Ms. Marie Bohusch - Ohio - Lesbian
USRA - Aug 15 1990-Aug 14 1994 - E4
Military nick: Huschie
self-identified in service: Questioning
Out since: Dec 2003 - Coming Out: 10
honors & citations: Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Ribbon

Bio: I wasn't sure who I was when I went into the Army, and due to my clearance as a foreign linguist, I was far too afraid to explore. Being injured in training and left on “casual” medical hold in training units twice (10 months at DLI; 14 months at Ft. Huachuca), I had far too many "eyes" on my every move already to risk anything that would give my cadre a reason to pull my clearance and kick me out.

I met my first girlfriend in the Army, and while it was strictly emotional because I was "walking wounded" in an AIT training unit with ever present Drill Sergeants, it was one of the best relationships my heart has ever had. After an assault, during which I was blatantly "lesbian baited" and thus terrified of reporting lest I be kicked out of the Army as "justice" for being assaulted, I went from "questioning" straight past denial into oblivious repression. During my repression, I had a number of typical trainwreck straight relationships. After 7 years of repression following the assault, I finally started questioning again and waking up to who I really was. After PTSD struck nearly 11 years after the assault, I had many revelations about my time in the Army, and have been increasingly Out ever since. Now as a local and national officer within AVER, I am fighting to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" for the myriad problems it allows. Service members should never be at more risk from their own brothers in arms than from an enemy.