New Republic
September 16, 2010
I am a soldier. I am a gay man. I believe there is no greater honor than to serve in uniform. I cannot tell my name.
And I’m exhausted.
As the country slowly—very slowly—approaches a turning point in the debate over “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I want to offer some perspective on what it is like to be a soldier under this policy. On how I, the commander of a unit in the United States military, balance the tasks of soldiering, leading soldiers, and watching over my shoulder, constantly, lest I reveal my true self and risk my career. And, finally, on why DADT not only serves to drain some of the military’s best talent—see what just happened to the ninth-ranked cadet at West Point—but also erodes several of the most valuable lessons service has taught me.
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