It's a wonder why the Army Reserves wouldn't want Rob Fojtik. He's a bright, young, fit Northwestern University student who is fluent in three languages. But on Tuesday, Aug. 22, he was not the least bit surprised when he and two other openly gay young adults were turned away at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station at 1239 N. Clybourn.
'I can't possibly fathom how the small fact that I'm gay is not a reason to fight,' Fojtik said.
The action was part of a nationwide campaign started by Soulforce, an organization that works to end the political and religious oppression of GLBT people. The Right to Serve campaign, which challenges the military's 13-year-old 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, is underway at recruiting stations in 30 cities across the U.S. Soulforce's Right to Serve protests have resulted in the arrests of several young activists in Philadelphia and Minneapolis.
Current policy bans openly GLBT people from serving in the military. In its first 10 years, roughly 9,500 servicemembers have been discharged under 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' according to a 2005 study conducted by the Government Accountability Office.
A bill pending in the House of Representatives, The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, seeks to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and is backed by 119 Democrats and Republicans. ( On July 27, 2005, the Chicago City Council unanimously approved a resolution urging Congress to pass said act. )
Although Fojtik, Kelsey Pacha and Rachelle Faroul expected to be turned away, they waltzed into the building surrounded by a swarm of media, hopeful and ready to serve.
All three genuinely want to serve in the military, including Pacha, whose father was in the Iowa National Guard. However, they will not lie about their sexual orientation in order to serve. 'I would serve in a heartbeat,' Pacha said. 'We believe this is government-sanctioned discrimination,' she added. 'We believe this policy is unjust to people in our community.'
The policy not only harms those actively serving, the young adults said, but also denies openly GLBT youth access to the military's many opportunities, such as the G.I. Bill. Pacha added that the policy is also detrimental during wartime, when so many people don't want to serve.
When all three were handed the military's policy and politely told they could not enlist, Faroul smiled and shrugged as she walked towards the exit. 'I guess they'll see us again in September,' she said, referring to a sit-in scheduled for next month. Members of Soulforce will return to the same recruiting station Sept. 12 and stage a protest alongside allies who support the GLBT community's right to serve.
'It's hurtful, in a way, because growing up you are taught about freedom and you're expected to do anything you want to,' Pacha said after the action. 'It's hard to come face-to-face with that today.'
For more information, see www.soulforce.org or www.righttoserve.org .