Semper Fi's Jeff Key: A Marine Who Did Ask and Tell

At 34-years old, ruggedly handsome-six feet four, square jawed, Jeff Key joined the biggest, baddest boys club there is, The United States Marines.

Key's reason he gives for joining, even though the he was six years past the Marine Corps age cut-off, was like most men, young and old after the terror attacks on 9/11. He says he wanted to, "support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, to defend defenseless people, to promote and preserve peace on earth and love of people".

Key grew up in rural Alabama and was schooled in the Church OF Christ. A onetime child preacher, he is a true believer of God and country first. Key is also gay.

On a slow holiday weekend news day the repeal to end the ban on gays serving openly in the military survived the House and is now moving on to the Senate. Commonly referred to as, "don't ask , don't tell," the bill has divided both sides of the Senate floor and each are gearing up for a contentious fight.

Once the repeal clears the Senate, the final hurdle for it to become law is an impact study from the Pentagon that would assure the President and out of touch military leaders that the policy change would not affect the military's ability to fight effectively.

The amendment was attached to a $700 billion defense spending bill for military programs and the House voted 229-186 to approve it.

The defense bill vote was unusually close this year because many Republicans and a few conservative Democrats said they would vote against it if the amendment containing the gay bill was included.

This is another key victory for President Obama and gay rights groups, who have made it their mission to get the policy changed this year.

At a Friday news conference Democratic Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Sen. Carl Levin said " I believe a majority of the Senate, just like a majority of the country...favor changing this policy."

The military Jeff Key fought so hard to be in, broke his heart and forced him to leave when he realized don't ask, don't tell wasn't working for him anymore.

Despite his patriotism and commitment to serve, Key felt that the atrocities he saw, duties he was obligated to perform and his deep seated convictions, would not allow him to continue to support the conflict overseas.

Through journals and video Jeff recorded the human element of a war now known to be based on
lies. He does not film the conflict, but instead recorded the quiet moments when friendships are made, when strangers meet and bonds forever cemented despite vast cultural and religious differences.

In writing and on tape Key reveals his distress about hiding his true self and having to keep up the masculine illusion for his just cause from the men he is serving with, and now considers brothers and good friends.

In the Showtime documentary Semper Fi: One Marine's Journey, Key's mental anguish is finally relieved when he makes the life-altering decision to reveal his homosexuality to his brothers in arms and be true to himself.

Framed by Eyes of Babylon, his award-winning critically-acclaimed, one man play, Semper Fi reexamines what brought the former marine to make his life-altering decisions.

The documentary should be required viewing for the Senators voting on an issue that has touched the lives of current and former gay military men and women, and their straight comrades that would fight to the death to defend them.

Semper fi Jeff Key, semper fi.
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