With President Barack Obama signing legislation repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” on Wednesday, University of Colorado graduate Mara Boyd — twice arrested this year during protests of the Clinton-era policy — is ready to re-enlist in the military, seven years after being discharged from the Air Force for being openly gay.
“I have every intention of going back,” Boyd said. “I would love to be able to serve openly. I would love to help facilitate the transition, to be part of the change. I want to finish something I started.”
Boyd was discharged in 2003 after telling her commander that she was gay. Since then, she has been advocating for the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and was arrested during protests outside the White House in April and November.
With the Senate having voted Saturday to repeal the policy — which allowed gays to serve in the military, as long as nobody knew they were gay — Boyd, 29, said she now plans to re-enlist, if she can “negotiate some hurdles,” such as getting an age waiver to rejoin the Air Force, which cuts off enlistment at age 28.
