[Parker]

First, I almost didnt get in because the recruiters thought I was gay based on how I dressed (jeans, high-top sneakers, polo shirt, and sweater vest - it was 1989, shut up!), so they made me talk to a psychiatrist who asked me ALL kinds of personal questions about my dreams and fantasies, who were in them, what we did, etc. It was very uncomfortable, but I guess he decided I was fine and they let me into boot camp.

Then in boot camp, one of the girls who was gay decided to turn the suspicion towards me and accused me of coming on to her (this happened in high school too - wtf?).

Now, I didnt know at the time that I was gay - that came months after boot camp - so when I told them I was straight before joining and when I told my CC I wasnt gay when accused of it in boot camp, I was telling the truth as I knew it at the time.

Then when I was stationed in San Diego, I worked at a local lesbian bar as a barback. One night a year, the gay community gets together and dresses up to go to an awards show so they can hand out awards like best gay bar, best gay restaurant, best gay bartender, etc. The people that worked at this bar with me all wanted to go and they talked me into going with them, so we all got dressed up and went to this awards show.

I didnt know the mayor was coming to say a few words or that the media was coming to film the mayor and get crowd shots. The instant I saw those camera, I darted to the back of the room because I didnt want my superiors to see me on TV and kick me out or whatever.

When I got back there, I saw a bunch of military people who came specifically in their uniforms and I suddenly felt very silly standing back there, hiding, hoping no one I knew was watching the news. I decided then and there that I wasnt going to hide anymore and if they wanted to kick me out, fuck 'em.

That almost happened at my next duty station up near Fresno, CA - an ex-girlfriend was causing trouble for me at my hospital (by then, I had become a hospital corpsman, crossing over from airman by going to the HM school) and a LTJG (O-2), who was my immediate supervisor and knew I was gay because of this ex of mine, decided he wanted me gone (he and I had a history where he verbally abused me and even put his hands on me once and shoved me) so he reported me for violating "Dont Ask, Dont Tell" (this was 1995). Of course, he had no idea that the 3rd in command of the hospital was also a dyke! lol So after we both issued statements to her (he lied more than once in his, of course) she told him to never touch or talk to me again, or even be anywhere near me, or she would have him transferred out of the hospital. lol

Looking back, it's surprising I ever made it IN to the Navy, let alone that I never got kicked out while serving. lol