Commander Franklin on his retirement day, July 1, 1996, walking through a group of four honorary “side boys” with his mother at the Pentagon.

emember the days in the 1990's‘

when men and women in the mili-

tary were publicly coming out of
the closet in droves  people such as
Joseph Steffan and Margarethe
Cammermeyenamong many others?

And after many of them started coming
out of the closet, they promptly came out of the
military — most due simply to their admission
that they were gay. By doing so, many of them
made national headlines.

Well, I was there. Right in the middle of
it. Except I never came out of the closet. And I
didn’t come out of the military until I retired.

Adfnittedly, my retirement was a year
earlier than the normal 20 years — an early “out”
when Congress was downsizing the military —
but I retired officially, with Mom on my arm,
walking through a row of saluting officers and a
proper reception to follow.

With a few differences. My lover was
also there. But as just a “friend.” Several gay
acquaintances were there. More “friends.” One
of my best straight friends from past Navy years
gave a glowing eulogy to my contributions to the

"x*c.g_xa -.

Livin inthe  
  Shadows
°' Heroes

, Should I have come out? .
Did I compromise my values?
Could I have made a difference?
by Chuck Franklin   g e  e  

.323.

   

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