You are all very right. In most situations I think you're right. I can probably keep my head down and make it through, but the additional issue is that I am in a highly trained and technical job that handles classified information and operates with honesty and integrity as a core requirement. I'm a nuclear operator. There is no second chane or over-looking in this community. If they get the whiff (say, ex-wife mentions it to a friend who puts it on Facebook, or a friend sees a bottle of perfume in my bathroom and puts it all together) now I am under investigation for a psychological disorder. Even denying everything will still keep me from doing my job as the investigation disqualifies me (guilty until proven innocent), and unless a lie and purge everything before they see it, I'm done.
Honestly the biggest problem I have is that I don't want to serve dishonestly in a field where I AS THE INSTRUCTOR get to influence and train young sailors to be honest and have the balls to stand up to anyone when they are right. I hate hypocrites...wouldn't that make me one?
I am going to wait for the SLDN. Working a few extra days under this new information wont bother me...but maybe this is a chance to stand up for the T part of LGBT. I am still going to go to my LGBT church and the CATS support group this weekend. That's what I meant by coming out of the closet. I was going to come out to immediate family and start openly talking about it with a civilian support group...but I don't think THAT will be safe if getting 'caught' is an immediate negative discharge. Now, if it's still likely to be honorable and civilian power plants don't care...well, life goes on then. Maybe I should get discharged and fight against a stupid policy. Can't fight it in here...
