On September 6, 2003, Marine Reservist and Conscientious Objector Stephen Funk, who declared his CO status publicly, "was acquitted by a military court of desertion, but convicted of unauthorized absence and sentenced to six months at the Camp Lejeune brig in North Carolina, reduction in rank to private, forfeiture of two-thirds pay for six months, and a bad-conduct discharge."
Funk has spoken out against war as a gay man after having witnessed first-hand the anti-gay culture of the military, and how it is used to desensitize and dehumanize those deemed "in need of killing."
"It is scary to confront the military, because the military teaches you to submit to orders even when you object. I may not be a hero, but I know that it takes courage to disobey. I know that it demands courage to say "no" in the face of coercion."
Various groups around the country continue to organize around his case and those of other conscientious objectors.NION | Jeff.Paterson.net. | Chicago Anti-Bashing Network | LGBT Contingents At SF Anti-War Demos | SNAFU | Refusing to Kill