Sun. June 21, 2026
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
As a volunteer photojournalist entering my final year, I have made it my mission to acknowledge and celebrate the legends in our intersectional LGBTQ community, giving them their flowers while they are here to receive them. This week, that gratitude goes to Dr. Justin B. Terry-Smith, a veteran, educator, and advocate. Thank you, Justin, for never giving up on yourself, for educating and inspiring us, and for creating safe, inclusive spaces for survivors and future generations.
In a recent conversation, Justin opened up about his journey through isolation, service under "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell," and his enduring commitment to the fight for equality.
The weight of the closet
For Justin, life before coming out was defined by a profound sense of isolation. Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, the world felt like a hostile place for a young boy trying to understand his identity.
"I felt tortured," Justin recalled. "I did not want to be different and I wondered why I was feeling the way I felt about other boys. Then when I found out what the word gay meant, I ran."
Support was nonexistent at home and at church. While his church simply ignored homosexuality, his family environment was more overtly unwelcoming. Family members frequently made disparaging remarks and fun of gay people, leaving Justin feeling as though he could not trust anyone with his secret.
The isolation compounded when he transitioned from a private school to a public school. Physically smaller than his peers and struggling with his identity, Justin became a target for severe bullying.
"In sixth grade I started getting thoughts of suicide because of bullying," he said. "I was called a faggot almost daily. In school I felt alone and empty."
Finding strength and facing service
The turning point came in high school, thanks to the visibility and courage of a peer. A student named Ruben, who helped establish the school’s first Gay-Straight Alliance, reached out to Justin.
"He talked to me and we became friends," Justin said. "After meeting him and seeing his strength, I came out myself."
Justin initially came out as bisexual, reflecting his genuine attraction to both girls and boys. However, the nuances of bisexual identity were met with friction even within the LGBTQ community. Teased by gay peers, Justin eventually repressed his attraction to other genders to fit into the gay community.
Despite these hurdles, he entered college out and proud. But that sense of security was shattered when he was targeted in a violent, targeted assault. Even more devastating, Justin discovered that his own roommate had allowed the attacker into their room. The trauma led to depression, prompting Justin to leave school and return home.
Seeking a new path and long-term stability, Justin made a decision that would shift his trajectory completely: he joined the United States Air Force. At the time, the military operated under the restrictive policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
"I had to go back into the closet once more," Justin explained. "But this time it was under my own terms and I felt a little less pressure, considering I was used to keeping my life private when going to work."
During his service, tragedy struck again. Justin was sexually assaulted by another man after leaving a gay nightclub. Under the military policy of the era, reporting the assault was incredibly dangerous. If the military discovered he had been at an LGBTQ venue, Justin faced interrogation and a potential discharge rather than support.
The assault resulted in severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Yet, amidst the hardship, Justin found a vital lifeline. He connected with a tight-knit group of LGBTQ service members.
"We were tight like glue," Justin said. Every member of that chosen family eventually went on to receive an honorable discharge to focus on their civilian lives, and they remain in close contact today.
Years later, Justin has received official military compensation for the trauma he endured, and he continues to use his platform to speak for those who were silenced during their time in uniform.
A message for the next generation
When asked what wisdom he would pass on to the youth of the LGBTQ community, Justin did not mince words. His focus remains entirely on resilience and historical awareness.
"My advice to future generations is FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!" Justin said. "You have the right to exist just like anyone else in this world."
He emphasized the importance of confronting the double standards that LGBTQ people still face today when critics claim the community is too visible.
"Remind those people that try to state that you are shoving your life in their face that they have the luxury of walking down the street and holding hands with their partner without facing discrimination, violence, or ridicule," Justin said. "But also do not forget about the past generations that walked so you could run."
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