http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/An Army officer writes about being a lesbian in the 10th Mountain Division -- and, in a courageous move, does it on the division commander's discussion board. I think this is one of the best pieces of writing I have ever seen on the subject. Imagine your partner not being able to wrap you in his or her arms when you come home from a deployment:
"Although many think homosexuality is a behavior, I beg to differ. I used to pray to God every night to change the way I am. Ever since I was in Elementary school I have known I've been different. My friends all had boy crushes and never talked about liking other girls. I did and felt all alone. I asked my dad what a "lesbian" was after reading about a woman named Ellen who came out publicly that she was gay. My dad told me that it was a girl who liked another girl and she was going to hell because of it. I cried myself to sleep that night and for many years after. I did not want to like girls. I tried dating boys with no success of changing my feelings. I figured I'd live a lonely life, until I allowed myself to be who I am. I was raised Catholic and my family was very homophobic until they realized they had a gay daughter. My other siblings are heterosexual. That was not conditioning, a trend, or some form of faulty upbringing that made me who I am today. I believe in God and know that he made me who I am. No one else can judge me but him and I put my full faith in him everyday as I go through life.
I also currently serve as an officer in the Army."
MORE OF HER COLUMN AT LINK: