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"Dad, I'm gay" - US soldier phones home

Wed 21 Sep 2011 In: International News View at Wayback

The nervous soldier about to call his dad A US soldier serving in Germany has called his father to tell him he is gay and posted the conversation on YouTube, as gay and lesbian soldiers mark the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" in a multitude of ways. In the video below you will see the YouTube clip of the man calling his father in Alabama to tell him for the first time that he is gay. "Can I tell you something? Will you love me, serious?" he asks. "Dad, I'm gay," the soldier says, his voice "I always have been, I've known since forever, and uh, I know I haven't seen you in like a year, and I don't know when's the next time I'm going to be able to see you, I didn't want to tell you over the phone, I wanted to tell you in person." His father assures him he still loves him and says he will have to tell his mother. "Don't ask, don't tell", the policy which left many in the US armed services hiding their sexuality or face being kicked out, was officially lifted at midnight Tuesday US time. In Vermont a Navy lieutenant and his partner married, AP reports, while a number of service members are planning to openly declare their sexuality at a Washington press conference. President Barack Obama has released a statement saying patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love. "Our armed forces will no longer lose the extraordinary skills and combat experience of so many gay and lesbian service members," he said. "And today, as Commander in Chief, I want those who were discharged under this law to know that your country deeply values your service."    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff

First published: Wednesday, 21st September 2011 - 11:43am

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