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“Out” and About at the Out 100

Friday night I had the honor of attending Out Magazine's Out 100 Party at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Having forgotten my special wrist bands back in the office, I was stopped at the VIP entrance by a man we will call "Bruno". He obviously was a contract bodyguard from Russia who was not going to let me in until I pointed out that my photo was hanging on the wall. Entitled "The Rabblerousers", I was photographed with HRC's 'Defender' Joe Solmonese, ACLU's 'Liberator' Anthony Romero, and 'Provocateur' Lane Hudson. (They titled me the 'Revolutionary', where they got that - I do not know.) Once inside, I was ushered to the VIP lounge, a balcony that overlooked the spacious hall filled with people. I bumped into Project Runway's Tim Gunn in the drink line and we chatted for a few minutes before he scurried off behind stage to prepare for his speach. There were so many celebrities there! Jennifer Hudson, Mary Louise Parker, Chaka Kahn, Tori Spelling, and so many more - that I completely felt out of place. I am no celebrity, and I certainly did not belong in a room with so many big names. It wasn't until I finally made it through the crowd to the photo wall that something hit me. Of course I am no star, but I realized that I had done something that I had never expected of myself - something that I hadn't known would make such an impact. So I guess that was something to be proud of. I know now that because I stood up against a discriminatory policy that affects so many of my fellow service members, and in that I can be proud. With more and more attention to the absurdity of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and its impact on the military and service members, the closer we will come to an inclusive military that bases it's members on their charactor and not their status. -Jason Knight

Labels: jason knight, out 100

11-13-07