What It’s Like To Be Gay In The Military

“There was no way for it to work together, so I created two
people…”

Check out more awesome BuzzFeedYellow videos!

MUSIC
Moment of Release, In Reflection
Audio Network

+
Eric Angelo
Adam Schuman
@a_shoooz

STILLS
Gay Men in Military

Dogtags with rainbow flag

GET MORE BUZZFEED

BUZZFEED YELLOW

[ethelcore]

please do a video on what it's like to be gay and religious

[Lord_Cow]

They're these two gay guys at my high school who despise each other one has the dialect of a sassy black woman and the other one is the physical embodiment of the gay stereotype.

Honestly I sit back and watch the sass off

[MrMusiclover]

I was gay in the military years before these guys were in. I was in during the dark old days of military gay witch hunts of the late 1950's and early 1960's. I was afraid of meeting other gay military for fear they would turn me in. Several people I knew were "found out" by the military and were tossed into the brig, and their lives were miserable until they were thrown out of the service on general discharges. That scared me enough not to re-enlist in the Navy.

[xxoldmagicxx]

"I thought if I joined it would make me straight at the end." My heart is BROKEN.

[JamesV]

*Amazing.* Anyone that is willing to sacrifice their lives for their country is *amazing.* They should have just as much respect and if not *more* for wanting to still, even when they knew they *weren't* accepted. You *aren't* less capable of serving your country just because of your sexuality.

[chalpua]

I served for 7 years in the Army and knew one of the guys in my unit was gay. At this time we had dont ask dont tell still and we were Infantry so we had many less accepting individuals. We become really good friends over the time in service and I would trust him more than anyone with my life. I know he hated having to hide who he was and how people who called him brother would look at him differently if they knew. But he was still there everyday leading the way. Ultimately he gave his life for this country and I miss him everyday.

[LotusSyndicate_]

I feel like most of buzz feeds audience is to young and immature to really grasp some of there social commentary videos like this which really affected many veterans lives....

[lejuanca]

Buzzfeed: *"How it felt when my best friend committed suicide"*
80% of the comments: _"ZOMG I BEATED GRAFICK DISINGE

[marywinsor]

My uncle is gay and married and he is in the military and I don't remember the name of his rank but I know that he's very very high ranked and everybody knows. He told me he was treated with just as much respect as anyone else he served with. It's comforting to know he wasn't pushed aside or disrespected because of his sexuality

[gunibajaj]

I am straight and whenever I go out with my gay friends and defend them from homophobes, people just assume that I'm gay too. Can't I just be Pro LGBT and still straight?

[melinatessier]

Being a lesbian in the army is also something huge, cause sometimes we're not a lot of women either... I'm a lesbian in the army, and I can't talk about it that much..

[eduardovargas]

Why would you put your life on the line for a government that doesn't give you basic human rights.

[stayinurlainey]

CAN WE ALL TAKE A MINUTE SILENCE TO APPRECIATE HOW HOT ERIC IS OKAY

[mariabardo]

I had a lesbian couple as roommates when I was stationed at Fort Bragg. Best roomates ever!!

[erauprcwa]

As a gay servicemember, who served before and after the repeal of DADT. My experience was pretty good. I did have a commander that actually asked me if I was gay, which I had to lie... But there was a clear generational shift between young and old. Older generations didn't want change, while the younger generations didn't really care.

The stupid briefings we had to do prior to the repeal were annoying, because some people were under the assumption that gay people weren't already in the military. But aside from that, what matters most is if you can shoot your rifle and do your job. Nothing else matters.

[giadeluca]

The beanie guy is replying to comments 👏claps for you

[lovipoekimo]

All I can think about while watching this video was how hot the soldiers are.

[XoAngelFanyXo]

Honestly even the idea of kicking someone out just for their sexuality is horrendously ignorant and close minded.

[PBI]

If you're gay, straight, black, coloured, white — anything, as long as you're a *good soldier* you're great

[royaldansk]

I remember the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. I had written a paper on it when it happened. I was a freshman in college it was such a great moment for me, even though I am not a gay male or in the military.