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phone number. I left him a message thanking him for what he
did. Six months later we started dating.
This is important context because not only was I at the
March on Washington, but I was there with a bit of a celebrity.
Tracy’s Nightline appearance had helped start a national debate
about the rights of gays to serve in the military. As we marched
down Constitution Avenue, toward the Capitol, various
photographers were taking pictures of us. One approached us
and asked for my name. I watched him write it down. He said,
“Thank you” and disappeared.
The next day this picture appeared on the front page of my
hometown newspaper:
It occupied the entire section above the fold. The caption
named both Tracy and me. This was basically my “catch-all”
coming out. Every teacher, neighbor, acquaintance or childhood
friend that didn’t know that I was gay, now did. With a single
picture, I was “OUT.”