"It's not illegal to be homosexual, what gave you that idea?"
Steve looks confused for a moment, then his face clears up.
"Oh, I understand. No, SHIELD fired me from being Captain America because I like men, but it's...not exactly what you think. You see, SHIELD's an international agency, even if it's headed up mostly by American ex-military...Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and a whole lot of other top brass."
He runs his hand through his hair while trying to think of how to explain himself.
"And, well...Captain America, the position...it's supposed to be someone relatable to everyone...someone that the whole world can look up to. Apparently that doesn't include sensitive, comic-strip-drawing cocksuckers." He grimaces at the taste of the word in his mouth.
Then, Baird talks to him plainly, bluntly, telling him the truth as he sees it...and it reaches more deeply to the core of Steve Rogers than any self-help speech or $1500-an-hour therapist ever could.
"Wow...you really mean that." It's not a question. It's a realization. And with Damon as clearly smart as he is, that means that there is something inside Steve himself to be proud of.
Instinctively, impulsively, he lunges forward and hugs the other man.