In interviews with The Associated Press, five partners recalled past challenges trying to conceal their love affairs, spoke of the joy and relief accompanying repeal, and wondered about the extent that they would be welcomed into the broader military family in the future.
Even with repeal imminent, the partners — long accustomed to secrecy — did not want to reveal the full identity of their active-duty loved ones before Tuesday.
Cooper, who works for a large private company, moved from the Midwest to northern Virginia to be near her partner’s current Army post, yet couldn’t fully explain to friends and colleagues why she moved. “It’s been really difficult — it’s really isolated us,’’ she said. “I became much more introverted, more evasive.’’
Cooper said her partner’s Army career is thriving, though she’s had to hide a major component of her personal life.
“I don’t know any of her co-workers,’’ Cooper said. “She says, `You’re the best part of me and I have to pretend you don’t exist.’’’
Looking ahead, Cooper is unsure how same-sex partners will be welcomed by the military establishment.
“Will it be, `Hey, come join all the family support programs’?’’ she wondered. “I’m not going to be so naive as to think that … I’m just hoping the door is open.’’
––
During the long, arduous campaign to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell,’’ activists and advocacy groups tended to downplay issues related to post-repeal benefits for civilian partners. “It’s not something we’ve been pushing very hard for yet, but it’s obviously going to be the next front in the ongoing battle for equality,’’ said Alex Nicholson, executive director of Servicemembers United.
