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"All the other sailors were going to a special room to film video messages to their sweethearts. But not Quillian. She didn't record a message. She couldn't. Because her partner is a woman."

"Servicemembers say that they have to take the most extraordinary precautions for the most ordinary activities. They need to watch everything they say, using gender neutral pronouns or making up a significant other of the opposite gender. They need to hide who sent them care packages, who sent them a letter, who they write to themselves. If they're deployed in a foreign country, their partners need to limit calls to the shared phone, lest others on the base (who usually answer that phone) begin to suspect something is up."

"It's tough on the person at home, too. The military has an excellent support system for family members left behind that includes counseling, a newsletter updating families on unit activities, and support groups and networks. But gay partners of servicemembers can't take advantage of any of that. If they do, they risk outing their partner – who under the policy will then lose their job."

Full Story

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I found this entire story terribly upsetting.
Not only is "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" doing a disservice and downright insulting any gay service people in the military, but also those they have to work with. These people depend on each other with their lives, so why shouldn't they be able to trust them with their sexuality?

If they country so obviously doesn't want gay people in their military, then why recruit them in the first place, only to subject them to this type of isolation and discrimination?

It reminds me of the book 1984, where big brother is always monitoring everything that everyone does.

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is absolutely ridiculous. These people are willing to fight for everyones lives, which is lot more then most people are willing to do, and they can't even allow them the comfort of gifts and messages from their loved one? Some people seriously need to learn a few things about acceptance and respect.

What you guys have to realize is that while the policy is clearly discriminatory and should be removed in favor of allowing queer people to serve openly in the military, the policy was still a huge step for its time. Before it was passed, gays and lesbians were not allowed to serve in the military at all.

This is an excellent example of the problems associated with discriminatory laws in the US today, though. Thank you for posting it.

I am Sargeant Trojan!
:[ Seriosly. Hypocrites! They talk about how racism is wrong. How people need to be treated fairly and civil rights. Yet they do this!Protector of Gina Town!