I learned the principles of duty and honor, service and integrity as a cadet at West Point. With a degree in Arabic Language I knew that my skills could play an important role in a mission much greater than myself. As an infantry officer in the US Army, I have served my country in Iraq where we placed the mission before our own personal agendas. We do not run and hide from our responsibilities, from our duty. In the face of danger, we stand up. Together. We lace up our boots and march. Together. We fight. Together.

I served with my unit on an extended tour of duty where we taught our Iraqi friends that they should never divide their country based on their identities. We warned the Iraqis against stripping rights away from one minority to appease another minority. We demanded their unity for the sake of their families, for the sake of their country, for the sake of their values. When I returned home from Iraq, I found myself in a love relationship for the first time in my life. I could not accept that my own country would strip my rights to this love, this support, this family. I stood and volunteered to fight for my country, for our freedom to gather, speak, practice faith, and share our love. But the moment I spoke honestly of myself, and of my love, I was fired. I was fired but I do not stop fighting. I am putting my boots on once again to march for everything our country stands for: equality, freedom, love.

The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy is immoral. It forces our soldiers to lie and hide for fear of getting fired. It infects our families, communities, churches, teams and units with the poison of half-truths, deception, fear and terror. No soldier serving our country in harm’s way deserves this crippling poison. Our country and its values are compromised every day this law stays on our books. Stand against it. March against it. Fight against it. Not for yourselves but for the soldiers who are not free to speak up.

I’m calling on all veterans, all our military members, past and present, all Americans, young and old, black or white, gay or straight: March with us. You answered the call to serve your country before, but the war is not over. Answer the call again and march against the injustice of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Answer the call and march with us against discrimination, against lying, against hiding, against fear, against deception and terror. March with us.