As the Senate soon begins its deliberations on repealing the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the armed forces, the military service record of the Bay Area's out retired Navy commander belies everything repeal detractors have to say.
Until her retirement three years ago, Commander Zoe Dunning was the only openly gay service member serving her country. She not only fought but also prevailed in her discharge procedures, while continuing to serve throughout a two-and-a-half year legal battle in the mid-1990s.
Dunning is one of the celebrity grand marshals in Sunday's San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. Her presence in the parade is likely to continue the spotlight on the federal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, just as it did last year with the participation in the parade of Army Lieutenant Dan Choi, who also was a celebrity grand marshal.
Altogether, Dunning, 45, served as an openly gay naval officer for 13 years, a distinction no one else can claim.
Meanwhile, DADT defenders say someone like Dunning somehow undermines military readiness, effectiveness, unit cohesion, and recruitment and retention.
But Dunning's experience �" like other out service members, some currently stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan �" tells an entirely different story.
"Coming out didn't hurt [unit cohesion, morale, good order and discipline] at all," she said recently in a phone interview. "In fact it helped. I no longer had to hide who I was. I began to socialize with unit members where I didn't before because I was too afraid something would slip out of my mouth about the fact I was a lesbian or about what I had done over the weekend."
Initially, Dunning said, fellow unit members �" she served as a Naval Reserve supply corps officer at a naval aviation rework facility, located in Alameda �" were surprised about her decision to come out. "'Hey, you're a great unit member and shipmate, why would you put yourself at risk, unnecessary risk,'" she said, recalling her colleagues' reactions.
But over time, "They were just fine with [my being out]," Dunning said. Better yet, "I was able to relax, without having to worry that I was going to lose my career and retirement."
A funny thing happened on the way to Dunning's stellar, 22-year career: The units she commanded continued to get commendations, while Dunning continued to earn medals and promotions, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, as well as the Commendation Medal. In fact, the Navy promoted her twice. Ironically, she learned of her promotion to lieutenant commander between one of her two discharge proceedings.
Then a lieutenant, Dunning came out publicly as a lesbian at a 1993 rally in support of Keith Meinhold, who was kicked out of the Navy after he outed himself during a prime time television program. The rally was held outside the gates of Moffett Field near Sunnyvale. Off-handedly, organizers asked her if she would like to speak.
"I began to run over and over in my mind, what would I say if I were to say something," Dunning said. "In working out a speech in my head, it was important to me to give voice to my experience. I had a good record to go on, a Naval Academy graduate and Stanford MBA. If they are going to kick me out, that speaks to how stupid this policy is."
Within a 36-hour period, Dunning made up her mind, and decided to speak.
"The rest is history," she said.
In fact, as recounted by Tom Carpenter, a speaker at Dunning's 2007 retirement ceremony, the navy took "immediate action that led to a two-year struggle." Her defense, Carpenter said, was saying that her sexual orientation was not conduct but was status.
The Navy, not surprisingly, quickly issued a memo stating that defense "would never work again," Carpenter said, "but left Zoe in the service."
Dunning came out at a time before such widespread attention was paid to the DADT policy. Today, about 78 percent of the American public supports gays and lesbians being able to serve openly in the military. The issue is currently widely discussed in the mainstream media. President Barack Obama addressed DADT in his State of the Union address in January. "This year," he said, "I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are."
Dunning said she hoped to help change the policy when she came out.
"The whole reason for coming out was to make a difference, to change the law so that gays and lesbians who wanted to serve in the military could have the opportunity," Dunning explained.
And yet, she added, "My legal victory was bittersweet. It enabled me to serve, but I was not able to go into federal court and challenge the constitutionality of the law."
Today, Dunning continues working to bring about positive change. For a good part of the last two decades, she has served on the board of directors of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization providing moral support and legal services to members of the armed forces affected by DADT. Since 2006, she has served as board co-chair.
"The SLDN board is another way for me to make a difference," Dunning said.
And that she has, said SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis, who praised her "extraordinary dedication to get rid of 'Don't, Ask, Don't Tell.'"
"She inspires me ever day," Sarvis said.
Altogether, Dunning said, she is both "optimistic" and "impatient" now, with the Senate poised for action. Last month the Senate Armed Services Committee passed an amendment repealing DADT as part of the Pentagon's budget. The House of Representatives also approved the amendment. The full Senate is expected to take up the matter soon.
Still, "It's frustrating that everyday somebody is getting fired because of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" she said, referring to the fact that the policy remains in force.
Dunning's impatience may well propel her to run for public office.
"I am currently going through training with Emerge," she said, referring to an organization that prepares Democratic women who wish to run for elective office.
"After all these years trying to influence decision makers, I want to be a decision maker," Dunning said.
Although not yet sure what office she might seek, Dunning explained her motivation by quoting openly gay Missouri state Senator Jolie Justus, who Dunning, with a chuckle, credits with this line: "I always say if you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu."
Added Dunning, "Part of me wants to be at that table."