Page 35 - BEQ Magazine Iss 19

River

Michaels

AND THE LESBIAN BUSINESS
TR A VEL EXPERIENCE

By MELISSA LOWERY | Photos courtesy of RIVER MICHAELS

“Opportunistic silence.” “Straight passing.” career, she served as an Aviation Electriciansmate
“Read the room.” and Naval Aircrewman and was part of the female
These are the terms River Michaels, Ph.D., uses in integration trials where the Navy selected 50 women
her dissertation exploring the potential challenges from the West Coast to conduct carrier operations
and professional barriers that lesbian businesswomen on the USS Enterprise in 1986. In 1989, she was one
may face when of the first few
they travel offsite females accepted River Michaels
and how they to attend Naval Air served as
manage their Crew Candidate an Aviation
Electriciansmate
sexual identity School, a grueling and Naval
disclosure in a training program Aircrewman in
heteronormative she called “the the U .S . Navy for
nearly 10 years.
society. most physical
“I was drawn to and psychological
this topic because endurance
of my travel experience of my
experiences while life.”
serving in the Michaels
Navy,” Michaels enjoyed her work
explained. “I and the crew that
served before and became family,
during Don’t Ask but the dangers of
Don’t Tell, so I being a lesbian in
was constantly aware of my pronouns when talking the military ultimately proved too damaging to her
about romantic partners.” mental and emotional health.
Michaels served in the United States Navy from “After nearly a decade of service, it always felt
1985-1995, earning two Navy Achievement Medals, like a dark cloud hovering over me,” she said. “Even
her Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist wings and though I was a decorated sailor, I could still be
was named the 1994 Sailor of the Year at Naval Station humiliated and disgraced. One slip up, and I could
Mayport (Florida). Over the course of her military receive an Other Than Honorable discharge.”

SUMMER 2021 35
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