What do you think about gays in the military?

Question

Ok, first off, gays ARE in the military and always have been.In the past, the military could discharge you if they discovered you were gay and often investigated service members to determine if they are gay solely based on suspicion.Even gays bars would, at times, be monitored by the military in order to catch serve members in the act of being in a gay bar.

Today, gay and lesbian and bisexual service members serve with some protection under the 'don't ask don't tell don't pursue' policy.But this policy has been met with controversy and has not always worked they way it was meant to.Gays and lesbians still are regularly discharged regardless of their service records, capabilities, or honors.They are still subjected to investigation based on certain forms of suspicions.

Now the new Democratic run congress will consider repealing the 'don't ask don' tell' policy effectively ending all bans.

Referenced:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17386189/

My question is this,
Knowing that gays are in the military and have always been in the military often serving with distinguish, what reason would there be to not allow the 'don't ask don't tell' policy and any other ban from being dropped?

Also, keep in mind that since gays and lesbians have never been allowed to serve the US military openly there is no evidence that allowing them to serve openly would create any problems.There was at one time a policy that kept blacks out of certain branches and ranks and various duties because they were thought to be a risk to morale and would not be able to handle the various jobs that they would have to do.Before they were allowed to serve there was no evidence that would have proved this assumption.Isn't it possible that the same kind of assumptions about gays and lesbians are just as false to assume without at least giving gays and lesbians a chance?After all, a lot of them are already there.

I am already getting assumption based answers.I guess some people's assumtions and stereotypes rule their judgments.

Answer 1

I served in the military for 10 years. I knew several who were gay who served with honor and distinction. The only way I knew they were was if they opened up to me or if they told me if they were going to a particular bar which primarily catered to gays. One of my best friends was gay. He served with me on a base for 2 years. He was ultimately discharged after he did his time. When I knew him (he was from the Ozarks) he wasn't the brightest bulb in the box, but he got his master's degree at Stanford, was going for his PhD in psychology. He was trustworthy, honorable, respectful of my lifestyle, and never tried to infringe his lifestyle on me. I would serve with gays without reservation if they were like him. He did his job, that's all that really counted.

Answer 2

As a former member of the military(5 years in the Marines), I really don't have a problem with gays in the military. But in my five years there, I have heard a lot of gay bashers in there. The Don't Ask Don't Tell policy is a bunch of crap, because gays and lesbians have the same rights as us straights. Plus, they would do the job in the military just as good, or even better than, the straight members.Not to mention they would still discharge you if you were gay or lesbian. Those are just things that I've seen while in the military.

Answer 3

In my personal opinion they can go to the front lines like everybody else. Now the reason why I feel the military doesn't want gays is a moral issue. The military wants to be seen as a normal environment with good wholesome values. But we all know that this doesn't exist. People watch porn, cheat on their spouses and a number of other things just like in the civilian world.

Gays in the military would bring in gay marriages, then trying to adopt children. Housing would be an issue, because not everyone would want to live next door to a gay couple. Benefits would also come up. Believe it or not gays in the military would disrupt things at first.

Answer 4

There have been gays in the military all through out history. It was actually condoned in the roman forces. It created a camaraderie that could not be touched. I served in the army and I'm gay. No one I served with would ever have known. I told no one and I served just as well as any straight man. People need to understand that what someone does in their private life has no effect on that person serving their country. I'm proud to have served my country. Most gays in the military are.

Answer 5

The current DADT policy really is a sham. Dept. of Defense reports show in fact that more gay service members have been discharged unwillingly since the policy went into effect. Not because they did anything wrong, but simply because they were suspected, monitored, harassed and forced out by the higher chain-of-command.

Europe has shown that "openly gay" service members serving in their respective military's are as capable as any other straight service members.

The United States should learn to "follow" good examples sometimes instead of "leading blindly".

Answer 6

DADT needs to be revamped. I think the issue of concern is a gay person "discussing" aspects of their sex life at work. Yet... ironically, it is quite common in the military maintenance world for hetero people to go into EXPLICIT detail about their sexual conquests. So, maybe DADT should say, but in a different form. It should relate to sex talk in general, gay or straight... and gay people SHOULD not be kicked out if discovered.
Oh, and for those who say gays are bad for moral... keep up with the times people. I know of two openly gay members who were recently discharged after tours in Iraq and you know what... both of their units new and were comfortable with them. There was no decrease in moral (and obviously ya'll have a jaded view of moral anyway... cause gays, straights, or bad weather isn't going to much to lift it up or tear it down while over there) and the units actually came to bat for them when it was time for them to be "discharged"

Answer 7

What can we expect of roughly women folk serving overtly interior the protection tension? i don't likely see how the subject concerns are any different except you're employing some nineteenth century accepted of Christian morality. probably the protection tension is the final bastion of the US government that applies such idiotic standards, and probably those standards bypass away whilst they detect that they don't have adequate volunteers and/or we get some politicians with some guts. by potential of how, any argument approximately "adult men serving heavily jointly at close quarters" is hog-wash. See argument re women folk. Yeah, somebody who may well be attracted on your inner maximum areas might, sometimes, see them. huge whoop. in view that almost all of violent crimes are committed by potential of HETEROSEXUAL adult men, if something, the gay adult men could be worried. for sure they are waiting to stand up for themselves. each and every thing else is in basic terms bigotry.

Answer 8

I really think the major problem with today's military is a propensity to focus more on whether or not a guy is checking out your ***, than to actually do the job the United States of America is asking you to do. If you feel like gays shouldn't be in the military because they decrease "awareness" or some other nonsense, then you are a coward, who should avoid any combat situation.

Answer 9

What about it?
Gays have been in the military for as long as there's been a military. Contrary to what some people think (and fear), gay men and women only want to be treated the same as our straight counterparts. Our sexuality should never have to come into question so long as we're doing the job that we signed on to do.

Answer 10

I personally wouldn't think any or any less about it. If they want to take a stand and fight for freedom, THEN WHO I AM I TO SAY EITHER WAY!
Bless him or her for doing this noble act or duty!
And the way I see it is if anyone has a problem with gay people standing up for their country, well then by all means let go of your socking and pick up your gun and have at her!