For 10 years, Maj. Jeff Mueller served in the Air Force as a gay man living under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“I was looking over my shoulder every day wondering if I was going to have a job,” he said. “It was horrible.”
Today, when “don’t ask, don’t tell” is repealed, Mueller looks forward to serving openly.
For Mueller and untold numbers of others, today marks the end of an 18-year odyssey of gay men and women being able to serve in the military only if they did not disclose their sexual orientation.
“I no longer have to be scared about losing my job just because of who I love,” said Mueller, a test engineer for space systems at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Andrea Anderson, a native of Grand Junction who has served with the Air Force for 12 years, looks forward to the change.
“I can honestly say I am thrilled about the repeal,” she said. “I have many gay friends who have proudly served this country while hiding who they are. … I am proud that we are finally at a point of acceptance and should be shaking the hand of any person willing to sign their name saying they would die for our freedom, regardless of sexual orientation. This is still going to be a long and bumpy road, but it’s a start.”
This landmark repeal reflects changes in policy across the Department of Defense, and top military officials are expressing confidence that the transition will be smooth. At places such as Fort Carson, today is expected to be business as usual.
To prepare for the transition, nearly all active-duty and reserve service members have participated in training.
Still, the change will take some adjustment, according to interviews with active and retired service members. Some fear that hate crimes will go up and that active members who are against homosexuality will drop out as soon as their contracts are up.
Others are upset that there will be no segregation of housing, showers or bathrooms based on sexual orientation.
Not good for all units
Arthur Grinstead, a Marine sergeant when he left the service this month, thinks the repeal is fine for some military jobs and branches but not for others, especially combat. He recalled the reaction after a Navy admiral gave a speech this year to military service members.
“People were worried. They didn’t want to live in barracks with someone like that, when they’re not allowed to live with women for the same reason,” he said.
Showering is the topic that seems to get the most attention.
“In boot camp for the Marines, we have group showers and things of that nature, and it would be insanely unacceptable to have a homosexual individual in the same vicinity,” Grinstead said.
But Aubrey Sarvis, an Army veteran who serves as executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, called this a “bogus” issue.
“Most guys have only a few seconds to shower, and they’re just focused on getting in and out of there,” he said.
But Cory Whitmer of Aurora, a Navy veteran who served three deployments with an all-male crew of 80, disagrees.
“It’s a legitimate concern,” said Whitmer, who supports the repeal. “I worked with a lot of bigots and homophobes, and they are generally concerned about that. No matter how much you try to squelch that fear, they won’t buy it.”
Two of the men he served with were known to be gay, and one was a good friend.
For Whitmer, the issue is ability.
“We’re fighting two wars, and we’re stretched thin,” he said. “Why do we want to lose another group because people are gay?”
Within the community of gays in the military, there is some disagreement on coming out. Some are at ease with their sexual orientation but choose not to share this part of their personal lives with colleagues. There is some concern, however, that others who are gay may consider them dishonest or pressure them to come out.
“I’ve talked to many service members, and many say they have no intention of coming out,” Sarvis said.
A four-year member of the U.S. Air Force, currently based in Afghanistan, said in an e-mail interview that he has no intention of coming out.
“I want people’s opinions of me to be based on my skills and abilities, not my sexuality, and I do not want others’ prejudices to get into the way of my career,” he wrote. “… The career field I work in is fairly small and close-knit, I do not want to risk putting up with gossip or individual prejudices.”
Ready to re-enlist
Meanwhile, hundreds of service members who were discharged under “don’t ask, don’t tell” are planning to re-enlist.
They include Luiza Fritz, a platoon sergeant in the National Guard with nearly 14 years’ service when she was dismissed during her second tour in Iraq after an investigation revealed she had a domestic partner, who is now her spouse.
“That sent me into a state of depression for quite a while,” said Fritz, who eventually decided to become an electrician and joined a five-year apprentice program.
“I loved that job,” she said. “I grew up in the same unit for 13 years. Once your name starts to get recognized, you’re a veteran of the unit, and the younger guys look up to you to know what to do.”
She plans to begin calling recruiting offices, hoping to get her old job back.
And on this day, Lori Wilfahrt continues to mourn the loss of her son, Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, believed to be the first gay soldier to die in battle since President Barack Obama signed the repeal.
A member of the military police, he died in Afghanistan after insurgents attacked his unit with a bomb.
In July, Lori Wilfahrt and her husband met members of her son’s company.
“Some said they were surprised to find out he was gay,” she said. “A lot of his officers said, ‘We had no idea, but when we heard, it was no big deal. He was doing his job.’ One sergeant said he was a true leader and could have had a career in the military if he’d wanted it.”
After his death, she was contacted by many gays and lesbians in the military, sharing their stories.
“They entered for the same reasons as everyone else,” she said. “They really wanted to serve their country, or needed a job, or it was part of their family history. They can serve as honorably as everyone else, and as we know, they can die for their country too.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
