Interview With Rob, the Latest Cast-off from I Want To Work For Diddy
August 18, 2008 by Lynn
[Photo: © VH1]
This week we saw the exit of Rob from I Want to Work for Diddy and he has a lot to say about his role as a gay man in society. As you all may know, Rob is an Iraq War Veteran and was forced to live under the guiding principle of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” while in the military. Now that he is out of the army and on a reality show, he is able to speak more freely about his personal life and preferences. Rob recently did an interview with VH1 about his elimination. Here’s an excerpt:
You were made to look like you dropped the ball on this week’s challenge. Is there anything you want to clear up about that?
The most difficult part about watching that and about my time on the show so far is that I got out of the military five years ago. Since I’ve gotten out of the military, I got a B.A. in advertising and communications from Syracuse University. I’m a published writer. I’ve done all these things, and it seemed to me that it was more convenient to portray me as an Iraq War veteran and nothing else. Being a soldier isn’t who I am, it’s something that I did.
Were you on the ground in Iraq?
Yes. I was an infantryman. If we had a mission, I was one of the ones on the ground executing it.
Is it possible to sum up that experience?
I’m gonna try. I’m writing a memoir about my time in the military.
I assume that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be a big part of that book?
Absolutely. My experience as somebody who’s a black gay male that served in the military and was deployed twice is uniquely my own. One of the reasons why I did the show and one of the reasons I was open about my sexuality and that I’m a veteran was to shed some light on this. It’s one of the most unfair things going on right now. It’s absurd. The things they say to justify the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy are unfounded.
Hateful. Did you see the recent 60 Minutes segment about this? I don’t know what his rank was, but some military official was expressing vehement support of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. His rationale came down to the fact that his intolerance and discomfort should be everyone’s problem.
People who support Don’t Ask Don’t Tell choose to insult the intelligence of everyone in the United States Military by saying that they’re not mature or smart enough to handle the same rules that go on in the civilian sector. There are all these anti-discrimination laws in the civilian sector. Why can’t that be in the military? The fact that there’s a troop shortage and such an enlistment problem right now, and yet they’re kicking people out and not letting them be who they are. It’s ridiculous.
I’m happy that Rob is telling his story and I hope that it helps create better understanding that can start the changes that need to happen. I encourage you to go read the rest of the interview here.
