Dan is a member of the New York National Guard. He appeared at a hearing where a board recommended he be discharged. That recommendation requires review and approval at higher levels. Dan’s discharge has never been finalized.

After his board recommended discharge, Dan was not included in regular drill… until recently. This past week, his commander – who has always been supportive of Dan – contacted him to rejoin his unit in weekend drill.

This is not the same as “active duty” – National Guard units CAN be activated, or called to active duty, but Dan’s unit has not.

This is not a change in Army policy, nor any action from “higher headquarters” that we are aware of. I would view it as a recognition by his unit that Dan’s discharge may, after all, NOT be confirmed by the Army.
That said, Dan’s unit welcomed him back, and he spent a very full weekend practicing Infantry tactics and lifesaving procedures with them. Dan has never lost the respect of his fellow Soldiers, even as an out Gay man, and he will continue to do his job as an Infantry officer for as long as he is allowed.
- Sue Fulton, West Point ’80, Communications Director, Knights Out

Unless the military starts letting all LGBT serve openly from now on, I can’t fathom any good intentions being the basis of reinstating a gay man back to his natural guard position.

That way you cause people to let their guard down by letting them think that they are winning. It’s quite clever, and it is what I think their reason was for reinstating him back to duty. But that’s just my opinion.