What do you think of gays in the military?

Answer 1

I appreciate their service. Thank you!

Answer 2

Every time I think of all the wrangling over this subject I'm reminded that when Time did a piece on this a few years back, it was the powers that be that had problems with it. The great majority of men and women in the military, when asked, had no problem with it at all. As someone has said, and I can't remember who, you don't have to be straight to use a gun, you just need to be able to shoot straight.

I think it's a tempest in a tea pot. I don't know if anyone else remembers this either, but I remember in the beginning of the war the scuttlebutt was that the military was experiencing a shortage of critical communication experts. They had recently discharged more a than a few in the year before because they were gay. Not too hard to draw the conclusion that the military would rather put lives at risk by having substandard communication people than use the best experts they have because of who they sleep with at night - and that's just not right.

Answer 3

I don't think about them at all. If any American citizen feels the need to serve their country, more power to them. Your sexuality belongs inside the uniform, and as long as it stays there, it is none of my business. Any society that deliberately excludes only the people who do not procreate, is three eggs short of an omelet.
IF you think there have not always been Gays in the military, you are deluded. I have had Gay colleagues while I served in the Armed Forces. They never made a pass at me, never suggested that I explore their lifestyle, and generally served professionally with honor. I cannot say the same about some of the heterosexual womanizing, morally bankrupt leadership that tore down unit morale, ended their (as well as the soldiers they fraternized with) careers, and wasted taxpayer dollars by eliminating assets that had been trained to do a job they could not do because they allowed their hormones to get in the way of the mission. I have always been proud of the fact that the Armed Forces were at the forefront of civil and social change and this issue should be no exception.

As far as the religious implications go, as soon as you can tell me what GOD's plans for Hermaphrodites, or any of the six scientifically recognized separate sexual identities is, I will be glad to discuss homosexuality with you. Homosexuality is not a choice, and it should not be a reason for discrimination, any more than race, cultural background, religion, or any other factor a person has no control over. Even underneath the uniform, a homosexual is first and foremost a human being; worthy of our respect and just like our flag, worthy of battle.

Answer 4

I think that we may as well legitimize reality. There have been, and always will be, gays, They are not a threat to military discipline. I served in the military in the 60's, and in Vietnam. I'm quite sure I served with gays.
I don't flaunt my sexuality. Nor do most of the gay population.
After all, our sexuality is only one aspect of our being.

Answer 5

There have always been gay people, always gonna be gay people. To think that there were never any gays in the military nor in the political arena is absurd. It doesn't bother me at all, they're laying their lives on the line just as any other soldier.

Answer 6

I have no problem as long as they don't make it officially known by making some sort of political event out it. You could call that an endorsement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

I can tell you as a former infantry sergeant that an openly gay person would not be welcomed hitting on people. 90% of straight men get offended and it could even elicit a violent response because of the implied insult. People may not like to hear that but it is true. Gays don't belong with a group of heterosexual males and are really asking to get severely hurt if they are recruiting sexual partners with men who are not interested.

Answer 7

I think "Don't ask, Don't tell" is a good policy. From the men I have talked to, they have said that they wouldn't want to know if they were serving with a gay person. I don't blame them. What guy wants to be in harms way wondering if the next guy thinks he has a cute butt? It's too much of a distraction

Answer 8

Funny you should ask.

I think that the military is oxymoronic on the subject.

For example, I remember when I was in in the Army.

We had to live in a barracks (a large room with about 50 bunk beds with 49 other young men.

We had to shower together.

We were not allowed to see women.

Now I didn't know of any gays that were in my barracks, but it seems strange to me that the military would do all that and then restrict gays.

On one hand they are promoting homosexuality, on the other they restrict it.

Answer 9

OK. Gays can serve as well as anyone. Many armies of the world don't even ask, and things are OK. Anyhow, with women in the army, the question of sexual harrassment has broadened. The important thing is the mind of a military person should be on the mission and not sex.

Answer 10

As a heterosexual Vet I have to confess it didn't bother me then and it doesn't bother me now.

In the almost 10 years I served I met a few that were gay and many of my colleges at the VA were gay. I have never met a gay who went after a straight.

You know what did trouble me? The alcoholics\substance abusers\thieves\liars... my superiors kissing rear end at my expense...

Answer 11

Having gays in the military does not bother me one bit. As long as a person is willing to place their life on the line for my country and do what they are supposed to do, they have all of my respect plus some. All persons in the military are very special and important and I don't think a person's sex life has anything to do with protecting my country and life.