An ongoing battle.

I just finished reading the February 14 issue of The Advocate and the cover story "Marching on Washington." Thank you! I served in both the Army and Army Reserve for a total of 26 years, from 1976 through 2002. I first came out during my first tour, back in 1977. I served rather openly at that time due to my lack of "discretion." I was caught with my OIC by my NCOIC. I did not have to "hide" until my last assignment, and I was not overly successful I--have a pride sticker on my car, and my commander was a PFLAG dad.

I was assaulted only once, at a barracks party; my attacker was beaten in return by the rest of the guys in the room and then turned over to the MPs. He was prosecuted and sent to Fort Leavenworth for a 10-year sentence. He tried to use the "gay panic" defense, but the courts-martial beard refused to hear it.

Outside of that single experience, I never had any difficulties being openly gay in the military. Admittedly, I was very insulated, as I was either the HHC clerk or the personnel records clerk. But I was very aware of, and tried to assist, many LGBT service members who were being either harassed or prosecuted. I am very proud of my service, especially since I was technically not supposed to be in the military. I wish our nation would simply wake up and open its eyes regarding LGBTQ rights.

JOHN W. KEEBER via the Internet

Thank you for your continued coverage of "don't ask, don't toil" and the movement to lift the military's ban on lesbian, gay, and bisexual Americans. I must take issue, however, with your characterization of that movement as "suddenly stalled." In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. As you point out in your article, 107 bipartisan members of Congress now support legislation to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." In addition, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network is preparing to bring veterans and activists from across the country to Washington for our fourth annual Lobby Day, in May, to encourage those not yet supporting repeal to do so. Americans are solidly behind the effort to lift the ban, and it is perhaps the most winnable struggle our community is currently waging. Progress takes time, but the battle against the military ban is moving hill steam ahead, and far ahead of schedule.

STEVE RALLS Servicemembers Legal

Defense Network, Washington, D.C.

The impulse to struggle against the Clintonesque policy of "don't ask, don't tell" and stay in the U.S. armed forces might be forgivable for those with zero historical knowledge or those who haven't read a newspaper since 1945. But who is so brain-dead they haven't heard of Korea or Vietnam or missed the invasion of Panama and failed to see what's going on in the "blood for oil" war in Iraq?

The armed forces aren't a neutral force existing to defend the people of the United States. They're a machine that manufactures carnage--they kill, maim, burn, bomb, and destroy at the command of debased, corrupted politicians like Bush 2, Kerry, Clinton, and Bush 1. These politicians in turn do what's in the interests of corporate gangsters. It's an awful error thinking we can gain acceptance by hiring out to kill those who get in the way of corporate greed. Our goal should not be fighting to get into the Army but to get out of it.

The only honest way the movement for gay and lesbian equality can help is to demand that no service members should be subjected to homophobic violence and to demand that all the troops be brought home now.

BILL PERDUE Roseville, Calif.