Rachel Maddow interviews two gay Air Force members as ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ dwindles
”I hear a lot of times that, people say don’t ask don’t tell works. I think that they’re not thinking beyond — they’re not thinking broad enought, and I’d like to equate it to — for their spouse. If they were told they can’t be seen with their spouse in public, or if they are, [then they] are constantly wondering, ‘I’m constantly with this person. What are people going to start saying? We can’t show any affection and the supermarket. Not even at home, because my next door neighbor is military or knows someone who knows someone….’ So, it’s just a very — it’s an emotional strain to constantly live that life. So, again, I equate it to, if you would to ask a heterosexual couple to completely hide every aspect of their relationship at work and in their personal life, [then] have them tell me if it works for them….”
An anonymous man who is currently a member of the Air Force speaking with news show host Rachel Maddow about what it is like for him to be gay in the military. He tells of being unable to say goodbye publicly when he was deployed or returned home. And says that when he was away, his male partner almost died during an operation at home, and he was not able to know anything about it because he could not maintain contact and hide his sexual orientation. The two men interviewed were in shadow because the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy is diminished due to two court rulings but it has not yet been fully repealed by the Congress or the President. (Rachel Maddow Show)
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
