Have you ever wondered what it’s like to serve in the military as a gay man? A new video explores that subject, interviewing four gay men who have served in different branches of the armed forces.
Spanning various backgrounds, each explains why they were drawn to joining up, what it was like living as a gay man while serving, and also how the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell affected them.
Lt. Adam Shuman says that “the real bulk” of the reason why he joined the military was because, “I genuinely thought that if I joined this seemingly hyper masculine institution that I would come out straight at the end.”
CDR Steve Clark Hall, Ret., explains that before Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was instated in 1994, “there were no rules.” He adds, “The real rules were you didn’t park your car anywhere near a gay bar. If you wanted to go to a gay bar you got in your car and drove from San Diego to LA so know one would see you there.” Of the personal repercussions of being gay in the military, Hall says he “created two people” in order to carry on in an institution that was not accepting of gay service members.
Watch the video from BuzzFeed, below.
