Korean War Autobiography is gone?
Dec. 18th, 2010 07:57 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fionnbharroI was following an older user on LiveJournal who was writing up his memories of his time in the US Army during the Korean War and about his re-adjustment upon his return home. What made this uniquely interesting was that he was telling his story against the DADT ("Don't Ask / Don't Tell") debate going on, today.
He's a gay man.
He said the hardest part was returning home. Apparently, readjusting to civilian life was more difficult than combat in some aspects. A few months after he returned he was arrested -- swept-up in a raid on a gay bar. He said the shame, the ostracism he faced from family (especially after his photo appeared in the newspaper) -- this was harder than combat in some ways.
So, he's been telling his story, interspersed with comments and observations with the way things have changed in the intervening half-century.
Earlier this week, his LJ entries -- indeed, his whole account -- was gone.
And now I know why: LiveJournal purged his account at the request of New York State.
Apparently, as a gay man with a single conviction for 'Public lewdness' (he allegedly kissed another man while at the bar -- something he denies), he's branded a 'Sex Offender', and by law must register with local authorities.
For being gay.
And New York State does not allow 'sex offenders' to have accounts on 'Social Networking Sites'. By law, apparently, Gay Men in New York State who are arrested simply for being gay over 50 years ago, are a danger to children everywhere and must never be allowed to tell their stories.
Damn them.
He's a gay man.
He said the hardest part was returning home. Apparently, readjusting to civilian life was more difficult than combat in some aspects. A few months after he returned he was arrested -- swept-up in a raid on a gay bar. He said the shame, the ostracism he faced from family (especially after his photo appeared in the newspaper) -- this was harder than combat in some ways.
So, he's been telling his story, interspersed with comments and observations with the way things have changed in the intervening half-century.
Earlier this week, his LJ entries -- indeed, his whole account -- was gone.
And now I know why: LiveJournal purged his account at the request of New York State.
Apparently, as a gay man with a single conviction for 'Public lewdness' (he allegedly kissed another man while at the bar -- something he denies), he's branded a 'Sex Offender', and by law must register with local authorities.
For being gay.
And New York State does not allow 'sex offenders' to have accounts on 'Social Networking Sites'. By law, apparently, Gay Men in New York State who are arrested simply for being gay over 50 years ago, are a danger to children everywhere and must never be allowed to tell their stories.
Damn them.
