Army sergeant is tired of living 2 lives under "Don't ask, don't tell"

[icymist]

Chuck Iavarone was 19 when he decided to start living his life as an openly gay man. He came out after he graduated from Cicero-North Syracuse High School. He started college, but left after the Sept. 11 attacks to join the U.S. Army Reserve.

He went to basic training. And stepped back into the closet.

For the past eight years, Iavarone has lived a dual life. Openly gay at home. Straight in the Army.

At home, Iavarone has been in the news. He won a spot as Salina town supervisor in 2005, beating out a 10-year incumbent when he was just 23 years old. And now he’s trying to bring a pro basketball team to Syracuse.

In the Army, Iavarone is one of thousands of gay and lesbian soldiers in all branches of the military whose private lives are governed by the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

Iavarone can be gay, he just can’t do anything, well, gay. He can’t have a public relationship, go to gay bars or attend Gay Pride parades. And if anyone catches a hint of his sexuality, he could be discharged, honorably, on the suspicion that he’s gay. That reason would get written on discharge papers he might need to apply for jobs, benefits and gun permits: a scarlet “G.”

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[Skittles]

1. back when I was in military admin

they didn't give "honorable" discharges to gay folk - if I recall right it was some kind of "general" discharge - wasn't "dishonorable" but I advised all folk looking to ditch the military for being gay (I can honestly say that back then in the 70's I myself never had to process the discharge of someone who was forced out due to being gay) - whether or not it was true, to find another way to get out because a general discharge was indeed a "scarlet G". Future employers knew to ask WHY a General discharge was received, and they KNEW general discharges were given to gay soldiers. There are quite a few folk I saved from that travesty by counseling them (outside of my official duties) with complete discretion.


on edit, found on Google - "General Discharge: You receive a general discharge when you separate from the service, under honorable conditions, without a sufficiently meritorious military record to deserve an honorable discharge." (yes, blatantly ridiculous - heck, UGLY - when the sole reason was homosexuality)

http://www.tpub.com/content/advancement/14325/css/14325_487.htm

[sarge43]

2. When I was running AF discharges, gays were normally given

an honorable; however, the reason for discharge was made very clear and "scarlet G" sums it. Regardless of level individual was branded.

Especially vile was 'tendencies' were enough to put an individual under investigation with a view to possible discharge. No, I never heard or read of an exact legal definition of homosexual tendencies. In the eye of the OSI, I guess.

Stupid, vicious situation, unit cohesion, my fat old ass.

[Skittles]

4. yeah, it's been a long time - 30 years for me

but I remember I was savvy enough to know to counsel folk to avoid getting that discharge - I think a staff sergeant who trained me told me about the "scarlet G".

[sarge43]

5. The level was already determined before the paperwork got to

my section of the pipeline. The best I could do was keep my mouth shut about the people I knew to be gay or lesbian.

Another thing that make that 'unit cohesion' excuse a crock. Either you rat out members of the unit or you tacitly lie, break regs and hope like hell you're never called on the carpet about it. Whatever, morale suffers and cohesion frays.

[Skittles]

6. the ones I talked to were TRYING to get out - by saying they were gay

not sure why - it wasn't even wartime - I advised them to stick it out already :D

[sarge43]

7. OIC.

Yeah, I ran into people who thought it was an easy out. "If it were easy, everybody'd be doing it."

[sui generis]

3. my tall dark handsome partner

was a Lt.Cdr on the Enterprise - and I can tell you the chain of command has DADT all the way up to the senior admiralty, for a 100% fact.

It is the most incredibly stupid military policy we have. It changes nothing, and it only hurts us to enforce it.

[TexasObserver]

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