Results for "Don't Ask Don't Tell"

“I Don’t Want You To Go.” Gay Soldier Dares to Love Amidst a Backdrop of War & Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

by João Kiser

“I Don’t Want You To Go.” Gay Soldier Dares to Love Amidst a Backdrop of War & Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

I’m João Kiser from Milledgeville, Georgia. I came out when I was 16 and then I joined the military at 21, which was something I did not want to do because of the kind of mI remember the last day, the day before he left because they deployed – you go back really early in the morning. The hardest thing was getting up to go to work and he was li...

Kicked Out of the Military for Being Gay: One Man’s Experience During “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

by James Garcia

Kicked Out of the Military for Being Gay: One Man’s Experience During “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”

Hi, my name is James Garcia and I am from New York City.  In 1996, I enlisted in the Air Force. During that time, don’t ask, don’t tell was in place. That means the mI eventually gave the commander of the base at that time a letter disclosing who I am. v The conversation moved to “Well, we’re going to ask you to leave the base now,...

Gay Veteran Reflects On Life In And Out Of The Navy.

by Jim Darby

Gay Veteran Reflects On Life In And Out Of The Navy.

1950s: Sailor Spends A Night In Jail After Gay Bar Is Raided. In 1952, I received what we call the SSS, Selected Service System envelope. Every young man who got one of those, of...

Remembering Life Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: “I Don’t Got Time For This. I’m Not Going To Hide It.”

by George Agundez

Remembering Life Under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”: “I Don’t Got Time For This. I’m Not Going To Hide It.”

My name is George Agundez. I am from Calexico, California. Growing up, you know, I used to go to church and I would enjoy going to church. But there was always that time where I w...

“She Said, ‘I Feel Like I’m Married To My Brother.’”

by Keith Uhls

“She Said, ‘I Feel Like I’m Married To My Brother.’”

On a second date, pilot Keith Uhls enjoys taking other guys up for a flight on an airplane he built himself. While he enjoys the comfort and openness of being gay now, Keith used ...

Gay Airman Randy Phillips Wants His Generation To Talk About AIDS.

by Randy Phillips

Gay Airman Randy Phillips Wants His Generation To Talk About AIDS.

This week, guest videographer and editor Matthew Ladensack and I are accompanying the more than 2700 riders and volunteers of the AIDS LifeCycle and collecting their stories. If...

I’m From Spring, TX.

by Matt Radcliffe

I’m From Spring, TX.

NOTE: Matt has written two IFD stories before. You should read both incredibly powerful and emotional stories here and here before reading his newest one below. It’s so exci...

State Satellite overhead image from Google Earth 2022

by Nikki Vaughn

I’m From St. Augustine Beach, FL.

On December 22, 2010, President Obama signed the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. The next day I brought a picture of my partner and I to work–I’m in the military–and pla...

Satellite overhead image of Washington State from Google Earth 2022

by Eric Pitsenbarger

I’m From Seattle, WA.

I remember walking home from Scott’s little house in the bright early morning feeling triumphant, jubilant! Finally I knew! I knew and was ecstatic! In my seventeen years of dou...

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