his handsome sailor is Joe Steffan, an Annapolis midshipman who was discharged for being gay. I read Joe's book, "Honor Bound", just prior to coming out myself. One scene in the book especially moved me. Before being brought before the disciplinary board for questioning, Steffan was required to remove his hard earned badges of rank. The demand had no rationale other than to humiliate him, as he hadn't been found guilty of anything to that point. In response, I painted this picture with him in his full uniform, his dignity and pride restored. Artistically, this work was a stretch for me because it is the first to include hands.