Latest News
01-30-09
By Zamna Avila
The Edge Boston
January 29, 2009
Julianne Sohn always had an inclination for public service. Growing up in "the land of opportunities" inspired her in 1999 to join U.S. Marine Corps.
"It was my way of being able to serve and give thanks to this country," said Sohn, now 32. "I have more opportunities here in the United States than being a woman in Korea, where my parents are from."
But she hid a secret that would haunt her for the several years following her enlistment.
"When I first went into the Marine Corps I thought all that mattered was being a good Marine and doing my duty," Sohn said. "I was having a lot of problems dealing with my bisexual orientation ... and I was aware of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"
Since 1994, the law known as "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) requires the Department of Defense to discharge military personnel from the armed forces who disclose a homosexual or bisexual orientation. In turn, the military is restricted from asking personnel about their sexual orientation.
"There is no ban on gay and lesbian service members," said Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, a Pentagon spokesman. "A service member's sexual orientation is viewed as a personal matter and is not a bar to continued service unless manifested by homosexual conduct."
The UCLA based Williams Institute, a think tank focused on law and public policy as it relates to sexual orientation, estimates that 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual people currently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) a non-partisan legal services group that opposes DADT, believes that about 12,500 military personnel have been discharged due to the federal law.
The federal law was enacted 1993 as a compromise by then President Bill Clinton. He had promised in his campaign for the presidency to overturn the ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces, a ban that infuriated a number of politicians in both parties, including surprisingly, the late Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964 Republican nominee for president.
Clinton's compromise solution raised the profile of the issue, bringing the dialogue about it inot national focus, DADT raised serious problems for non-heterosexuals who chose to serve under its auspices. ,
"It was meant to be a stepping stone, but it's not, because it became a tool people used to further their own prejudice," Sohn observes.
As the time approached for her to report for training to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., she was warned about notorious witch hunts to force gay women out of the marines. She kept her mouth shut and hid her sexual orientation.
"A lot of the commanders don't care," Sohn said. "Most people in a war actually care that there is a person there that can do their job and aim well."
For a while, keeping quiet worked. But eventually, the stress became too much, Sohn's blood pressure rose every time she went to get a physical examination.
In 2003, she decided to go on reserve status because she couldn't stand living under DADT day after day. Within two years, however, she received orders deploying her to Iraq for seven months with the 5th Civil Affairs Group as a public affairs officer.
The stress of her impending deployment may have contributed to a break up with her then girlfriend.
"She had no support network to turn to," Sohn said. "I couldn't make her my next of kin or put her on my [military] insurance policy."
A few months after she returned from Iraq Sohn made the decision to join a group of young active duty veterans speaking out against DADT.
By September 2007 her worst nightmare came true. She received a phone call in from a colonel of the Marine Forces Reserves stating that she was under investigation.
"He read me my rights and asked if I wanted to make a statement," Sohn said. "I refused and stated that I would speak to an attorney before I make any statements."
Sohn, recognizing the hopelessness of the situation, hired an attorney With the help of her attorney, Sohn attained an honorable discharge in April 2008 and a great life lesson.
Sohn now works for the Los Angeles Police Department; a gay-friendly semi-military force whose armed personnel also live under constant threat of danger and who rely heavily on partners to sometimes save each other's lives.
"My discharge has made me extremely mindful that it is up to everyone to make sure that injustice isn't met with apathy," she said. "I would never have done anything different."
In July 2008, a U.S. House of Representatives' subcommittee began debating , the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007, a piece of legislation designed to repeail DADT.
"We are now at a point when no one can tell us, 'Hold back, you are a problem,'" said openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).. "In less than 20 years we will have succeeded in having full fairness and equality for gay and lesbian people."
The bill is expected to be introduced to 111th Congress in mid-February or March of this year. Though HR 1246 will start out as a standalone bill, some of its supporters see it ending up as a rider on a Department of Defense authorization bill, should the Obama administration decide to go that route.
"Obama has publicly stated that he will sign legislation to lift the ban," states SLDN Communications Manager Paul DeMiglio. "We look forward to working with the new Congress and President in the process of building additional support for repeal of DADT."
Sohn said she hopes the country soon moves in the right direction.
"What makes us a strong nation is our diversity," Sohn said. Being gay doesn't put into question your patriotism."
The Edge Boston: Semper NoFi - One Marine’s Story
By Zamna Avila
The Edge Boston
January 29, 2009
Julianne Sohn always had an inclination for public service. Growing up in "the land of opportunities" inspired her in 1999 to join U.S. Marine Corps.
"It was my way of being able to serve and give thanks to this country," said Sohn, now 32. "I have more opportunities here in the United States than being a woman in Korea, where my parents are from."
But she hid a secret that would haunt her for the several years following her enlistment.
"When I first went into the Marine Corps I thought all that mattered was being a good Marine and doing my duty," Sohn said. "I was having a lot of problems dealing with my bisexual orientation ... and I was aware of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.'"
Since 1994, the law known as "Don't Ask Don't Tell" (DADT) requires the Department of Defense to discharge military personnel from the armed forces who disclose a homosexual or bisexual orientation. In turn, the military is restricted from asking personnel about their sexual orientation.
"There is no ban on gay and lesbian service members," said Lt. Col. Les Melnyk, a Pentagon spokesman. "A service member's sexual orientation is viewed as a personal matter and is not a bar to continued service unless manifested by homosexual conduct."
The UCLA based Williams Institute, a think tank focused on law and public policy as it relates to sexual orientation, estimates that 65,000 lesbian, gay and bisexual people currently serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) a non-partisan legal services group that opposes DADT, believes that about 12,500 military personnel have been discharged due to the federal law.
The federal law was enacted 1993 as a compromise by then President Bill Clinton. He had promised in his campaign for the presidency to overturn the ban on homosexuals serving in the armed forces, a ban that infuriated a number of politicians in both parties, including surprisingly, the late Senator Barry Goldwater, 1964 Republican nominee for president.
Clinton's compromise solution raised the profile of the issue, bringing the dialogue about it inot national focus, DADT raised serious problems for non-heterosexuals who chose to serve under its auspices. ,
"It was meant to be a stepping stone, but it's not, because it became a tool people used to further their own prejudice," Sohn observes.
As the time approached for her to report for training to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, S.C., she was warned about notorious witch hunts to force gay women out of the marines. She kept her mouth shut and hid her sexual orientation.
"A lot of the commanders don't care," Sohn said. "Most people in a war actually care that there is a person there that can do their job and aim well."
For a while, keeping quiet worked. But eventually, the stress became too much, Sohn's blood pressure rose every time she went to get a physical examination.
In 2003, she decided to go on reserve status because she couldn't stand living under DADT day after day. Within two years, however, she received orders deploying her to Iraq for seven months with the 5th Civil Affairs Group as a public affairs officer.
The stress of her impending deployment may have contributed to a break up with her then girlfriend.
"She had no support network to turn to," Sohn said. "I couldn't make her my next of kin or put her on my [military] insurance policy."
A few months after she returned from Iraq Sohn made the decision to join a group of young active duty veterans speaking out against DADT.
By September 2007 her worst nightmare came true. She received a phone call in from a colonel of the Marine Forces Reserves stating that she was under investigation.
"He read me my rights and asked if I wanted to make a statement," Sohn said. "I refused and stated that I would speak to an attorney before I make any statements."
Sohn, recognizing the hopelessness of the situation, hired an attorney With the help of her attorney, Sohn attained an honorable discharge in April 2008 and a great life lesson.
Sohn now works for the Los Angeles Police Department; a gay-friendly semi-military force whose armed personnel also live under constant threat of danger and who rely heavily on partners to sometimes save each other's lives.
"My discharge has made me extremely mindful that it is up to everyone to make sure that injustice isn't met with apathy," she said. "I would never have done anything different."
In July 2008, a U.S. House of Representatives' subcommittee began debating , the Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007, a piece of legislation designed to repeail DADT.
"We are now at a point when no one can tell us, 'Hold back, you are a problem,'" said openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).. "In less than 20 years we will have succeeded in having full fairness and equality for gay and lesbian people."
The bill is expected to be introduced to 111th Congress in mid-February or March of this year. Though HR 1246 will start out as a standalone bill, some of its supporters see it ending up as a rider on a Department of Defense authorization bill, should the Obama administration decide to go that route.
"Obama has publicly stated that he will sign legislation to lift the ban," states SLDN Communications Manager Paul DeMiglio. "We look forward to working with the new Congress and President in the process of building additional support for repeal of DADT."
Sohn said she hopes the country soon moves in the right direction.
"What makes us a strong nation is our diversity," Sohn said. Being gay doesn't put into question your patriotism."
