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The End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

At last.

Thanks to all the gay and straight military members and discharged activists who put their lives on the line and to those who served and sometimes lost their lives after living a lie while serving their country. You all brought a personal face to this blatantly discriminatory policy.

I had the honor of having lunch with the late Sergeant Leonard Matlovich in the early 80s in Guerneville, CA near the Russian River where he lived. He was kicked out of the Air Force because he was gay, after receiving both a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He had been a hero of mine since I had seen him on the cover of Time Magazine in 1975. His quote, now famous around the world, has poignant meaning today, after the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell - here’s to you, Leonard, it finally happened. . .

“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”

Today is for you, Sergeant Matlovich and for you, Army Specialist in the MPs, Luke Terpstra, my man.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 18th, 2010 at 8:11 pm and is filed under David's Blog. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Responses to “The End of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.””

  1. susan mccachren Says:
    December 19th, 2010 at 5:23 am

    FINALLY, the end of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
    Whew…
    Many, many thanks to all Gay and Lesbian military personnel for their patience, dignity and class in holding strong while fairness and justice roamed the Houses of Congress, searching for a way through the morass, before, at last, delivering…and much gratitude and love to all of those who were discharged, demoted and humiliated because of this heinous injustice..Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and may we truly move our consciousnesses en masse onward and upward in 2011 and well beyond.

  2. Luke Says:
    December 19th, 2010 at 8:30 am

    Thanks man, I love you.
    Luke

  3. Randy Says:
    December 19th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Amen.

  4. Jewell Says:
    February 28th, 2011 at 6:29 pm

    People have ceased to amaze me with their bigotry and hatred toward —not others, but themselves. Iowa is just one instance today. I am not sure there is hope for mankind, for everytime I feel that there might be, some idiot opens his/her mouth and removes all doubt and proves that they need to have an excision of thetongue—well, maybe gray matter would be better.

    I love you , David.

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