Should the U.S. military change its "don't ask, don't tell" policy and allow openly gay men and women to serve? I keep reading about that and would like to know what you all think.
2007-03-13 15:47:24 · 17 answers · asked by baby2007 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
I "served" 18 years in retail, and that industry is full of openly gay individuals. I can assure you that homosexuals being able to express themselves openly while in our military would be only the beginning of their demands.
Once they gain the right to come out into the open, they will demand other rights like military housing (Living together), being able to hold hands and or kiss in public, like the heterosexual couples do when "ships pull in and out of port."
I can see it now. Military photographers being sued because they aren't giving equal camera/press time to Bill and Joe who were also crying rivers and holding one another, kissing madly as their ship was soon to depart.
For goodness sake, imagine Bill or Bob winning the tradition "First Kiss" when the ship pulls back into port after a 6 month deployment?
What about marriage rights in military chapels? I can assure you that too would become an issue.
What about bunking and showering? I can assure you there would be fellow soldiers, sailors and marines would would NOT want to "expose" themselves to an openly gay individual, for obvious reasons.
Ultimately I believe it will make our military look like a mockery to other nations, especially those nations who already call us INFIDELS!
I am sorry, but it really does not seem to be in the best interest of our military (Our tax dollars) to allow homosexuals to EXPRESS their HOMOSEXUALITY in the OPENLY.
2007-03-13 16:01:59 · answer #1 · answered by NONAME 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, they should not change the policy. A person's sexual orientation should not be an issue and it it's not an issue why discuss it? If you are old enough to be in the military, you should be mature enough to deal with this situation but sadly some people aren't so, it would be a good idea to keep it the way it is. Also, in the military, women and men are housed seperately, right? This is for a reason, right? So if gay men and women serve openly, do we need to house them seperately? It's a much more complicated issue than it should be but the don't ask, don't tell policy keeps it pretty simple.
2007-03-13 23:01:06 · answer #2 · answered by Bob 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think anyone who want to fight for their country should be allowed to. It take great men and women to make a commitment to want to fight for your rights and the right of others. So I wouldn't care if you are gay. The military has gay members in it now and it's a shame you have to hide who you love because according to society it not correct. A lot of things are not correct, as long as when you put on the uniform your professional. I know people when in civilian clothing they do not fit the military image at all but when they put on their uniform they are all about business. First the military discriminated about ethnic people, then women in the service, then women became pregnant in the service, then it was gays. See where I am going with this. There are gay men and women in the military right now. In the civilian world we work with them day in day out there is no discrimination in the work place so why do we have it in our Military?
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2007-03-13 22:59:48 · answer #3 · answered by Wanna Help 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. There is no reason why a gay person cant serve.. Anyone who says its "bad for unit cohesiveness" or " bad for morale" or "incompatible for military duty" if full of it.
Keep in mind your question says "openly gay". If someone is in the closet it can cause security problems. It opens that person up to blackmail, perhaps by a spy on the other side. I served in the Navy in the 80's, thats when being gay could get you kicked out after serving some time in the brig. We had two guys who were both very gay ( but not a couple) and no one really gave a damm, because they both did their jobs and were professional. Of course out in town, they both frequented many gay bars and such, but like I said, no one cared.
2007-03-13 23:42:23 · answer #4 · answered by Pepe LePeu 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As much as I would like to take a stand against discrimination, I can see why the U.S. military is using the DA,DT policy.
Try to imagine the housing situation.
Putting gay men with straight men could be uncomfortable.
Putting gay men with other gay men could be uncomfortable AND irresponsible, for the same reason that men tend not to room with women.
If men could come out as being gay, you can bet your house that they would face even harsher ridicule and harassment. Soldiers are supposed to be big, burly, and manly, and some soldiers would pick on gay men just to prove their own manliness. It ain't fair, but it's true.
2007-03-13 22:57:19 · answer #5 · answered by Bobby S 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, It would be unconstitutional for them not to. Also, it goes against human/Natural Rights. Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. If somebody wants to join the military, they can get in as long as they qualify. That would also be somewhat racist. That is asking if African Americans should be able to join. Or if Asian Americans or even Caucasians. Anyway, no I do not support gay's but America can not say a word about letting them join the militay. If somebody wants to protect our country and every single person that they know and do not know and be a hero, who is going to stop them?
The guy above me says the thing about tight spaces, but what if you were in a tight space with the opposite sex? Does that prevent you from being sexually harrassed? No. Who is to say they would want you? Just because they are gay does not mean they dont have a spouse/ partner. Plus you are on the job to protect yourself and your country, who is going to be worrying about getting hooked up with the person next to you?
2007-03-13 22:57:37 · answer #6 · answered by ibleedorange 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
interesting some say gays and military do not mix.......as if there arent gays in the military right now!....so lets continue with that in mind......
if it were known exactly which soldiers were gay, it would not be an issue for the gays, it would be an issue of how the other soldiers choose to deal with it.......interesting, how people decide to behave is the threat to the military, and not the gays themselves.....
makes you wonder what these soldiers would do to gays if they encountered them in public.
2007-03-13 23:00:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes...but, Gay men and women should all have to stay in the same bunks as the straight women. This is because you wont have to worry about the men getting teased or the women getting sexually harrased, or assaulted by the men if they were to stay in that bunker.
2007-03-13 22:57:56 · answer #8 · answered by Promethius 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think they should be allowed to serve in the military. They are people who deserve full lives like any one else.
2007-03-13 22:58:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anna W 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sure. If they are willing to risk their life for a war that will never be won, I say go for it. We need some good looking men in the military for a change. Gay men seem to always be good looking. Well, most of them anyways...
2007-03-13 22:58:32 · answer #10 · answered by myangelbarry 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋