Daniel B. Johnson
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps (1965-1969)
When I joined the Marines in 1965, sexual orientation was not an issue. Most often, it was socially unacceptable, and those who were out chose a non-military path different. I knew I was gay in my teens. I accepted it and was comfortable with it. I neither proclaimed it nor did I hide it. I have always believed and still do, that your sexual practice is your own business. I choose to be recognized as a person first and as an American second. Beyond that I just happen to be gay.
My military service during the late 1960s required that I be attentive to my duties. I performed my job well and was promoted very quickly. In each of my stations, Camp Pendleton, Hawaii and Okinawa, my superiors knew of my sexual orientation. As noncommissioned officer, I was put in charge of a platoon and many of my peers knew I was gay. It was never an issue.
In Vietnam, I worked in the air wing with helicopters, mostly in Da-Nang — where it was extremely dangerous. I never experienced any discrimination. Personally, I believe those who worked for me and those I worked for respected my abilities and I respected them. Sexual orientation, theirs or mine, was not a priority. Most of my immediate buddies were straight, two happened to be gay. No one felt challenged or uncomfortable. If you are confident in yourself as a person, others will respond to you in kind.
I am proud of who I was then and who I am now. Being a person who is gay is only part of me. I am a person first. I am very out and have been for a very long time. I also have been HIV+ for 20 years. From the day I got my test results, I have been open, both at work and at home. I took it as an opportunity to educate others and to diminish the stigma that accompanies minority issues.
I am proud of what is going on to diminish the stigma of being gay. Diversity in our society is what makes us strong. The Human Rights Campaign and other groups are making great strides politically, but it is up to individuals to break the discrimination chain. We should not isolate ourselves by creating a separation of "gay" and "straight." By being respectful of others and tolerant of ourselves, each of us can break the barriers — one person at a time.