Ratty, I think the question was: Why Official Duty and public travel for anything other than Remembrance/homecoming?
This question is not gay-bashing, and deserves an answer. It does not help any minority to regard any questioning as xxxx-bashing.
OTOH, I would have thought anything less than a half Colonel (for Diversity) would be unable to get a hearing with the powers-that be, (same principle as ranks for Chaplains and Doctors) and so that seems appropriate.