Last week I posted about the “Right to Serve” sit-ins that took place in Minnesota and in Philadelphia. In Oklahoma (which recently elected its first gay legislator), Michael Cich, whose family has a long history in the military, plans to attempt to enlist. But to make a larger point, he’s bringing his straight identical twin brother along to enlist as well, according to Oklahoma’s KOTV:
“He says if they take his brother and not him, then there’s no question why they’re rejected him. It would be easy for Cich to simply follow the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy and he’d most likely get in. But he says in some ways, it wouldn’t be easy. ‘I have a friend who was in military service who wanted to put in 20 years or service, but after 5 years, he was like that’s enough, I can’t take it. Its too much pressure. It’s too much hiding. If people don’t think there are gay people serving with them now, they’re lying to themselves, because I have lots of friends in the military who are gay who aren’t choosing to be out because they want to be in the service.’
In any event, he says he will be giving the process the respect it deserves. ‘We’re not going in there banging drums, we’re not going in the carrying banners. We’re going in just like any other recruit would, except the only difference is, we’re going in there completely honest, saying I’m gay, I want to serve in the military, what do I need to do to make that happen.'”
You may have missed…
Soulforce Sit-ins Underway at Military Offices [tr]
An Oklahoman, Who Is Gay, Wants To Enlist In The Military [kotv]
Cities of the “Right to Serve” Campaign [soulforce]
