I am an intelligent, fit woman who is very interested in joining the Coast Guard Reserve. I have a bachelor's degree in International Relations, and I will be studying for a second one in Geology because I would like to work in environmental protection and restoration. My interests include kenpo karate and cycling.
However, I am also a lesbian.
I very much understand that under the "Don't Ask. Don't Tell. Don't Pursue. Don't Harass." policy, I can still be discharged, fired, if anybody in the military finds out about my sexual orientation. That's clear. Of course, I expect that I will need to be discrete, possibly celibate.
Rather, I would like to know more about the United States Coast Guard culture. There is plenty of information on attitudes about gender in Army and Navy culture, but hardly any information on the USCG.
I curious to hear from the forum (especially from female Coasties and queer Coasties & their partners) about how hostile, friendly or ambivalent I should expect the USCG to be toward me and more generally, to people who are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgendered. Should I expect more to be un-welcome or to have my privacy respected?
I am particularly concerned about the the following:
*Lesbian-baiting, accusations against a woman of being a lesbian if she turns down a date, is too intelligent, does her job too well, has a short haircut, is athletic, has queer friends, doesn't marry, etc.
*Witch hunting, being deliberately outed by somebody else.
*Common use of homophobic language, such as calling someone a "faggot" or saying, "That' gay," as an insult.
Honest, detailed replies will be much appreciated. Thank you. |