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Coming Out of Camouflage

As the LGBT community celebrates National Coming Out Day, a new generation of American military personnel are also coming out of the barracks room closet. More and more, proud lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops are serving openly to their fellow troops and, in some cases, their commands. In fact, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is aware of more than 500 men and women who are out, in some way, while reporting for duty in the armed forces. And, they are having a very real impact on the military's attitude toward our community. While many service members are still unable to come out, and while the military continues to fire two people under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" every day, there are encouraging signs that times are changing and old prejudices are dissapearing in our nation's largest employer. Consider the example of Marine Sergeant Brian Fricke. Sergeant Fricke (pictured) spent 8 months in Iraq, doing IT work for the Marine Corps. During his tour of duty there, he decided to come out to his fellow Marines. Their response? "No big deal." Fricke went back to work, the Marine Corps went back to war, and he finished his enlistment without incident. (Fricke decided against re-enlisting because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," making him one of the thousands of uncounted service members who decide against continuing their careers because of the ban.) Continue reading Coming Out of Camouflage at Bilerico.com . . . .

Labels: bilerico, coming out, other blogs

10-11-07