Four Army veterans discussed their experience under the federal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy during a forum, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: In the Post-9/11 World,” Thursday night.

Jarrod Chlapowski, Patrick English, Fred Fox and Alexander Nicholson are homosexuals who are members of the “Call to Duty – National College Speaking Tour” meant to bring awareness of the policy and discussion as to why it should be overturned.

The law isn’t just “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” but is really “Don’t be found out,” Nicholson said. He said the law was a compromise between those who don’t want homosexuals to serve at all and those who feel it doesn’t matter – so long as homosexuals remain anonymous, they may serve without problems.

Nicholson said he was discharged because a few men on his platoon had a problem with his sexuality and chose to inform his superior.

Howard Hammond, Story County resident and veteran, said that he was upset that America would turn away military service.

“Not only is it discriminatory, but it is costing us millions,” Hammond said.

He said that he found no fault with those whom he served with and found the policy a little un-American.

“I think the question we need to ask ourselves in 2006 is ‘Do we really care if someone who is gay translates a key piece of information that would save American lives?'” he said.

Chlapowski said he joined basic training to establish his masculinity, but came to realize that masculinity had nothing to do with sexuality.

“I came out to my best friend and his response was, ‘That’s okay. I’m gay, too,'” he said. “One by one I told my friends and family and received nothing but a positive response.”

There are homosexuals serving openly in the military, but only a small percent are ever discharged, Nicholson said.

He said the policy allows those who are homophobic to harass and ruin the military career of those who want to serve.

“We have bigots who serve, but we don’t have a policy that favors bigots,” Nicholson said. “We do have a policy that favors homophobes.”

The policy can be used to abuse the system and lets individuals leave the army for a better-paying job once they receive training, Nicholson said.

“It’s not that we want to come out or march in the pride parade,” he said. “We just want to serve without this cloud of fear hanging over our heads that you are going to be discharged if you come out.”