Jean Albright and Jason Knight. Photo by Tracy Baim______
Jason Knight, the 25-year-old gay sailor recently discharged from the Navy
for the second time, made a special appearance during a panel discussion at the University of Chicago, alongside Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) members, hours before the big downtown rally against Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace on May 18.
Knight was dismissed from the Navy last year; however, due to a clerical error, he was called back to serve in Kuwait, which he did. A brief, five-line letter to the editor written by Knight that appeared in a May edition of Stars and Stripes sparked a huge controversy. Soon after the press coverage surrounding the letter, Knight was informed for the second time that he would be dismissed under the anti-gay 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' (DADT) policy. He received his papers on May 19.
Knight told the crowd that when he initially served, he wasn't out, and actually got married in 2004. 'I thought if I tried to do the 'normal thing,' something like that would go away,' he admitted.
However, Knight realized his mistake on his wedding night, and the marriage was later annulled. He did was he called the 'honorable thing,' and informed his command what had happened and what he realized. 'I was hoping they would realize I was a good sailor, and had done good things, but that was not the case,' he continued.
'It's strange, because they make you seem like you're a criminal,' he said of the anti-gay policy signed into law in 1992 by former President Bill Clinton.
Knight was discharged in the spring of 2005, but the note of dismissal under DADT never made it into his personnel file. Due to the clerical error, he was recalled to Kuwait in July 2006.
'I had to think back,' he said on his decision to return. 'I signed on to uphold the values of the United States and to serve my country. But I wasn't going back in the closet and hiding that part of my life [again].'
Knight then served openly under a friendly command, and it wasn't until Pace's comments about the 'immorality' of gay people that he decided to voice his opinion to the military publication. He didn't even expect his letter to make it to print.
Largely due to the pressure from the mass press coverage that soon followed did the miliitary decide to re-dismiss Knight.
When asked by the audience what he will do next, Knight expressed interest in helping organizations such as SLDN, and helping others serve openly.
Knight also added that he believes the tides are turning, and opinions among younger soldiers and commands are changing regarding serving alongside lesbian and gay servicemembers. 'The policy is in place, but they pick and choose when to use it,' he said. 'I believe there is a generation gap.'
Jean Albright, a local board member of SLDN and 20-year Air Force veteran, is infuriated by Pace's bias towards gay and lesbian soldiers. 'Pace commands 1.4 million. Does he honestly live in a dream world where a percentage of the 1.4 million aren't gay and lesbian?'
Also discussed during the panel discussion is the complete isolation felt by gay and lesbian soldiers. Albright said, 'I pretty much set aside my personal life.'
Knight agreed, and said he and his lesbian roommate would drive over an hour to have a personal life, for fear of being caught. 'When I served again, I refused to do that again,' he added.
SLDN members also discussed a current house bill with 125 co-sponsors that would do away with the anti-gay policy and include a non-discrimination policy. Since DADT was signed into law, over 11,000 troops have been discharged under the policy.
'It's such an insult to people who have made a commitment and that's why they're there,' Albright said in regards to the policy.
