A Gay Marine Porn Star???

Yep, there are such people, and one even had the nerve to write about it. (THREE CHEERS FOR HIM!!!)

Earlier this week I finished reading Secretes Of A Gay Marine Porn Star by Rich Merritt. This is a memoir which actually tells the truth, a very rare find indeed. Fact is, I can't remember ever reading one that does'nt gloss over the bad parts to make the author look better.

Rich Merritt accurately wrote about everything from his upbringing in the never-never land of Bob Jones University all the way through his distinguished career as an officer in the USMC and beyond.

WARNING TO THOSE LOOKING FOR A "ONE-HANDER," THIS AIN'T!

Rich Merritt was literally born and raised in the center Bob Jones' country. His home was just outside of Piedmont, South Carolina. His family is made up of "born agains" back through I don't know how many generations.

Being raised in a fundie household is bad enough, but Rich Merritt got the full dose of guilt by the militant Bob Jones crew from the first grade all the way though BJU until he was expelled from BJU, with but one semester left for graduation. (Ironically, it was not for being gay.) Adding to his compulsive masochism, Rich enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve while he was still in BJU. It was also at this point Rich was going through the period of "knowing he was different" that all of us go through.

(As a reader, I decided that Rich Merritt was either a born masochist, or a guy who just had to "prove" his masculinity by joining the Marines as a "grunt" rather than going into Officers Training School.)

Rich eventually did go to Officers Training School and work his way up to the rank of Captain. During this time he finally admitted that he was gay and even managed to have his first sexual experiences and make some friends of other gay Marines, and one very special str8 friend who would prove himself many times in the future.

Rich also found out how stupid the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy was. He knew many fine Marines of all ranks who were serving in the stifling closet created by a Congress and command generals who would'nt recognize the truth if it bit them.

Rich began to rebel against this policy, first by doing a few strip shows for str8 women; and by making some very gay porn films.

Even after these rebellious actions, Rich remained untouched by the rumors that he was gay and was chosen for the post of Aide-de-Camp to a Major General!

After serving his stint as an Aide-de-Camp, he was given his own command which is the dream of every officer worth his salt.

* * *

I'll end my synopsis here and give you the opinion of a former Army brat and gay man who has lived life long enough to see history repeat itself.

Rich Merritt is an excellent writer who produced a book that I would recommend to anyone who wanted or needed to know the truth about being gay in a homophobic military establishment.

When I started my way through the Gay Rights Movement, one of the main reasons was so that I could, hopefully, make life easier for gay youths in the generations to come. In some ways, we have succeeded; however, I still see the ignorance and intolerance we fought so hard against rearing it's head during these times that the neopharisees would like to turn the government of our country into a theocracy.

Rich Merritt's naivete is at times extremely funny for those of us who had similar experiences. There are also times when it is very painful if you have any empathy at all.

However, this is a book which should be read by any who still feel the guilt of being "different." In my opinion that would make it a multimillion seller because most people I know, including myself, have never really forgiven ourselves for being who God created us to be.

Even though Rich has a law degree and was working for a very prestigious law firm in Atlanta, I've read that his purgatory still continues because they fired him when they found out this book was being published.

Buy this book and read it, my friends. There will be times when you laugh uproariously; and times when tears will come to your eyes. There will even be times when you want to throw it across the room in disgust. But, for all that, you will be not only a better informed person, but a stronger one.

May the God or Gods you worship bless you and give you good health.