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Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Just Lip Sync!

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For the first time ever, gay and lesbian soldiers perform in drag on a U.S. military installation

Photos by Travis J. Tritten/Stars and Stripes

Life has moved on from the handwringing about benefits and unit cohesion and gays and straights showering together (just like in every gym anywhere), at least in Okinawa, Japan. On the U.S. Kadena Air Base (where Out's executive editor Jerry Portwood went to middle school and high school, incidentally), some gay and lesbian servicemembers stepped it up a notch or five, performing in drag for the first time on a military installation as a fundraiser for the new Okinawa chapter of OutServe-SLDN, an advocacy organization for LGBTs in the U.S. military.

Drag queens and drag kings (queer and straight) beat their mugs, donned their frocks and leather jackets, and took to the stage to lip sync songs from Whitney Houston, Adam Lambert, and others, for a full house at the Rocker NCO Club at Kadena Air Base, according to military newspaper Stars and Stripes.

"We didn't think there was much of a desire for an event like this on the island but it has actually blown up," Navy Lt. Marissa Greene, co-chapter leader of OutServe Okinawa said. Hoping to sell 75 tickets, they ended up selling 400.

We are gagging!

The Advocates with Sonia BaghdadyOut / Advocate Magazine - Jonathan Groff and Wayne Brady

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