Activists to target 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' in Saturday rally

Mike Brazell will take the microphone on Saturday because he knows so many others can't speak.

Brazell, a 31-year-old yoga instructor in Norfolk, is gay. He spent almost 10 years as a Navy operations specialist before receiving an honorable discharge in 2005. One of the main reasons he left, he said, was that he was worn out living a double life - half the day as a single Navy petty officer first class, half the day as a gay man with a partner.

He and other activists who want the federal law prohibiting openly gay military service to be changed will gather for a rally at Town Center in Virginia Beach.

When Brazell joined the Navy in 1996, he was terrified of being outed. Eventually, he learned not to be too sensitive when his fellow sailors joked about homosexuality.

While stationed in Japan, Brazell met other gay sailors who showed him the way.

"They taught me that as long as you're good at what you do, and you make yourself valuable, people don't care.... I was really good at my job," Brazell said. He said he neither talked about nor hid his sexual orientation.

Other shipmates didn't fare as well.

Some gay friends were more sensitive about remarks they overheard, and he guesses that may have led to their being investigated for breaching the 1993 law that forbids openly gay military service. Current military policy, known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," forbids military officials from asking about - and military members from talking about - their homosexual orientations.

An estimated 13,000 gay service members have been kicked out of the military since the law took effect. Close to 300 gay or lesbian personnel have been discharged since President Barack Obama took office.

Obama has said he' d gladly support a repeal of the law banning open homosexual service in the military but has put the onus on Congress to send him a bill. But critics note he could take other measures, such as using his power as commander in chief to refuse discharges based on sexual orientation.

Brazell said he thinks Obama is doing his best to juggle two wars and an economic crisis and doesn't mind that he hasn't taken action on the issue.

"There definitely is hope," Brazell said. "There is change in the air."

That change has groups who support the ban on open homosexual service gearing up for a fight.

More than 1,000 flag and general officers have signed a letter in support of "don't ask, don't tell."

They argue that having declared gay and lesbians in uniform would harm unit cohesion and undermine morale and discipline. They emphasize that the unique demands of military service require a heterosexual-only military.

Allowing gays to serve openly "would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all echelons, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the all-volunteer force," the letter says.

Brazell and other organizers see it differently: Camaraderie is hurt when unit members can't be themselves. And discharging Arabic linguists who happen to be gay can't help national security.

The gay-rights rally will bring the issues home. The large military population here makes speaking out now important, Brazell said.

"The fact that there are so many sailors and soldiers who are closeted here - giving them a voice is a very important thing," Brazell said. "Even though we're not still in uniform, we're not going to stop fighting."

Kate Wiltrout, (757) 446-2629, kate.wiltrout@pilotonline.com