What is the reason why the military has a don't ask don't tell policy?

Question

woman are allowed why not gay men?

the reason I'm asking this is because if they are worried about sex, What about the fermales who have been raped in the military?

Answer 1

Gay dont ask dont tell applies to women as well as men... and I heard it best described the other day on the radio:

The straight soldiers and officers are afraid the gays will not be able to control themselves and will force themselves on other soldiers or officers thereby creating a situation where one who might never have "become" gay suddenly does.

Apparently straight men everywhere, even our big strong manly service men are terrified of being converted against their will.

Is that a crock'o'shlt or what?

Answer 2

Bill Clinton made it a law in the 90s. It is a sensible policy.

There have always been gays in the military and there always will be. That said, the role of the military is to be a fighting machine and it's primary purpose is not to be a social petry dish. In the past if the military thought a member was gay they could boot him from the ranks with very little evidence. Foreign operatives would blackmail servicemen in order to get military secrets and it happened a lot because of the stigma attached and the threat of losing a career. There were witchhunts sometimes for gays. All it took was for someone to admit he/she was gay.

The don't ask don't tell policy protects not only the gay servicemember but it protects the integrity of the unit. No more witchhunts and no more ruining a career because they suspect something because the policy also has a don't pursue clause. The rule is that gay servicemen must remain "in the closet". This is a good thing. In Viet Nam they had many incidents of fragging and murder. Good order and disciplin broke down. That is why gays cannot be openly gay. It breaks down unit cohesion.

In the future gays might be able to serve openly. The new generation does not put such a premium on the issue. However the older generations still do. If the leaders in the gay community were smart they would shut their mouths and let time smooth the road. If they are stupid they will protest and force it. It will either break unit cohesion or it will create a mutiny in the ranking officers who will not allow it and the gay movement will be set back decades. They have every reason to make it a no tolerance situation because the primary mission of the military is to be capable of defending the country.

You may not like my answer but it is true.

Answer 3

ummm...as far as I know, gay *women* are barred from openly serving, too.

You are confusing me.

The reason for the rule is that many politicos and much of their straight constituency, seem to think that if you give gays an inch, they will take a yard and belch grass. in other words, they think that if they do away with the rule, that Harry the Effeminate Hairdresser will be lining up to join the infantry. Not because he really wants to be there, but because he wants to make trouble...he wants to join and get drummed out, so he can claim that he is being denied his 'right' to serve. Some crazy person creating bad situations, so they can go on a public crusade, indulging some psychotic fantasy.

It is of course *ridiculous* for people to think this way, but many do. *shrug* Plus, you know that there would probably be *at least* one case of Harry the Effeminate Hairdresser (or Doris the Diesel D y k e) making trouble...


There is no real justification for the don't ask don't tell policy. However, the ban on females in ground combat is a completely different matter.


Namaste.

Answer 4

being a female or a male plays no part in why a gay can or cannot join. Now for your quesition Gay people can join the military. The dont ask dont tell policy being as it may is because they think that it will hurt the moral of the military. However it is also in place to protect the military personnel from being judged or harrassed. It is in place for that reason as well as for others.



Edit: Women who are in the military face the same harrassment as if they were out in the civie world. yes there are women who get raped but for the most part people respect the women who are in there and treat them as such.

Answer 5

That coverage has maximum of double standards. this is no longer an equivalent coverage for each man or woman, the place in case you tell all of us you're gay, you're out, no exceptions. in case you have a definite means that the army desires or if there's a conflict happening, or in terms of a draft, you could tell human beings you're gay and you will stay in the army. this is no longer honest. And the element is, to make the coverage honest, they could could desire to discharge those experienced infantrymen in cases of conflict and which will carry approximately a weaker military. Now, the fairest element to do could be for the government to assert "we've greater substantial issues to fret approximately than despite if some homophobic soldier feels gentle in a tub." And definitely, would not a soldier have larger issues to fret approximately too?

Answer 6

I disagree. I think it should matter. Especially in the Navy where people share berthings (sleep area). I used to feel uncomfortable about lesbians in the same sleep area as me. Only because I had one spying on me behind her rack curtains. It was weird. Most of the girls wore just underwear and tank tops to bed. I became her friend in the long run. But it was almost like having a guy in the dorm. Honestly, I just think that the military wouldn't want to spend the extra money making berthings for gay and lesbian. The Navy just allowed females to go on deployments within the last 10 years. That's change enough for now I suppose.

Answer 7

because every one is trying to be as politically correct without hurting anyone at all . I find it pointless and If I were gay I'd be furious over it because it does nothing but diminish someones right to say out loud who they are and what they represent . This was not the outstanding terrific thing people made it out to be ( maybe a step in the right direction ) It was a " I'll meet you half way " mutual agreement that changed nothing .

Answer 8

Its a morale thing, because no matter how you look at it, most military personnel will be straight men, and some of them may not feel too comfortable serving alongside 'dudes who like dudes' to put it lightly and may not feel very confident in fighting alongside guys of that persuasion. Don't ask don't tell allows those ones that are gay to continue to serve and not unwittingly egg on any unwanted personal harrassment, and I can't say there are people that are against protecting gays from undue hostility.

Answer 9

Good question.

Todays reasoning is exactly the same with the old reasoning that women should not serve in the military and that Blacks should not serve in the military.

The answer is simple : Bigotry.

Answer 10

Clinton tried to make it legal for gays to join the military in the ninties, but there was great outcry in the nation and his efforts were negotiated down to "Dont ask, don't tell, don't pursue" for those that may be in the miltary and be gay. So because of this law if you join the military they can't ask you about your sexuality.