Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

Jason,<BR>  I am Jason’s older brother John. I am a second class Petty Officer in the navy as well. i cant tell you how proud you have made my self and our family. You once said when we were growing up that you wanted to make a change in this world and you doing a great job right now. I want you to know our family and myself are behind you 100%. i believe this issue needs to be addressed and resolved. I hope our government officials see that this policy is wrong and needs to be changed. i have never met a shipmate that ever had a problem with homosexuality. My question now is when are you coming home to see us?? i know you have been busy. just remember your family is behind you. love ya bro<BR><BR>Love<BR>OS2 John J. Knight USN
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Jason,<BR><BR>I join with Admiral Steinman in congratulating you on serving openly and well in your current Navy assignment.  Your example strongly rebuts claims that open service by gays and lesbians would disrupt the armed services.<BR><BR>If you feel comfortable about doing so, I urge you to share with the public any information you have about what led the Navy to recall you to active duty. Was this a conscious decision on their part?  Or was it an administrative oversight?  Or is there some other explanation?  In particular, did your DADT discharge carry the legend “homosexual admission” as so many do?  <BR><BR>I ask this question because I am concerned that the military may now begin to flag DADT discharges more prominently.  My concern assumes your recall was a matter of administrative oversight.  In contrast, if your recall reflects a conscious decision by the Navy, that may reflect a change in policy, at least as to persons with scarce medical or linguistic skills.<BR><BR>In any event, congratulations on having served both the Nation and the GLBT community with distinction!<BR><BR>Tom Field<BR>Colonel, USAR (Ret.)

Would you consider meeting with DOD Secretary Gates and discussing why DADT is even worse then Apartied and Segregation since it not only separates, but makes people live a lie and being in the Navy is all about honor and courage. He seem very intellectual and perhaps he will listen. Maybe he is sensitive to others? I just believe that the tide is turning and this man is our only hope to get through to everyone else.<BR>Sincerely,<BR>Lisa USA Veteran<BR>In San Diego

Would Senator John McCain, who states having gays in the military is “intolerable”, accept free medical attention at Bethesda from a gay military doctor—or does he insist on non-queers only?  What a pandering, simple mind!—Woody Wood, former USAF F-106 pilot, Dallas, Texas

Thank you and Congratulations to you not only for your patriotism and love of you country, but for being selfless enough and brave enough to not only join the military, but to be the face of the GLBT military community. Whether you chose it or not, your story is going to be extremely important to many GLBT servicemembers.<BR><BR>I wonder what your advice would be to GLBT servicemembers who are currently overseas? How would you advice them as far as their openness?<BR><BR>Good luck to you!<BR><BR>Jen Mionske

First, I want to say thank you for putting a face on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” It has needed a persons face for a long time. I am sure you do not feel like a Hero, just doing what you feel is right. Yet, you are a Hero to so many people. My question for you is Do you have any plans after your year of active duty, if not renewed, to go public with a fight against the policy in which you were dismissed? Once again Thank You for standing up for your beliefs! You have been given a great setting to enact change.<BR><BR>Andrew Shelton<BR>Boonville, IN

I alredy posted my questions for PO Knight over at Pam’s blog, but I did want to say to RADM Stenman:  thank you so very much for what you are doing, sir!!!  Your work with SLDN and CtD is much appreciated!  Bravo Zulu, shipmate!

According to what I have read on the internet you where able to reenlist based upon your Seperation and Reenlist code… I was wondering what those codes where so I know what to request. I too was discharged from the U.S. Army for homosexual conduct and have since my seperation found evidence that the investigation that occured during my seperation was done illegally. I am doing to be starting the process of appealing my seperation to the Army Discharge Review Board.

Hi Jason,<BR>As an ex-Army Spec 5, I wanna thank you for what you go through daily to meet the demands of the job.<BR><BR>Here is my question.  When I served (1972) the questionnaire I filled out at the induction station point-blank asked if I was homosexual, to which I answered no.  The main reason then for denying gays entry was because the military thought it a security risk, i.e. a soldier could be blackmailed by the enemy with threats of outing.  Does the military still consider gays a security threat, or is the stance purely a “moral” issue, such as stated by General Pace?

Jason,<BR><BR>Did you consider refusing to rejoin the miulitary since they kicked you out until they did away with “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?”<BR><BR>It is one thing for Conservative bigots to kick gays out but if we refused to serve they would have a nervous breakdown.<BR><BR>John Selig<BR>Dallas, TX