Seating at the USO was sold out for the first ever Pride Month Celebration on Fort Leonard Wood Monday.
"We are so grateful that we live in a nation where equality and justice remain the cry of our heart," said Capt. Sharon Browne, 169th Engineer Battalion chaplain, during the invocation.
After a film on the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the guest speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa Duncan, 787th Military Police Battalion, addressed the crowd of more than 250 people.
"Today I am going to be transparent about my personal life, which is difficult for me, as I have only focused on my professional life," Duncan said.
"About two months ago, I was asked to be the guest speaker for this event. At first I was apprehensive and asked for some time to think about it. I waited a couple of days and then asked my wife what she thought about it. To my dismay, she was excited and told me to do it and that she supported me," she added.
Even with her wife's support, Duncan said she was still apprehensive about speaking at Monday's luncheon.
"I came up in the Army when being a female was accepted by the Army, yet not so accepted by the Soldiers within. It was a tough time, but I had to remember it was the women before me who laid the path for my future in the Army, and I realize now it is my turn to lay the path for those who still do not feel accepted or who are in fear to be themselves," Duncan said.
She recounted her Army career for the audience, starting with entering the Military Police Regiment to becoming a command sergeant major on Fort Leonard Wood.
"I entered the Army in 1990. At the time, society and the armed forces viewed lesbians and gays of having a mental disorder of instability. As well, the Armed forces reported lesbians and gays were more vulnerable for blackmail since they had to live secret lives," Duncan said.
"I remember sitting at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Chicago and an investigator for my clearance asked me if I was a homosexual. Of course I wasn't, I didn't have a disorder nor was I vulnerable for anything. I even had a boyfriend. I had found a few women attractive, but that was normal, right?"
Duncan said she was so focused on being a good military police officer that dating wasn't that important, but when she did find herself more attracted to females she struggled with that because being a Soldier was her top priority, and she didn't want to jeopardize her career.
After several deployments and lonely homecomings, she decided she wanted more out of life and a best friend to share it with -- that is when she met her wife.
"Over the next two and a half years at Fort Riley, (Kan.) our friends knew, they didn't ask and we didn't tell," Duncan said.
She talked about an open lesbian couple that she worked with in Kansas that helped her to be more confident in her decision.
"They were a dual military same sex couple, and they were getting married. All their friends knew and they hid nothing from anyone. They were and still are so respected and courageous," Duncan said.
When her Family moved to Fort Leonard Wood, Duncan said she was still uneasy about introducing her wife to others. But, when she finally did, she said she was relieved.
"I introduced (her) as my wife. I was stunned that it came out, however my regimental command sergeant major didn't miss a beat. He hugged her, congratulated us and welcomed her here to Fort Leonard Wood," Duncan said.
She closed her speech by answering a few questions she often gets. One of those was, if she was upset that it took so long for the Army to acknowledge and allow equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender service members.
"I do feel for the 114,000 service members who were removed from service, many after fighting for our freedom. However, I do believe everything happens for a reason. I hold no grudges and have no regrets," Duncan said.
The last question was if she has such a successful career, why would she open herself up for vulnerability and ridicule by speaking at the Pride Month Luncheon.
"No one is harder on a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer person, than themselves. For every person I came out to, took so much courage, energy and anxiety -- yet most already knew. The Army wants more transparent leaders, so our Soldiers can better relate to us and become better future leaders. The Army is also asking us to be authentic leaders, to be like my three mentors -- not just accept who we are individually but accept those around us, even when they are not like us, stop judging and taking away another's worth. Treat all with dignity and respect."
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