05/11/2007
Navy Discharges Gay Sailor Called Back to Active Duty
Jason Knight, the petty officer second class who made headlines last week after an article in the military's Stars & Stripes newspaper revealed that the officer had been called back to active duty even after telling military officials that he annulled his marriage because he was gay, has been discharged from service.
Knight was notified yesterday that because of his recent media interviews, his services will no longer be required.
Said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN): "Jason Knight was an exemplary sailor who gladly returned to active duty when our country needed him. Now, despite his dedication and service, and the praise of those he served alongside, the Navy has decided to fire him because he dared to tell his story and put a public face to the courage of lesbian and gay service personnel. Our nation should be embarrassed that our armed forces are forced to respond to Knight's selfless service with a government-sanctioned pink slip. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' silences lesbians and gays and attempts to make them invisible. Because Knight refused invisibility, he will now be fired."
Knight also responded publicly to his dismissal: "I have now spent five years in the Navy, and I have loved every minute of it. It is unfortunate that in our country, which prides itself on being a beacon of liberty to the world, discrimination is still alive and well, even in our own government. I am proud to be among the one million gay veterans who have answered the call to duty, and I look forward to working alongside them to topple this un-American and counter-productive law."
In a Q&A published yesterday on Pam's House Blend, Knight said that his recall was the result of a paperwork snafu and not because the military needed a qualified person back in the ranks despite a DADT discharge. Knight: "They had a two week window to process me out and took the easier of two routes."
U.S. Navy Announces it Will Now Fire Openly Gay Sailor Recalled to Active Duty [sldn]
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 11:30 AM EST by Andy in Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Military, News | Permalink
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The bureaucracy moves fast when it wants to.
Posted by: anon | May 11, 2007 11:39:16 AM
Typical. They were only too glad to have him back as long as he kept his mouth shut and nobody had to think about - shhh - the gay thing.
You can bet that somebody has gotten fired over this bureaucratic bumbling. The Pentagon continually shoots itself in the foot over DA/DT.
How many times does DA/DT have to be revealed as completely bankrupt before Congress acts? What's up with Meehan's bill?
One more thing, at the risk of sounding crass, am I the only one who thinks Jason Knight is totally cute?
Posted by: sam | May 11, 2007 11:42:09 AM
Our great country: a shining beacon of hypocrisy and discrimination!
It is high time to scrap DADT along with the neocon scum that are bankrupting our great nation.
PS: Sam, crass yes, but I agree!
Posted by: Chapeau | May 11, 2007 12:01:39 PM
Jason’s actions, statements and dedication to self respect gives me hope. His devotion to military service and our country despite the current policies speaks volumes about the caliber of his character. Jason you ARE a true American hero! Thank you for standing proud and tall.
Posted by: Jake | May 11, 2007 12:26:36 PM
ROCK ON JASON!
Your courage and sense of duty, in the face of overwhelming odds, is an inspiration to so many people, gay and straight.
America will be a little less safe and the Navy will be a little less effective for losing you but the you maintained your dignity and the gay community gained a new hero.
You and Eric Alva are a homophobe's worst nightmare! It's stories like yours that will break the back of DADT.
Thank you so much for refusing to serve in silence.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 12:38:30 PM
Umm... Sharra is a bitch.
And don't worry... I don't even know what crass means.
Posted by: Matt | May 11, 2007 12:54:46 PM
With gay pride month coming up soon, would it not be a good idea to invite servicemen like Alva and Knight to featured spots in parades, etc?
Posted by: anon | May 11, 2007 1:19:20 PM
ANON, I certainly think so.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 1:21:27 PM
Matt, was that intended to be a drive-by flame bomb or were you making a serious comment?
I would be interested in hearing why you think Sharra is a bitch.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 1:27:34 PM
How appropriate that a guy who reflexively calls a woman a "BITCH" doesn't know the meaning of the word crass.
Main Entry: crass
Pronunciation: 'kras
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin crassus thick, gross
1 a : GROSS 6a; especially : having or indicating such grossness of mind as precludes delicacy and discrimination b : being beneath one's dignity c -- used as a pejorative intensifier
2 : guided by or indicative of base or materialistic values
synonym see STUPID
Posted by: Rey | May 11, 2007 1:33:07 PM
Shit! I totally read it wrong! I'm an idiot. I like Sharra now. My bad!
Posted by: Matt | May 11, 2007 1:47:36 PM
Am I the only one that thinks NOW would be a great time for the other 64,999 gay and lesbian servicepersons to come out?
It would certainly make the idiot Dubya choose between his pet projects... Hmm... discriminate against gay people or stop the Iraqi operation?? Decisions, decisions...
Posted by: Dean | May 11, 2007 3:03:39 PM
"time for the other 64,999 gay and lesbian servicepersons to come out?" I trust you didn't mean to be judgmental of them, but Hells Bells, we can't even get Anderson Cooper to come out and, last I heard, no one at CNN had been beaten to death with a baseball bat for being gay as Pfc. Barry Winchell was at Fort Campbell or beaten and stomped on so badly that his mother could only identify his body by a tattoo on his arm as sailor Allen Schindler was in Japan. The medical examiner compared his injuries to those "sustained by victims of fatal airplane crashes."
Yes, Knight's relative acceptance by his shipmates is becoming more common, but with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander in Chief both having publicly demonized gays, gay soldiers and sailors are still at risk of both physical harm and, at best, discharge. Schindler entered the Navy in order to be able to go to college on the GI Bill never expecting to go home in a coffin instead. For many from lower income families, skills training while in the military is their only hope of a job above minimum wage. Some come from families with long military service traditions.
In short, the millions of relatively closeted civilian gays need to come out before we can or should look to those in our armed forces.
Posted by: Leland | May 11, 2007 3:41:00 PM
Leland is exactly right. People who come out in the military are taking their lives in their hands. Fear and loathing of gays is rampant and endorsed from the commander-in-chief on down. I know, I was there.
Posted by: sam | May 11, 2007 4:00:47 PM
Matt, I figured that was the case, that's why I asked.
Thanks for clarifying.
I think people are reading too much into Dean's statement. I could be wrong, but I think he was meaning that hypothetically, now would be a good time for every gay service member, at the same time, to come out.
I don't think he was actually suggesting that everyone in the military should come out now.
It's kind of like when I say I wish every homosexual/bisexual person in America (closeted or out, married and single, Christian, Muslim, Jewish and atheist, white, black, latin, asian, arabic) would turn blue for just one hour because it would change the gay rights debate in an instant.
It's not like I really want us all to turn blue.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 4:13:40 PM
Oh, and I was there too.
Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 4:16:44 PM
Jason is adorable!
Posted by: peterparker | May 11, 2007 4:36:43 PM
Sam - I agree, Jason is totally cute! The lips, the eyes! And, apparently he is also a serious mensh - he has the integrity, perhaps we should say the balls - to stand up for who he is, and for his community. Now THAT is SEXY!
Posted by: dave | May 11, 2007 4:39:53 PM
Why does he look so damn familiar? Does anyone know where Jason is from?
Posted by: Otto | May 11, 2007 5:32:09 PM
Ye gods and little fishes! Lighten up abit, guys.
Thanks, Zeke. YOU apparently understood exactly what I was saying. It was, indeed, a hypothetical question.
I really don't need lessons in homophobic behavior from anyone. I just happen to live in the DEEP south in the midst of the "Bible Belt"... where most of our soldiers are born and bred. I am greatly and continuously aware of what gay people go through in a bigoted society. I ALSO happen to live in a rural area where it's *slightly* more dangerous to be openly gay than, say, New York City or San Francisco. Yet, I do it everyday.
*deep breath*
That said... WHILE I DO UNDERSTAND THE RAMIFICATIONS, I STILL think it would be wonderful if every gay and lesbian soldier could come out right NOW. The shockwaves to the "war" in Iraq, the military in general and the United States as a whole would be amazing. Hmm... as well as to the gay stereotype.
Oh... and if nothing else, at least it might get them out of harm's way from the present debacle.
Posted by: Dean | May 12, 2007 3:05:32 AM
No problem bubba.
We southern boys gotta take care of each other. :)
Posted by: Zeke | May 12, 2007 7:55:51 AM
Anon above mentioned inviting this guy to gay pride parades. One better, how about being the guest of honor and or the grand marshall...........If places like LA can put Paris hilton and her moma out there as grand marshalls of their gay pride parade (was that like 1-2 years ago) then somebody can put this guy front and center as well.
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 12, 2007 2:26:26 PM
PS hasn't reighen been a guest of honor at a few gay prides? That said, I bet Lelland would gladly volunter to carry this guy around on his back at every gay pride in america.
We need to honor our true heroes and not people like paris, reighen, and or porn stars.
Posted by: pacificoceanboy | May 12, 2007 2:32:13 PM
Thanks again, Zeke. Nothing quite like southern gentlemen. :D
POB, here's one better... how about we put Knight and other discharged servicepersons in charge of our [the gay community's] "army". We could do worse than having someone with military experience helping to lead our community.
Posted by: Dean | May 12, 2007 9:23:13 PM