Originally from the eastern shore of Maryland, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Richard Dirk Selland, of the United States Navy, then a supply officer on the nuclear attack submarine Hammerhead, disclosed his homosexuality to his commanding officer on Jan. 21, 1993.

President Clinton had been inaugurated a day before and had promised to lift the longstanding ban on gays in the military. Selland was immediately ordered off the ship and Navy officials began discharge proceedings.

Meanwhile, Congress opposed lifting the ban, and the president accepted a plan that would let gays serve as long as they kept their sexuality private. Selland was given on-shore duties while he challenged the new policy in federal court, and he left the Navy last year. He now is a law student in Baltimore.

The Court, without comment, declined to hear former Lt. Richard Dirk Selland's argument that the "don't ask, don't tell" policy is based on prejudice and violates gay service members' free-speech rights. Matt Coles, the Director of the ACLU's National Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, called the Court's decision not to hear the case unfortunate.

Dirk Selland and Henry Urrutia met 4 years ago in Washington, D.C. There was an immediate connection between them as they discovered they shared similar values and goals. Soon after, they realized they had found the lifelong partner and soul mate.