September 20, 2011 marked the official end of the the U.S. military’s controversial Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy, which mandated openly gay and bisexual military service members be discharged from the Armed Forces. Jeremy Johnson ’12, sociology, was one of over 14,000 service members discharged under DADT, and one of many who now plans to return to service.
In an interview on PRI’s “The World,” Johnson describes the impact the policy has had on his life and career, and his current plan to return to the Navy. Until he finishes his degree, Johnson plans to return as a reservist, saying, “Even if it’s only devoting one week a month, I want to get back to it.” When asked why, he responded, “I never really wanted to leave. I felt forced to write [a resignation] letter because I was compromising my integrity and… being treated unequally. Now that that’s gone, I really don’t see any other barriers… I’m ready to go back.”
Johnson is also featured in a Baltimore Sun story on how Baltimoreans have celebrated the repeal of DADT.
