I had a choice of roommates. A straight dickhead or a gay guy with issues. (Don’t we all?). However Mark was intelligent, engaging and a friend. His dissections of movie plots were genius. He was a 702 which is the military way of saying a person worked in the office. One day after a Commander’s Call with our weather unit, we were walking back to the barracks and about four guys were calling him names I will not mention. When I saw the look on Mark’s face it was enough for me to retaliate in kind and this was in an era before DADT.
No fight just a threat because I was an NCO (SSgt) and they were little weenies and I would have gone after them if I could. Anyhow, it is not what a person likes if it is legal but what kind of person they are to others.
As I said, Mark has his problems and of course being gay and being out front about it, was a method to get kicked out. His behavior escalated eventually he was wearing lipstick and mascara and leadership had enough. Regardless, he was and I hope is doing well. Above all, he lived the way he felt was the best for him and who am I to judge. I did learn something about humans though and I am forever grateful for that.
After getting out I had a gay roommate again and he was okay but one of his friends was not. His friend said the place stunk of fish, regarding my girlfriend. After he left I went to Ray and told him if I ever heard anything like that again that I would kick his ass. So again, tolerating and accepting is kind of fluid, but what is not subjective is common decency. I do not care who you are if you are being a shit, I am going to let you know.
No need for bro slaps or mancaves!
Floyd, Times Are Changin 