Let's
go back to five years ago.
At
this time I was approaching my discharge date from active duty as a member of
the United States Navy. It was a difficult decision to make, but I decided that
I wanted to do something different with my life. I had my education benefits
through the GI Bill and Hazelwood exemption so I wanted to go to school.
I
also knew that I was getting out as the Presidential election was ramping up. I
knew this was going to be a big deal because whoever was elected was going to
be the next President of the United States because the then-incumbent
President, George W. Bush, was term limited.
There
was a lot of attention with the upcoming presidential election. President
Bush's popularity dropped like a rock during his second term due to his
proposals for immigration reform was hijacked by the far-right members of his
party, the backlash by seniors in his efforts to privatize Social Security, the
discovery of warrantless wiretaps by his NSA, support for the Iraq War was
dwindling, and the big one that turned off voters: the mishandling of the
recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina.
In
November 2006, voters gave the Democrats control of both chambers of Congress
for the first time in 12 years. I knew this was a big deal because of what happened in the Virginia
race for US Senate. Though I admit I was not paying attention to politics
as much as I do now because at the time I was paying attention to this undrafted quarterback for the
Dallas Cowboys who was elevated to starter during the midpoint of the
season and took the team to its second playoff appearance since the departure
of The Triplets after the 2002 season.
So...
2008... I am counting down to the days to my freedom date discharge date
from active duty and I become a civilian.
In
late April/early May 2008, I come across this documentary that aired on the
local PBS station in Hampton Roads, VA. It was titled Carrier
and followed the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) on their 2005 deployment to
the Persian Gulf. I had those similar experiences shown in the documentary as a
member of the Carl Vinson's deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of her World
Cruise in 2005.
Most
of the series concentrated on what happens among the air wing and the pilots
and the action that happens on the flight deck. Not surprising; that's how life
is on a carrier. Everyone pays attention to what is going on the flight deck
and topside; there is a lot of action that goes on below decks, especially down
in the engine room and power plant spaces.
The
second part of the series
was titled "Super Secrets" where they took a look at what happens
in other parts of the ship. The documentary
(VERY) briefly showed what I did in the Navy as a nuclear propulsion plant
operator (12:06-15:40). I suspect the reasons why they couldn't go down to
the propulsion plant spaces because, first, it's confidential material. Second,
the film crew would have needed radiation monitoring devices, a thermoluminescent
dosimeter (TLD, there was ANOTHER name for it...). They aren't that big. When I
was in it was as big as a thumb and you clipped on your belt (in the video clip
you can see the Reactor Officer wearing one on the left side of his coverall
uniform). Before I got out, I heard they were replacing it with something that
looked like a pager. And third.... it gets hot down there. The best way I can
describe the heat down in the propulsion plant is this: July-August time frame
in Texas when you first get into your car before starting it. And that is in
the ventilation.
They
interviewed some sailors about life aboard a carrier. Everything they
mentioned... you develop some form of interpersonal relationship with the
people you serve with.
They
had to hide their faces because prior to the official repeal of "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" in September 2011 because those sailors would face
discharge from the armed forces for openly disclosing their sexual orientation.
In
that montage leading up to those interviews... Yes, I did utter the phrase: "Man, this is so goddamned gay."
I can provide the excuse that I was young (less than 25) and didn't know any
better, but it doesn't change the fact that it was the wrong thing to say back
them. I apologize for it. Let my actions speak for itself when it comes to
correcting that wrong.
I
was touched by their interviews. Some of them wore the same uniform that I did
underway (most of the times coveralls, but sometimes utilities). Maybe there
was a M Division Nuke in that interview.
Fast
forward from there to a couple of months later, it is now late July 2008. I am
packing my things into my car to head back to Texas to start a new chapter in
my life. I come across this episode of The
Daily Show during its daytime replay while I am moving stuff into my car. Here
is Jon Stewart's take on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" hearings in the
US House and the ridiculousness of the opposition.
I
found some more videos to watch of that hearing. The person who was asking the
questions and tearing Elaine Donnely a new one was Pennsylvania Congressman
Patrick Murphy. He was the first Iraq Veteran elected to Congress in 2007 and
he did not hold back.
Then
there was there were these two testimonies:
Again,
I was touched by the fact that these two individuals were brave enough to share
their stories. Again, they wore the uniform a lot longer than I did. I felt I
had a duty to do what I could to repeal this policy.
Most
importantly, I owed it to my family members who are gay. In a letter
I authored to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Morning News, and Who's
Playing blog, I mentioned that I have one on my father's side and one on my
mother's side. They stood by me while I was in the military. Now it was my turn
to pay it back.
Fast
forward once again to Election Night 2008: Obama had won the election by a convincing
electoral margin. When I got home from a watch party, I checked the polling
results from the Proposition 8 vote in California. I saw that Prop 8 passed by
a slim margin. Honestly, I was shocked. If you told me in 2008 to pick five
states that would affirm same-sex marriages, California would occupy slots 1-4.
I know a lot of people were mad and screaming, but my reaction was.... "You know, I DID not see that
coming."
Later
I found out the reason why it passed was because of a lot of backing by the Mormon
church in the documentary 8: The Mormon
Proposition.
Since
then I have seen this country progress very rapidly on LGBT Issues. Prop 8
faced a legal challenge and began its process through the courts. The two
attorneys arguing for the petitioners were on the opposite sides of Bush v. Gore (2000). This country repealed
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I remember watching the repeal ceremony on television
feeling a sense of accomplishment. I also knew there were many other fights to
take on and it was going to be a lot more difficult given what was going to be
the makeup of the next Congress. Then came Election Night 2012 when there were
ballot measures in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, and Washington on the topic of
same-sex marriage. Maine, Maryland, and Washington became the first states to
affirm same-sex marriage at the ballot which broke a 0-31 streak in the states.
Minnesota rejected a measure that would super-secret ban same-sex marriage in
their state. Six months later, Minnesota became the most recent state to
legalize marriage equality.
When
I heard that the Supreme Court was going to take on Prop 8, I knew this was
going to be a good chance that MAYBE we can end this debate and proceed towards
other pressing matters. There was also the Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) case
which has a good shot at the federal government recognizing same-sex marriage
when it comes to purposes of government employee benefits.
Based
on what I have been reading and listening to the oral arguments, we're probably
heading towards a split decision meaning the Court will rule in favor of
overturning DOMA, but probably issue a narrow ruling in Prop 8 that is limited
to California. Lambda Legal has this infographic
showing the possible outcomes of the two cases. I'd like to believe that
this court is aware of public opinion on this issue. More than 55%
of Americans believe that it should be legal for gay and lesbian couples to get
married. 54 Senators (a super majority of the Senate Democrats and 3
Republicans) have expressed support for equal marriage.
Honestly
I don't know how this court will rule on the people that I care about and the
countless number of friends I have made in this process. As former NFL head
coach Jim Mora once said: "You think
you know, but you don't know."
But
I think retired Navy Commander and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" advocate Zoe
Dunning put it best in her column
for the San Francisco Bay Times: "Maybe good, maybe bad."
All
I know is this: This part of the journey will conclude.
Whatever
happens with the Supreme Court tomorrow, we will begin a new journey.
I
am looking forward to it.
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