Bio: Vietnam combat veteran, served on Navy ships on Yankee Station and with Marine units in I Corps, South Vietnam. Never had a gay experience with any members of my military units, but helped gay sailors and Marines who wanted to get out get an honorable discharge. Was a VA physician for 18 years after returning from Vietnam. Was then Governor Clinton's COmmissioner of Mental Health in Arkansas his first term as governor (remained in Navy Reserve during that time).

Bio: I was Open about my sexuality while in the navy. However while stationed at Pearl Harbor, 17 people I knew in the Navy, AF, Marines and Army were discharged because of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell". To see a witchhunt firsthand was not fun and drove many people deeper into the closet.

Bio: Through most of my career, people had suspected I was gay. My coming out was no real surprise to many at all, especially since my family and friends knew. For me it was the freedom to be who I really am.

Bio: My coming out day was when I was out to everyone. That was the day my family knew for sure and I was no longer hiding myself from anyone. While serving in the Navy, I was always in the closet. Trying to deny my true gift, my true being. I was always fearful of others finding out and exposing me. I served during the "witch hunts" both before and after Don't Ask, Don't Tell so I was always worried about being outted. I tried living the "false" American Dream of being straight with the wife, kids and all the animals that we could afford. I’m so glad that I did have children and now I have 3 lovely grandchildren to enjoy, also. I was also a single parent the last 8 years of my career, which is no easy task in the military. Thank the Goddess for my Mother living with me for the last four of those years. My experience was pretty much the same as all lesbian and gay personnel, we had to live our lives in fear, denial and shame. Hoping to find that little peace of mind from time to time that we could share with someone else. Just not to be so alone all the time was a blessing no matter how short a time frame it was.
   I do not like labels but I do understand the need for them to communicate, so I guess you would have to "label" me a two spirit, transgender identity. And being that made it even more difficult to remain in the military. Having to deny my true being was so hard but then again hard times strengthen the soul. So now I am really the person that I was meant to be, although, one should not have to live as I did to come to that understanding of one's self.
   As far as my "final" coming out just last spring, it was not the most favorable way to tell someone. While I was getting ready for a BRAVER event, fully dressed as my femme self, my youngest daughter walked in my home and was very emotional in a negative manner. Even though this was not the way in which I would have preferred her finding out, it ultimately worked out well. After all the drama my son-in-law, on Father's Day no less, sat my daughter down and made her realize that I am still the same person that she has always loved. So alls good in the end and now my whole family is better off, no more secrets. And my Mother, well she is so enjoying the daughter that she never had, in her own words. She and I now share all of our thoughts, fears and hopes together, uninhibited, and that is what life’s about. Oh by the way, we also share clothes and jewelry and loving each day.

Bio: It has been very hard being gay in my unit, always wondering if im saying the wrong thing or if they will find out. Everyone in my unit knows and no one really seems to have a problem with it or at least they have never told me they do. I have only told a few people in the unit. I have been in the same unit for almost 4yrs now. i didnt tell anyone that i was gay until i had been in the unit for over a yr and had known a lot of them for a while. i have only told the ones i'm close to, but my first sgt outed me and another soldier in my unit, so in a way he can hold that over my head. but then again if he says anything, it would be his butt too. he isn't suppose to do that, out us that is, but over all my experice in the army hasn't been that bad. anyone who knows i'm gay hasn't said anything to me that has been wrong, but i have heard them say things about other soldiers. it has just been hard for me because i'm a very open person in my daily life. when i go to drill, i have a hard time not saying my gf this or my gf that, and that has only been the hard part.
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