royalartisan
05-05-2008, 02:54 AM
Hi everyone !
Okay...
So as I said in my introduction, my name is Rachel King.
I've been an out lesbian for about six years now. Came out at a young age. Couldn't be helped. But that's not what this thread is about, technically.
Last summer, I joined the United States Army Reserve (25B, hooah!) with the consent of my parents, believing I was doing the right thing. I signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy (which, by the way, is just a bunch of crap that says homosexuality is officially viewed by the DOJ as a mental disorder) believing I could deal with closeting myself for 8 years.
It has been a life-altering school year for me, my senior year. Apart from my father discovering that he may need tests for cancer and other familial issues, I have been accepted to attend uni in London (where my mother and her family are originally from)....and I met a wonderful girl.
And on top of all of that, over the Christmas holiday, a friend of mine was killed in Iraq. It got me thinking.
It made me realise that I am a dove, not a hawk. It made me realise that if I do this, as in follow through with my obligation, it will change who I am in ways I do not even want to imagine. It will take so much away from me, including my self-respect. By signing away my right to express to anyone that I am openly gay, I did myself a great disservice.
And now I am in the process of being discharged, but not for the reasons you would think. I have not broken policy by coming out to my recruiters. So far, my reasons are that I'm up for scholarship to Richmond University in London and that regardless of whether I go to school abroad or not, I need to be out of the service.
My ship date is 29 June 2008.
At this point, I have not received confirmation that my discharge will be complete by next month and I am wondering if I should add that I am gay and cannot live with being closeted for 8 years to the list of reasons for seeking honourable discharge from the armed forces.
When I signed on, I knew what I was doing. I believed I could do it. But things change, lives change, opinions change....and I know that if I continue with my enlistment, I will regret it. I just know it.
But if I say I'm gay, I fear they will see me as making a desperate attempt to weasle my way out of a federal obligation.
Suggestions ?
Okay...
So as I said in my introduction, my name is Rachel King.
I've been an out lesbian for about six years now. Came out at a young age. Couldn't be helped. But that's not what this thread is about, technically.
Last summer, I joined the United States Army Reserve (25B, hooah!) with the consent of my parents, believing I was doing the right thing. I signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy (which, by the way, is just a bunch of crap that says homosexuality is officially viewed by the DOJ as a mental disorder) believing I could deal with closeting myself for 8 years.
It has been a life-altering school year for me, my senior year. Apart from my father discovering that he may need tests for cancer and other familial issues, I have been accepted to attend uni in London (where my mother and her family are originally from)....and I met a wonderful girl.
And on top of all of that, over the Christmas holiday, a friend of mine was killed in Iraq. It got me thinking.
It made me realise that I am a dove, not a hawk. It made me realise that if I do this, as in follow through with my obligation, it will change who I am in ways I do not even want to imagine. It will take so much away from me, including my self-respect. By signing away my right to express to anyone that I am openly gay, I did myself a great disservice.
And now I am in the process of being discharged, but not for the reasons you would think. I have not broken policy by coming out to my recruiters. So far, my reasons are that I'm up for scholarship to Richmond University in London and that regardless of whether I go to school abroad or not, I need to be out of the service.
My ship date is 29 June 2008.
At this point, I have not received confirmation that my discharge will be complete by next month and I am wondering if I should add that I am gay and cannot live with being closeted for 8 years to the list of reasons for seeking honourable discharge from the armed forces.
When I signed on, I knew what I was doing. I believed I could do it. But things change, lives change, opinions change....and I know that if I continue with my enlistment, I will regret it. I just know it.
But if I say I'm gay, I fear they will see me as making a desperate attempt to weasle my way out of a federal obligation.
Suggestions ?