TIME Magazine's "Officer X" comes out

On May 25, Time magazine introduced the world to “Officer X,” a closeted, active service member who would blog anonymously about the DADT repeal until it got repealed.

Well DADT has been repealed, so who is he?

It’s 1st Lieutenant Karl Johnson of the Air Force.

In his coming-out article Johnson said, “Putting aside personal angst, there was the risk [that DADT] posed to our national security; with Don’t Ask Don’t Tell ended, the possibility of extortion evaporates. Our nation will be stronger because of the policy’s demise.”

His posts have been thoughtful, inspiring and courageous.

Thank you Lt. Karl Johnson.

Time Magazine's 'Officer X' new posting: "Blackmailed"

Officer X is a young, gay military officer who is currently serving on active duty despite the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ban on open service. He is a pilot and regularly flies throughout the world both in and out of combat. Follow him on Twitter @TIMEOfficerX or email him TIMEOfficerX@gmail.com

Here's an excerpt of his latest post called "Blackmail."

If I were to point to a single person it would be former Army Sgt. Tracy L. Cooper-Harris. Of the dozens of first-hand accounts I've read of troops serving under DADT, hers is the hardest to read. When she was found to be a lesbian by a few of her co-workers, they blackmailed her to perform sexual favors for them in exchange for the honor of continuing to serve her country. “Don't Ask Don't Tell” provided a framework that allowed her to be systematically raped:

"I had a choice: report these men for “sexual harassment/cohesion” and end my military career or submit to their demands. Despite the military's “zero tolerance” policy on sexual harassment, it doesn't apply to those forced in the closet under DADT. I was sexually blackmailed and just a teenager."

Her story struck a chord within me, as I once received a similar ultimatum. It was one of the most stressful times during my senior year of college when a fellow student found out about me and tried to blackmail me for sexual favors and even started stalking me via Facebook.

I refused to humor him, but he continued to persist. He became so obsessed that I received a message from him saying he would report me to my commander if I didn't do as he said. I was alone and had nobody to turn to in order to ask for help. My heart raced. “This guy is a god-damned terrorist” is all I could think of. That very thought reminded me of how our government and military deal with terrorists, and I refused to let myself be his victim.

Read more at time.com