I've been in the military for 19 years and lived under Don't Ask, Don't Tell for 18 of those years. "He got so emotional about it." Dwayne told Jonathan in the car, "You have no idea what this really means - this is such a big step and such a big move. "It was an awesome moment, and I could tell how it affected Dwayne," Jonathan said. On their cross-country road-trip, Dwayne heard from a fellow service member friend that the Department of Defense had given permission for all branches of the military to march in the San Diego Pride Parade wearing their military uniforms. As they planned out the trip, they realized that they could be in San Diego the same weekend as the city's Pride Parade. In July 2012, Dwayne suggested that they take a trip to San Diego, CA, where Dwayne had previously been stationed at Naval Medical Center San Diego working as a Disability and Transition Counselor for wounded warriors and disabled service members. Dwayne has two children from a previous marriage - 17-year-old Courtney and 19-year-old Brian - and Jonathan's family lives only an hour away from the couple's home together in Gulf Breeze, Florida.ĭwayne and Jonathan were raised on opposite coasts - Dwayne in California and Jonathan in Miami, Florida. In the past two years, Jonathan and Dwayne have integrated well into each other's families. When we met each other, we saw that we shared that need and those values." Dwayne needed someone who could understand the military lifestyle and support a life in the military and deal with the transfers and the moves. "I've always known that I wanted someone who wanted to have a family and wanted to connect with my family. "When I was a kid, we moved so much that I really understand what a military life is like," Jonathan explained, noting that his connection to Dwayne is definitely related to their common experiences. Navy as a Senior Chief and culinary specialist. Jonathan was raised in a military household, and for over 20 years, Dwayne has served in the U.S. They especially bonded over their military background. Over the next several months, Dwayne and Jonathan grew continually closer. "We had an amazing, spontaneous evening together, shared our very first kiss, and saw the beginning of our love and life together begin." "We've been inseparable since our first date," Jonathan said. But if their wishes were at all related to something positive and life-changing emerging from their first date, it's safe to say that their wishes have come true. Jonathan and Dwayne have never shared with each other their wishes that night. He held them up and said to Jonathan, "The first thing we are going to do is make a wish in this fountain with these two coins." They silently reflected on their wishes, and together, threw them into the water. When Jonathan arrived at the park, Dwayne stood up from his seat on the fountain and, without a word, pulled two coins from his pocket. It was their first real date - after over a week of talking on the phone and texting about their lives, learning about each other's families and friends and life aspirations, they were finally meeting up in person. He was waiting for the arrival of Jonathan Franqui, the man he had met nearly a month before and with whom he found an instant connection. Beebe sat anxiously on the edge of the Plaza Fountain in Plaza Ferdinand Park in Old Pensacola, Florida.
On a warm fall day nearly two years ago, Dwayne D. Our life in 17 photos: A gay sailor’s love story February 06, 2013