster, work harder, and live with the fact that I could not relax under those same freedoms my fellow Soldiers had, just in the simplicity, of not having to recall to change the sex of the person to whom I was referring. They didn’t have to have a stand in Gay male friend as a steady escort to all military functions, to serve as the boyfriend, they heard stories about.

I never heard of OutServe until today, and if I knew a timeline for the repeal of DADT back in 2008, I may have made other choices. I congratulate all of you who are serving today freely. I can imagine the weight being lifted.

Motivations, from wherever they come, experiences, rings, talks. Serve a purpose and make change happen.

Best of luck and congratulations,
Laura

]]> By: jordan http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-235 jordan Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:54:47 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-235 Great write up eddy.. glad this day has come for you Great write up eddy.. glad this day has come for you

]]> By: Eddy Sweeney http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-221 Eddy Sweeney Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:02:42 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-221 Lisa, yes I know!! Thank you all for your kind words. I promise I will never forget those who came before me. Lisa, yes I know!! Thank you all for your kind words. I promise I will never forget those who came before me.

]]> By: Lisa http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-215 Lisa Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:35:59 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-215 You are lucky to be servingin such a time where people are fairly open to the idea of homosexuals serving in the military. However, there was a time when the witch hunts were often and people were discharged just because of speculation. Things are now quite different, which is has been a long time coming. Good luck to you. You are lucky to be servingin such a time where people are fairly open to the idea of homosexuals serving in the military. However, there was a time when the witch hunts were often and people were discharged just because of speculation. Things are now quite different, which is has been a long time coming. Good luck to you.

]]> By: Kelly http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-214 Kelly Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:41 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-214 Amazing article, Eddy. Proud of you for standing up. Amazing article, Eddy. Proud of you for standing up.

]]> By: Kristopher Curry http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-183 Kristopher Curry Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:57:54 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-183 PROUD YOU serve OUR COUNTRY!!! Peace to ALL! PROUD YOU serve OUR COUNTRY!!! Peace to ALL!

]]> By: Allen http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-182 Allen Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:49:57 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-182 Everyone should be proud of your perseverance including yourself. You are a leader by example to many. Everyone should be proud of your perseverance including yourself.
You are a leader by example to many.

]]> By: Halen Allison http://outservemag.org/2011/09/courage/#comment-161 Halen Allison Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:09:25 +0000 http://outservemag.org/?p=404#comment-161 Great stuff, Eddy. Your courage is an example to be held in high regard. Keep up the excellent work. Great stuff, Eddy. Your courage is an example to be held in high regard. Keep up the excellent work.

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