I really don't understand what all the fuss is about - there have always been gay men and women serving in our armed services (about 65,000 currently). All they are asking is to not be discharged/fired solely for being gay.
And it is not like we are trying something radical or untested - more than 25 countries currently allow openly gay people to serve and have for years - including most of our allies. (Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Australia, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand to name a few). The only members of NATO who don't allow it are Turkey and the USA. Russia allows it during wartime.
The reasons I have heard mentioned as to why this can't happen (morale, harassment, recruitment, retention, cohesion) have already been disproved by other countries allowing it, OUR forces participating in joint exercises with these countries, and polling of current personnel. Bear in mind that these are also the exact same reasons given over 50 years ago as to why we shouldn't integrate the military.
Not to mention that we waste billions of dollars training personnel who are either fired or choose not to reenlist because of the policy. And we spend millions investigating reports that someone might be gay. Not that they are harassing someone, not that they aren't doing their job, merely that they are gay.
So here's a news flash - our military has gay people - they are already showering, bunking, working, serving, and dying alongside their heterosexual counterparts - and letting them be honest about their sexuality w/o losing their job won't negatively change anything - but it will have many positive changes - financial, social, troop strength.
Now please tell me why (with some evidence/stats please) I am completely wrong and we cannot have openly gay men & women serving in our military...................instead of gay men and women hiding their sexuality.
And to head off any partisan squabbles, here is a link to a Republican group's web page discussing the issue in greater detail.
Issues: Gays in the Military
And it is not like we are trying something radical or untested - more than 25 countries currently allow openly gay people to serve and have for years - including most of our allies. (Canada, Great Britain, Israel, Australia, Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, South Africa, New Zealand to name a few). The only members of NATO who don't allow it are Turkey and the USA. Russia allows it during wartime.
The reasons I have heard mentioned as to why this can't happen (morale, harassment, recruitment, retention, cohesion) have already been disproved by other countries allowing it, OUR forces participating in joint exercises with these countries, and polling of current personnel. Bear in mind that these are also the exact same reasons given over 50 years ago as to why we shouldn't integrate the military.
Not to mention that we waste billions of dollars training personnel who are either fired or choose not to reenlist because of the policy. And we spend millions investigating reports that someone might be gay. Not that they are harassing someone, not that they aren't doing their job, merely that they are gay.
So here's a news flash - our military has gay people - they are already showering, bunking, working, serving, and dying alongside their heterosexual counterparts - and letting them be honest about their sexuality w/o losing their job won't negatively change anything - but it will have many positive changes - financial, social, troop strength.
Now please tell me why (with some evidence/stats please) I am completely wrong and we cannot have openly gay men & women serving in our military...................instead of gay men and women hiding their sexuality.
And to head off any partisan squabbles, here is a link to a Republican group's web page discussing the issue in greater detail.
Issues: Gays in the Military
