The roar of heavy equipment on the move had become commonplace on, and around Liberty Avenue. Once touted as Pittsburgh's red-light district, discretely hidden away from decent folk, the city's shame was rapidly becoming its savior as young, middle class gay couples, along with their revenue flocked to the new midwestern version of San Francisco. Even as times changed, it was comforting to know that some things still remained the same, like favorite waitresses, at favorite diners, and Monday morning breakfasts with old friends.  

Debbie held her pencil to her order pad. "We have a new chef, boys. May I suggest the homemade, blueberry Belgian waffles? They're to die for," she said.

"Chef? What happened to the regular cook?" Michael asked.

"He's still back there, but with all the influx of yuppies the boss decided to hire a new culinary school grad. You should see his omelettes. They're huge, and fluffy," Debbie swore.

"Really?" Brian smiled.

"Calm down. You're a married man now." Michael reminded him.

"A miracle that I still have trouble believing." Emmett scanned the revamped menu.

"I can personally vouch for Brian's devotion to wedded bliss. I haven't walked in on a single client spread across his desk in the past six months," Ted said.

"Impressive. Now can I have your orders, please?" Debbie said.

"You talked me into it. I'll try the Belgian waffles, and coffee." Emmet closed his menu.

"Same here, along with a side of bacon," Michael decided.

"Ah, bacon." Ted swooned. "Do you know the last time I had bacon?"

"No one cares, Theodore. I'll have a fluffy egg white omelette, and black coffee," Brian ordered.

"I'll just have the oatmeal," Ted said sadly.

Debbie moved on to her next table, leaving the four friends to catch up on each others lives. "So what's been going on?" Brian started.

"Same old, same old. Now that you're off the market, Babylon belongs to me. You should see the hottie I took home last night. Tall, blue-green eyes. He had a rose tattooed around his left nipple. A brutal top." Emmett grinned.

"That would be Clifton. I remember the rose tattoo. He was quiet the submissive bottom the night I fucked him," Brian recalled fondly.

"Is there ANYONE that you haven't fucked?" Emmett frowned.

Brian momentarily pondered the question. "Ummmm, I don't think so."

"Moving right along..." Michael changed the subject. "Ben and I are going to tonight's rally at the university to repeal DADT. We've got posters, and everything. You're all invited to come."

Emmett looked at Ted.

"DADT is the acronym for the military's policy of don't ask, don't tell," Ted said.

"If you ask me, it should be BSBS, bullshit, bullshit," Brian said.

"How can you say that? What about all of the gay men and women who want to serve their country proudly?" Michael said.

"If they want to serve, then they should shut the fuck up, and serve," Brian said.

"It's not that simple, Brian," Michael said.

"Why not? You don't see me dragging Tony and Justin around to my client's house," Brian said.

"But you could if you wanted to," Michael argued. "DADT forbids active military men and women from even talking about their same sex relationships, including their marriages, even their children. According to the military, homosexuals, and bisexuals create a risk to the high standards of morale required to provide order and discipline to a unit."

"Like I said, bullshit. Who has time to flaunt pictures of the hubby, and kids when you're being shot at? Speaking of which, exactly how much order, and discipline does one need to be a pawn in a rich man's war? You line up, you die, and then the next line comes along," Brian said.

"Spoken like a true patriot." Michael frowned.

"It has nothing to do with patriotism. Patriotism died out a long time ago. Today's volunteer military is about survival. With the exception of a few elite pencil pushers, our military is derived from a bunch of unfortunate, underemployed men and women, searching for a regular income to put food on the table for their families, and a little help with their student loans. They're kids who signed up for the national guard, expecting to play paintball one weekend out of the month, and they ended up in a desert shit hole," Brian said.

"What about the attack on America? Should we just forget about the lives lost in the twin towers?" Emmett stepped in.

"Yes, just like President Bush did," Brian elaborated. "Immediately following the New York attack old Georgie-boy strutted to the podium like John Wayne, and got everybody charged up about going after those responsible, and finding weapons of mass destruction. He knew all along that the only thing he and his fat cronies really cared about was securing crude oil. "

"What about Saddam Hussein? We did catch him!" Emmett reminded him.

"That's just like me promising to deliver Theodore, but since I couldn't catch Ted, I decided to kill Michael. Saddam ended up as a sacrificial lamb because the little cowboy couldn't find Bin Laden as he promised, or any weapons of mass destruction. In fact the only thing Bush really managed to accomplish was to drive the country to the brink of bankruptcy, and practically deplete our military. This whole war has been one long cluster fuck of the American people, and like all bad fucks, you have to know when it's time to pull out," Brian said.

"We're not fighting for the right to continue an unpopular war. We're fighting for the rights of gay men and women who still believe in the basic principles of this country. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those men and women have the right to serve openly, and proudly, without threat of harassment, or retribution for who they are." Michael stood his ground.   

"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" Brian chuckled. "Let's ask Matthew Shepard about those principles. Let's ask the teens that the police refused to protect when a mob of rednecks broke down the glass wall of Tony's restaurant to attack them for attending a gay prom. What about the people who vandalized your comic book store, and blew up Babylon? Who in their right mind would want to fight side by side with those kinds of assholes? Sorry Michael, for the safety of gay and bisexual service men and women, I think DADT should remain in place," Brian concluded.

"Maybe Brian has a point, Michael. Even if DADT is repealed, what's to stop gay military men and women from the same harsh treatment that African American soldiers had to endure? Who's to say that homophobia won't turn into death by "friendly-fire" under the right circumstances?" Ted said.

"The time for hiding is over. What we need right now is visibility, and that's why Ben and I are going to the rally tonight. Who's coming with us?" Michael looked at each of his friends.

"It's 'Studs & Suds" night at Babylon tonight. I don't think I can make it, Michael," Emmett said.

"What about you Ted?" Michael asked.

"I'm sorry, Michael. I can't agree with you this time," Ted said.

"Don't forget to wear your bullet-proof vests," Brian advised.

Debbie returned with their orders, and placed them on the table. "Who's wearing a bullet-proof vest?" she asked.

"Mikey and Ben. They're going to change the world tonight." Brian smiled bleakly.