What is so threatening about gays in the military? Is it that the guys won't bond as well as a fighting unit if there might be a gay in the bunch? Being in California near San Francisco - I've worked with gays for years professionally. If you don't bother them they don't bother you. Never been grabbed or propositioned once! And some of these guys are some smart. So why at a time when recruiting is so difficult would the army see the need to exclude people from its ranks?
2007-03-13 05:19:57 · 32 answers · asked by HomeSweetSiliconValley 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Have you ever been in a front-line combat unit?
One of the strengths of the American military is the very close bonding, camaraderie, and trust between the men in a front line combat unit. Whether it's showering together or trusting your very life to the guy sharing your foxhole, Soldiers and Marines trust each other absolutely.
Do you think it would be good or bad for the military if there was a chance - even a small chance - that a Soldier might have to worry that the guy in the next cot over, the guy he's showering with, the guy he's fighting next to just MIGHT be lusting after him? That would not be good for morale, cohesion, or (most importantly) combat effectiveness.
That's why "don't ask, don't tell" is actually a very effective policy. If you don't know the guy you are standing close to is homosexual, then it doesn't matter. But if he's actually a smart, effective Soldier, then the Army and country still benefits.
It's a free country; homosexuals should be able to do whatever they like in private. But it's wrong to try to force your morality - acceptance of a lifestyle that the majority believe is immoral - on the rest of us. And it's doubly wrong if, in the interest of political correctness, you force that acceptance on the military at the cost of combat effectiveness.
2007-03-13 05:28:19 · answer #1 · answered by dougdell 4 · 7⤊ 0⤋
It is a bonding thing mostly...(same reason why women are not in Combat Arms jobs...i.e. Infantry) it is hard for a straight male to bond with a gay male, but Lesbians fit in better (and from my experience as a NCO Lesbians are good soldiers...I have met some good gay male soldiers, but not many), go figure...also too if you have not been in the military you wouldn't know, but men shower with men and women shower with the women...when gay men shower with other men, isn't it like me showering with the women...can a man use a female restroom? No, so is the military suppose to have male, gay male, female, and gay female showers? I mean the military is not like the rest of the world...I do not go around marching in a parage saying I am straight...
2007-03-13 05:32:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I was in the military and they're a whole different kind of people. I saw gays and lesbians hitting on other guys and girls ... additionally they have to all shower together most of the time (you'd at least be less uncomfortable if you knew you weren't being checked out). Oh and by the way, a serviceman that gets injured and is 10% disabled gets kicked out without benefits, but someone who contracts HIV (most of the time they were doing the wrong thing) gets to stay in, move up in rank, and gets free meds. How is that fair? In the workplace, the rules are different. Sexual harassment does not slide by unpunished - it does in the military - especially if it's between people of the same gender, no one wants to look like they're being prejudiced.
2007-03-13 05:29:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
The militaryis not anti-gay it has policies against gays in the military. And yes, I can tell you from experience that soldiers who came out of the closet caused great turmoil in the esprit de corps of a unit. It happened when an Army officer in my higher headquarters was outed by his gay buddy. Seems the officer was HIV Positive and failed to tell his buddy yet exposed him at the same time. Once the officer was outed he lost all respect from the troops,male and female. It was so bad he was shoved into a corner office so no one would have to work with him.
The military isn't corporate America. Trust is the foundation of all things military.
2007-03-13 05:24:28 · answer #4 · answered by Jim from the Midwest 3 · 11⤊ 0⤋
They have never been excluded, int he past we had a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy which means just keep everything professional, no one cares if your gay just dont make it a big deal.
Now they can do whatever they want and no one can say anything because itll be a federal offense and a hate crime, they have more rights that the straights. Our current system worked fine for everyone, this is just giving them priveldge.
2007-03-13 05:38:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because they're worried about exactly what you said: The guys won't bond as well, or at least some of them. They have to take precaution because there are a lot of mean gay bashers out there that would beat the head in of any homosexual in a heartbeat and the military doesn't want to lose the money they invested in either man.
2007-03-13 05:23:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 1⤋
The army is the original men's club. Full of manly men. Also how do you seperate the showers? Men's, women's, and gay's? Most men would be uncomfortable showering in the same room with a man that could find them sexually attractive.
2007-03-13 05:27:25 · answer #7 · answered by vospire s 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
So what do they get their own showers and barracks then? Do you want to share living space with a someone of the same sex who prefers your bod over the oppossite sex?
Not me!
Also at less than 1% of society.....don't believe the 10% is a lie to better normalize it......there aren't that many. Course not where you live!
2007-03-13 05:25:41 · answer #8 · answered by Kelly R 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
join and say your gay and see how many guys kick your butt for saying that and then come ask and say the military is anti gay.and you can be gay in t military you just dont want to admit it
2007-03-13 07:48:07 · answer #9 · answered by marines_sweetie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they go to fight and protect this country, they are not in a dating service. I don't think soldiers want to have to worry about someone of the same sex coming on to them.
2007-03-13 05:28:55 · answer #10 · answered by Urchin 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋