Don't ask, Don't tell

SoWal Expert

Feb 4, '10 · 2:02 PM2,143

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

Replies

SoWal Insider

Feb 9, '10 · 8:59 AM#52

Cowboy is probably perplexed as to why you get in that box and soak yourself when you have a perfectly good tongue.

NS! He is going to be fit to be tied when he comes inside......it's raining! The worst!!!!

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Feb 9, '10 · 10:09 AM#53

Not in the military. I think most men in uniform are pretty hot and usually are well toned.

In the military, short of worried about getting yourself killed in combat or/and protecting protecting your country, I think what probably bothers some people is the fact, married or not, we are all human. I'm sorry, but if Daniel Craig was showering next to me, there's now doubt, and I am happily married, that I would be making an effort to look at his package. (That's if I wasn't exhausted from boot camp or being in combat) Hail, I might even be tempted to look at Portia DeRossi, Ellen's partner.

But, from what I have seen as far as polls taken by service people, is the majority do not care about serving with a gay person. It seems the people who have the most issue with it are people not serving.

I have a question, though. Outside of the showering issue, I imagine the biggest problem the military will have overturning Don't ask, don't tell is benefits. Since gay marriages laws vary from State to State, if the military, being a Federal entity rules that partners are entitled to benefits, will they have to be married? and if not, what would constitute a partnership? sharing of a home? rental lease? and for how long? Wouldn't the government be setting a precedent by allowing benefits which could affect State's laws?

Oh, I never said I wouldn't look - just that my shower buddies and I could easily manage to restrain ourselves from having an orgy.

Beach Fanatic

Feb 9, '10 · 1:24 PM#54

Frankly, a lot of straight (and homophobic) guys think they are a lot more attractive to gay men then they actually are - and so think they are in "danger" of unwanted attentions. The reality is that they are Roseanne Barr, not Heidi Klum. :rofl:

Now if I'm in the shower and worried, all I hafta do is stick my gut out as far as I can and burp or something. I'm saved!! :floor:

I can do Roseanne Barr.