Gay servicemember fights for freedom he doesn't quite have
While riding in a helicopter in Iraq, gay U.S. serviceman "Joe" took an AK-47 bullet in the abdomen. The bullet sliced out part of his liver and barely missed his spine. Today, he takes a multitude of medications. Some days, he can’t even drink water without getting sick. But the daily pill popping isn’t the hardest thing for Joe to swallow. Living in the closet despite nearly two decades of decorated military service bothers him more than his injuries. Joe offers a rare and detailed look into the life of a closeted servicemember. "I have fought for half my life for freedom," he says. "I'm fighting for a free country, but I’m basically not living in one if I can't be who I am."
Houston Voice
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