File:Be Free (5282975317).jpg

English: In April of '93, I took a trip with my friend Ginger to Washington D.C. We didn't go for a vacation or fun, but to march. We both felt strongly that the time had come for gay men and women to be treated as equals. Of course, not everybody felt that way, and almost 20 years later, still don’t.

In 1993, Clinton was in office and many thought things would change. He campaigned on the promise to allow all citizens to serve in the military regardless of sexual orientation. But then a policy of "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_ask,_don't_tell" rel="nofollow">Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue</a>" was made as a compromise. This did not sit well with many in the GLBT community and they <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_on_Washington_for_Lesbian,_Gay_and_Bi_Equal_Rights_and_Liberation" rel="nofollow">marched</a>.

During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama called for an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Soon after his election, it became clear that this would be delayed again. Finally, this month, the Senate introduced a repeal act, followed by the House passing a identical bill. The Senate passed that bill and on December 22, 2010, <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/12/22/president-signs-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell-out-many-we-are-one" rel="nofollow">President Obama signed the bill into law</a>.

It's been a long journey, but now it's time for those who serve to be free.

UPDATE: The U.S. military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy officially ended at 12:01 am EST Tuesday. The official memo sent to soldiers announcing the repeal, can be seen at the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/09/19/National-Politics/Graphics/DA-Tri-signed-dadt-repeal-cert.pdf" rel="nofollow">Washington Post</a>.

UPDATE: Today (June 26, 2015) in a 5-4 decision, the <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages" rel="nofollow">Supreme Court declared that same-sex marriage needs to be legal in all 50 states</a>. I am so happy to see this day finally come to fruition.

Get a <a href="http://fiveprime.org/blackmagic" rel="nofollow">better view</a> or <a href="http://loc.alize.us/#/flickr:5282975317" rel="nofollow">see where this picture was taken.</a>

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Photo Details: Shot with a Canon AE-1 using Kodak Tri-X B&W Film on April 25, 1993 during the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. Scanned with Nikon Super Coolscan 9000ED. Processed in Lightroom to adjust exposure, reduce grain and crop.