Gay former Marine walks over 200 miles to ask Sen. Webb (D-VA) to support DADT repeal

On the Road to Repeal DADT Now

On Thursday, May 20th, I began my walk from Norfolk, Virginia to Washington, D.C., on a personal quest to bring much needed public attention to the consequences of the current DADT law and to gather support from local communities.

The first day of my walk took me through Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News. People would look at me with curiosity as I walked down Highway 60 headed North towards Richmond. Occasionally, a few people would approach me and assume I was in the military (green Voices of Honor t-shirt and a camouflage backpack) and ask if I was training. When I let them know that I was on my way to Washington, D.C. (by foot), their mouths would drop and the first thing they would ask is “why the hell don’t you drive?” I informed them I was doing this to bring attention to the current “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy and to ask Senator Webb, one Marine to another, to support repeal. I tell them I was discharged from the Marines under this policy, a year after I had enlisted.

I’ve generally received three types of responses: “That’s insane!”, “They still do that?” and “How do I get ahold of Senator Webb?”

Later that evening, I met an active duty Marine who had to be no older than 23 years old. He had locked his keys in his car and I offered to help him unlock his car (successfully I may add). I told him I was in the Marines as well and told him I was on my way to DC to ask Webb to support repeal. This Marine said, “this law is outdated and nobody really cares anymore about someone’s private life.” He signed one of the post cards and wrote in big letters, ACTIVE DUTY MARINE.

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Former Marine treks through Hampton to fight Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Walker Burtschell is gay, but serving in the Marines meant he had to hide who he truly was.

"It was always a dream of mine to serve," he said.

Burtschell's dream became a nightmare after being outed by a Navy psychiatrist stemming from an incident with one of his friend's roommates.

The 27-year-old from Miami is walking over 200 miles from Norfolk to Washington, D.C., in advance of a vote Thursday in Congress on repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

The controversial law, which was passed in 1993, restricts the military from witch-hunting secretly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members or applicants, while barring openly gay or bisexual people from joining the military, and discharging those already serving. More than 13,500 servicemen and women have been discharged from the military due to Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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