Bay Area Gay And Lesbian Veterans Celebrate Senate Vote
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- This weekend's vote by the U.S. Senate to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has many Bay Area gay and lesbian veterans rejoicing.
Retired Navy Commander Zoe Dunning has been looking forward to this day for close to two decades.
"When President Bill Clinton made his promise to allow gays to serve openly in the military, I took him on that commitment and Icame out publicly," Dunning said.
KCBS' Mark Seelig Reports:
She became one of the first openly gay service members to do so and subsequently became one of the first to be tried by military prosecutors, who were trying to force her out.
Dunning managed to prevail and remained in the service for 13 more years, but watched as some 14,000 others were kicked out of the military because of their sexual orientation.
Mario Benfield is the commander of American Legion Post 448 in San Francisco, a retired Marine Corp Sergeant who realized he was gay while in the service.
"This is a rebuke to those lawmakers and top generals that would put their honor before the rights and freedom of the American people," he said.
Dunning was moved to tears after watching the vote go down on Saturday.
"After 18 years working on this, I witnessed the end to this destructive policy and these are tears of joy," she said.
Dunning said the work is not over yet as she will continue to push for early implementation of the policy change.
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