Openly gay in the military?

Hi dixie, I believe that things should be kept the way they are, at least for the time being. I'm curious about your comment, ' I don't think women would be as unaccepting as men'. I'm not disagreeing with you, but I'm wondering why this would be so. Are women as a group, more accepting of homosexuality? I believing people have to become better educated about gays before this could work. The biggest obstacle that I see here is the Christian Church, who will not accept the fact that gays are born that way. Before saying more on the subject, I want to express my utmost respect for the Episcopal church for their stand on this issue, and while I'm sure there are others, it's the Episcopalians that I have heard most about. It is one more victory for human rights, and other churches will eventually find that they will have to follow, though it may take a long time. When gays are given the same rights as other citizens, including the right to marry, and it must be marriage in every sense of the word, then this new policy would be fine. Blessings.

I do not think there should be openly gay in the military. I believe the don't ask, don't tell policy should stay in effect. If you choose to be gay that is your chose but I do not want to know about it. Oh, and for the seperate barracks thing, we do not share seperate barracks for males or females or seperate tents.

My ex girlfriend is in the military and I do wish that she could be openly gay.... she can not have a family for the next 7 years....just a "roommate" I can see both sides as well.....and i do agree....women are much more accepting... but what straight men should realize is NOT EVERY gay man will find you attractive....and IF he does its not like hes going to mount you right there!!! So I want gay rights.......I think it should be okay.....gay or straight...it doesnt change the person you are on the inside. What you do behind closed doors DOESNT effect the person you are!!!

I don't think there's anything wrong with having openly gay men or women in the military. And this does not mean that they should be making out with their lovers in the middle of the barracks--but the same is true for the straight military people! There is a code of conduct that everyone abides by, gay or straight. I think the problem has been that when someone finds out a soldier is gay (let's say by finding a picture of him and his boyfriend in his footlocker), then they are kicked out of the military altogether! Whereas his straight counterpart can hang pictures of his wife or girlfriend wherever he wants and it's fine. Or when news crews visit the troops and allow them to send televised messages home to their loved ones, the straight soldier can say, "Hi, Susie. I love you," while the gay soldier has to forego even mentioning his real loved one for fear of being dishonorably discharged. That strikes me as horribly unfair. As far as having openly gay people there being a distraction, I think I would have to say that is severely underestimating the quality of our troops or of their training then. These are men and women who are trained to be in the most high-pressure, dangerous situations imaginable, operating some of the most advanced, complex machinery in the world--and I'm to believe these same people would just fall apart and completely blow the mission because they're so distracted by the fact that some guy in their platoon is gay? I mean, that same argument was once used to keep black people out of the military or separated from their white counterparts. And while it may have been distracting for the white soldiers when they finally did start to integrate the military, they quickly realized that their lives depended on putting their prejudices and fears away and focusing on the war. And as you said, the majority of the gay people who join the military are not flamboyant in the least.

I spent 8 yrs in the military and to be honest people aren't stupid. Do you honestly think that people can live day in and day out with others and not know that someone in their unit is gay? Hell most of my gay friends were military members. Everyone knew they were gay.. NO ONE CARED. The only ones who get all worked up over Gays in the military are the politicians. Frankly I don't care if you're gay, straight, bi or whatever else.. as long as you can do your job and not get me killed. Frankly thats the general feeling of many military memebers. We use to call the rule " don't ask, don't tell, why cause I don't give a damn." I think as soon as homophobic people realize taht just cause someone's gay doesn't mean they want you, its just like anything else. I mean thats like assuming just cause a woman is straight she's gonna want you.. um no.. think again there sparky. They have types and attractions just like everyone else. Hell most of the gay men Ive encountered are more picky then women as to who they date.

I think that everyone should have the right to serve their country regaurdless of their sexuality. I can understand why SOME strait men feel uncomfortable sleeping in the barracks with other gay men, the same way as i would feel uncomfortable sleeping in the barracks with men. I think the "dont ask dont tell" policy is more for the soliders own protection. I dont have a problem with homosexuality and i dont think these people should have their own barracks, and i do think that people should be able to work in a safe environment and express their individuality however they choose. It doesn't help that outside people claim army/navy boys are gay, i think this makes the straight people feels they have to prove something by ACTING macho.... this is a tricky question i dont think i have really answered the question but instead shared my views on the subject. I dont think gay men will ever be widely accepted in the army, the Australian Army is often called AJ's - which stands for army jerks, this is because they flash around their cash to the women and fight the men as a group when out. ***(not to offend any soliders or army people, i do hold respect for our armed forces and my brother has also served in the Australian Army in East timor, christmas island and iraq)

I think that the straight men ought to grow up! If a straight man acted violently or threatning toward a gay man then maybe he should be the one separated from the others. A gay man is still a man...it is so simple. If he wants to join the military then he should be able to do so without it being a big deal!