El Paso Gay Navy Veteran Reflects On ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Repeal

El Pasoan Jose Rodriguez was happy being a sailor.

But he became a ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ activist following a horrific night at a San Diego gay bar.

Rodriguez says he was drugged, beaten and raped by a group of men. He says someone at the hospital then leaked the details of his attack to another sailor. Word soon spread to Rodriguez’s superior and he was discharged.

“It hurts so much, mentally,” he told ABC-7. “It’s unexplainable.”

Now, Rodriguez says his healing can begin now that President Obama has signed the repeal of the controversial policy banning openly gay men and women from serving in the military.

The repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ may not take affect for months, though.

First, the Pentagon must review the rules and regulations as they stand now.

After that, it will still take another 60 days before the repeal is solidified.

Following his discharge, Rodriguez began touring the country as a gay activist.

“It’s been a tough road,” he said. “But our work has finally paid off.”

Rodriguez says the Department of Veterans Affairs decided his discharge from the Navy was unjust and his military benefits have been restored.

He is in the middle of a lawsuit against the San Diego hospital that leaked the details of his attack.

He says he’ll now take a little time off from activism to get the medical care he still needs.

But he says he will be back.

“There’s a big fight ahead of us,” he said, “Equality across the U.S.”