-Jericka Duncan
Originally written 6/30/2008; WIVB-TV Channel 4 in Buffalo, NY
Former-Army Sgt. Darren Manzella loves his country. But, his love for boyfriend AJ, violates a 15 year-old military policy, "Don't ask Don't tell." It's a policy that says openly gay soldiers are to be discharged.
The army medic told his commander in 2006 he was gay. This month he was officially discharged.
Darren Manzella, said, "The closest thing I was given was I don't care if you're gay or not."
The 30-year-old Chautauqua County native says it wasn't until his appearance in December of 2007 on CBS's 60 minutes that the army took action. By March of this year, he says the Army sent him a letter informing him that he was being recommended for discharge because he violated "Don't Ask Don't tell."
Darren Manzella, said, "The people that enforce this policy are an older generation from when homosexuality was banned all together. There was no "Don't Ask Don't Tell," there was just no tolerance for that."
Some from that older generation agree. Russ Link, Veteran in Buffalo, said, "There are so many gay guys and gals in the military back in the 50s." Russ Link of Buffalo is a Korean War Veteran. He served in the Army from 1950 to 1954. Link said, "I had a boyfriend who was in the British Army."
When a service member saw him kissing his boyfriend Link denied it ever happened. He wasn't discharged but he was downgraded from a Bomb Damage assessor to a photographer.
His longtime friend, Jim Estep, who served in the Navy as a pilot from '54 to '64 says "Don't ask Don't Tell" was the unofficial policy back then.
Jim Estep, said, "Your squadron mates could know you were gay but no one said anything about it. You did your job and it didn't become public knowledge."
More than 50 years later Department of Defense spokesman defends the policy calling homosexual conduct is incompatible with service.
Darren Manzella, said, "It has to do with the different environments that military work is compared to say many of your civilian jobs. The 24 hours seven days a week and sometimes the environment you're in very close quarters."
Meanwhile Manzella continues his fight to repeal a rule that would allow openly gay soldiers the right to serve their country. Manzella currently lives in Washington D.C. He works for the Service Members Legal Defense Network, an organization working to repeal the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy.