Among the sea of people cheering for the President’s policies at Joe Biden's Labor Day rally in Detroit, Brian’s voice was one of the loudest.

In 2008, Brian had been working at a resort as a server—but he decided he wanted to do something more for his country. Brian stepped up his volunteer work with the Obama campaign and in honor of President Obama, he began serving in the U.S. Navy in December 2008.

Brian thrived in the Navy. He worked in public affairs and earned honors including one for his service in the humanitarian response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. He did face one significant challenge, though.

“I was living in a world where my entire life could be ruined just for saying I was gay. When ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ was repealed, everything changed.”

Now a veteran, Brian values President Obama’s support for equal rights as well as his national security record.

“Osama bin Laden is dead and we’re not in Iraq anymore. President Obama has improved the respect for our country worldwide. He’s a man of integrity who has done everything he’s said he’d do.”

Brian, who lives in Dearborn, can see the difference in Michigan compared to four years ago. His father was unemployed but received job recertification as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is now working for an automaker.

“How could I ever say we’re not better off today? President Obama has done so much for all of us. I’ll keep standing with him.”

Brian is volunteering for the President again this year. Join him by becoming a member of Veterans and Military Families on Dashboard, our online organizing hub.

JOIN DASHBOARD

A version of this post was published on September 4 on the Michigan blog.