Openly gay sailor recalled to active duty

An openly gay sailor in the U.S. Navy who was discharged in 2005 after coming out to his command was subsequently recalled to duty in 2006 and has been serving actively in Kuwait with the Naval Customs Battalion Bravo, according to an article published in Sunday's Stars and Stripes.

Petty Officer Jason Knight, a Hebrew linguist in Navy intelligence, said he spent four years in the Navy, has buried fallen service members as part of the Ceremonial Guard, and has received awards for exemplary service. "However, because I was gay, the Navy discharged me and recouped my $13,000 sign-on bonus," he wrote in a letter to the newspaper. "Nine months later, the Navy recalled me to active duty. Did I accept despite everything that happened? Of course I did, and I would do it again. Because I love the Navy and I love my country."

Officer Knight decided to make his sexual orientation known in 2005 while he was in the process of annulling his marriage to his wife. Since that time, he has been open about his sexuality with his commanders and colleagues, many of whom have spoken out in support of him.

“He’s better than the average sailor at his job,” Bill Driver, the leading petty officer of Knight’s 15-person customs crew in Kuwait, told Stars and Stripes. “It’s not at all a strange situation. As open as he is now, it was under wraps for quite a while. It wasn’t an issue at work.”

Steve Ralls, director of communications for the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a national advocacy group for gays and lesbians serving in the military, said the situation flies in the face of the justification for the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

"The Navy has reenlisted an openly gay sailor, which completely undermines the assertion that anyone in the military thinks that gay and lesbian military troops compromise unit cohesion or morale," Ralls said. "Jason has been very out to everyone he serves with, everyone has been very supportive, and it shows that despite an official ban, commanders and other service members are welcoming gays and lesbians and it's not causing any problems in their unit."

Knight is scheduled to finish his tour of duty at the end of June, and Ralls said he is considering trying to find a way to continue his military career. Ralls added that the Navy has declined to comment on this case. (The Advocate)