1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:02,680 So I've been in about a decade and the 2 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,680 biggest difference I've seen before 3 00:00:04,680 --> 00:00:06,736 leaders when they try to engage with 4 00:00:06,736 --> 00:00:08,902 their airmen , it's not something that 5 00:00:08,902 --> 00:00:08,730 would really talk about and now it's 6 00:00:08,730 --> 00:00:10,786 something that's openly spoken about 7 00:00:10,786 --> 00:00:12,508 and actually bringing concerns 8 00:00:12,508 --> 00:00:14,730 especially with suicidal rates being as 9 00:00:14,730 --> 00:00:16,841 high as they are . Being able to have 10 00:00:16,841 --> 00:00:18,952 those conversations really helps with 11 00:00:18,952 --> 00:00:18,830 the whole airmen concept and leadership , 12 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,007 being able to take care of their men . 13 00:00:21,007 --> 00:00:23,229 So I've been in for nearly 12 years . I 14 00:00:23,229 --> 00:00:25,396 joined before . Don't ask , don't tell 15 00:00:25,396 --> 00:00:27,618 one away . I have a girlfriend , I have 16 00:00:27,618 --> 00:00:29,840 two kids and I'm glad that the military 17 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:32,007 sees us as equal and my family can get 18 00:00:32,007 --> 00:00:34,118 the same benefits entitlements and we 19 00:00:34,118 --> 00:00:35,951 were able to put our spouses and 20 00:00:35,951 --> 00:00:38,090 significant others and beers , the 21 00:00:38,090 --> 00:00:41,230 acceptance of like of our community 22 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,970 definitely opens doors to just allowing 23 00:00:43,970 --> 00:00:46,580 us to work more confidently more openly 24 00:00:46,580 --> 00:00:48,580 and more of ourselves goes into the 25 00:00:48,580 --> 00:00:51,640 work we do . So having that opportunity 26 00:00:51,650 --> 00:00:54,360 allows us to contribute to the full 27 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,582 extent of our capabilities . One of the 28 00:00:56,582 --> 00:00:58,804 great things about celebrating pride in 29 00:00:58,804 --> 00:01:00,971 the military is that it builds a sense 30 00:01:00,971 --> 00:01:03,193 of community for our members . A lot of 31 00:01:03,193 --> 00:01:05,360 us , we often feel alone . So for me , 32 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,510 I joined the LGBT community facebook 33 00:01:07,510 --> 00:01:09,454 page and I actually met my husband 34 00:01:09,454 --> 00:01:11,621 there now we're starting the surrogacy 35 00:01:11,621 --> 00:01:13,930 journey and having our first kid . So I 36 00:01:13,930 --> 00:01:16,530 joined after don't ask don't tell , but 37 00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:18,373 because of stereotypes about the 38 00:01:18,373 --> 00:01:20,318 military , my mom was very worried 39 00:01:20,318 --> 00:01:22,540 about me joining and she scared me into 40 00:01:22,540 --> 00:01:24,707 going to basic and not telling anybody 41 00:01:24,707 --> 00:01:26,873 who I was , but eventually I got close 42 00:01:26,873 --> 00:01:26,320 enough on my flight and I told them 43 00:01:26,330 --> 00:01:28,550 nobody cared . And that made me feel 44 00:01:28,550 --> 00:01:30,606 really good . It doesn't matter what 45 00:01:30,606 --> 00:01:32,772 race , sexuality , gender , it doesn't 46 00:01:32,772 --> 00:01:35,740 matter where you come from . It's when 47 00:01:35,740 --> 00:01:37,907 you put on the uniform , you represent 48 00:01:37,907 --> 00:01:40,073 America . It's also being proud of who 49 00:01:40,073 --> 00:01:42,460 took the stand before us so that we can 50 00:01:42,460 --> 00:01:45,560 get where we are today . Mhm .