I hope the hubski hive-mind doesn't object to the poetry-spamming I've been doing this week. I reckon you can always ignore it.

In the early to mid nineties, my spouse wrote a heap of short poems, and we went to open mic poetry sessions where she'd read them. The ones I've posted are a few of my favourites. This one isn't her best poem, but there's some history here. The case of Ensign Steffan was real, and was part of what led to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. In my opinion, DADT really made Americans take the gay rights movement more seriously. Before that, gays could be dismissed more easily as a fringe group, "others"; being forced to accept the reality of gay people serving and dying for their country was a new thing.

ENSIGN STEFFAN

He was a handsome boy,

smart and brave and strong.

He longed to serve his country,

He knew it all along.

A model for the Navy

at leadership – the best,

but there was a nasty rumor

so they put him to the test.

“Are you a homosexual?”

he gave them truth, “Yes, Sir!”

so they deemed him foul, unworthy,

but a judge did not concur.

“There is no logic here.” he said,

and brought the gavel down.

“Equality under the law…”

and it made the Navy frown.

So, now he is an Ensign.

In the land of the brave, you see:

‘Til all are free to be their best

No one is truly free.

-- Caroll Houser