By Kendall Gray
In the summer of 2006, Rhonda Davis was discharged from the United States Navy after publicly broadcasting her sexual orientation and her support for same sex marriage over a naval academy radio station.
Davis was one of four panelists that came to the University last Wednesday to speak to students about the United State's military policy "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Davis enrolled herself in the army in 1995 for several different reasons.
"I enlisted because I desperately needed the money, I wanted to travel the world, I wanted to enjoy the benefits of being in the army and my father told me that everyone should at least once fight for their country," Davis said.
Davis worked her way through the ranks of the navy and was eventually promoted to commander of her station. Davis said that although being commander was a great honor, she could not look past the fact that her life was one big lie.
"When you enlist in the army, you are taught three core values: honor, courage, commitment [and] having to lie to people about your sexual orientation completely goes against what we're taught," she said.
Sharon Alexander, another panelist, is a lawyer and the deputy director for a law firm that provides free legal aid to members of the army who have been discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"It's very, very difficult for men and women to work in the army under the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy," she said.
The policy is a Congressional statue that prohibits lesbians, gay men and bisexuals from serving in the United States military. This law is the only law in the country that authorizes the firing of an American based on one's sexual orientation, according to the panelists.
There are three components of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that can discharge an army member immediately if violated. First, no statement regarding any inclination of homosexuality can be made at anytime or place in the military. Second, the demonstration of any physical act that implicates sexual orientation is strictly forbidden.
"These do not have to be sexual acts. I have had clients discharged for holding hands," Alexander said between explaining the components.
Finally, any military member who attempts to marry the same sex will immediately be discharged, she added.
"Eleven thousand people have been discharged under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' since it was first implemented in 1995," Alexander said.
Heather Sarver, a second year law student at the University who was another panel member, was discharged from the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue" policy.
Sarver was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, where she was the supervisor of her base. Sarver said that after years of trying to remain silent and hide her sexual orientation, she began to suffer anxiety attacks. Sarver was told by military authorities to seek counseling, but she knew too well that there is no doctor-patient confidentiality and was forced to tell the truth.
"When I told my commander that I was a lesbian, she said to me, 'You've got two days to think this over and then just forget that we ever had this conversation,'" Sarver said.
Sarver did not follow her commander's orders and within the next two days she was transferred to a new station and her discharging process began.
"I am here telling my story so I can speak out for all my friends in the military who have to be silent," she said.
The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is well on its way to becoming repealed, according to Denny Meyer, the fourth panelist, who is the president of the New York Chapter of American Veterans for Equal Rights. Meyer said that the United States Army needs to "start preparing military for not just allowing us (gay men and women) to serve but to also make sure anti-harassing laws are enforced."
Some students who did not fully understand the policy were surprised at what the panelists revealed.
"I am very surprised because I thought I knew what 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' was," said Terra Mangum, a second year law student. "There is so much more to it. I am surprised the military is what it is today."
As the program concluded, Davis said, "I am living proof that being gay does not impair your ability to do your job. I am living proof that soldiers are ready for this ban to be lifted. I am living proof that gays can succeed."