Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal
A personal account of a historic day
Before I begin, I would like to personally thank Beirut Veteran Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff, Capt. USN (Ret.) for inspiring me to make this public. I have known him for many years when I first started reaching out to those in the DC area who were Beirut Veterans. He was always there for guidance. That all changed the morning of December 22, 2010 — that day our bond became much stronger and hasn’t slowed down any.
Meeting with Senator Jim Webb
The day before the historic Senate vote to repeal DADT, I faxed to Senator Jim Webb — my Senator, former Secretary of the Navy, a fellow Marine veteran, and also considered to be a Beirut Veteran — a request to meet with him briefly before the vote. He had 20 minutes to spare. He was considered to be the tie-breaking vote.
In his office I noticed on his mantle above the fireplace, my Beirut Challenge Coin I designed — displayed stand alone, in the center. He had hundreds encased and displayed within his office, but mine stood alone.
“So Bill, what can I do for you today?”
I started: “You are about to go vote. I can’t tell you how to vote — that’s your call. I’m here today as a fellow Marine and Beirut Veteran who happens to be gay. I want your vote to be educated, so if there are any last-minute questions, let’s get it out in the open.”
“If only Admiral Mullen were here for this.” — Senator Jim Webb
He profoundly thanked me for my honor and integrity. When asked how it went when I returned to work, I simply said: “Turn on C-SPAN and watch. Everything was good.”
The Signing Ceremony
“Out Of Many, We Are One”
— President Obama
I was there — 4th row center — as Rabbi Arnold Resnicoff was introduced to deliver the invocation. (They never have an invocation at a law signing ceremony.) My jaw hit the floor.
Rabbi Resnicoff’s Invocation
O Lord who made a world of change, You challenged us to mend, repair, and change the world. Some lose faith and think that things will never change, but we Americans — of every faith — refuse to give up hope or abandon that most American of dreams: that we can make a difference, and that the future can be better than the past.
Today we make a change as President Obama signs this bill to law. Today we recall that unity, not uniformity, is our goal, that we need not fear differences among those united to defend our nation’s freedoms and its dreams. Today we honor ALL brave men and women, including those who served so long without the honor they deserved.
Lord, help us keep faith the day will dawn when justice flows — for ALL — like mighty waters, when liberty will be proclaimed throughout the land, when every man or woman can stand tall, and none shall be afraid. And may we say, Amen.
Aftermath & Legacy
13 years have now come and gone since 2010. There was the viral picture of the gay homecoming kiss in Hawaii in 2012 — “Just your typical homecoming kiss” — USMC Public Affairs Hawaii. And most recently, the couple who attended the Marine Corps Ball.
The Ongoing Fight
LGBTQ Veterans kicked out of the service are having to sue the government to get their discharge upgraded to Honorable. This includes access to VA Benefits — healthcare, housing, and education. The fight is not over.
Words to Live By
Admiral William H. McRaven’s 2014 Commencement Address at the University of Texas at Austin. If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
Admiral McRaven — UT Austin Commencement 2014