Why can't gay people fight in the army?

Question

This doesn't make any sense to me, so I'd like to know why they aren't allowed to. Thanks.

I was already aware of the DADT policy. I'm a teenager who is relatively new to the world of politics and ethics concerning gay people. I'm just trying to learn. :)

Answer 1

Well gay people are allowed, and do, the army just doesn't want you to be out.

I think the reason is less political and more functional to tell you the truth. In the army they try to make you as one, no one person more important than the other, no one person different than another. They train you the same, treat you the same, even make you look the same through cutting hair the same way and giving you the same uniform.

Yet being gay and out means you're not the same. This can go both ways, you can either be hated or loved for it, as most people are yet to be indifferent. So you'll either be treated poorly or well by your comrades, and that's the problem, because you're just supposed to be another soldier.

Plus I think generally sex is frowned upon in the army, you're there to work, not have sex. I think it's generally frowned upon for males and females of a unit, and likewise with males and other males in a unit, same with females and females in a unit. Plus sex forms bonds, which can again hinder the progress of soldiers.

Basically they're there to be soldiers, not civilians, this isn't the only thing that goes out the door when you go in. When you're in you're not so much an individual as you are part of a group, and to break with that can cause unforeseen problems.

On a darker note I have heard of a man in the army who was killed by another for being gay, even though if I remember right he wasn't. But the man who murdered him thought he was, and was pushed into it by another soldier. It was a really bizarre story. I'm just using it to illustrate how differences can polarize opinions, especially in high stress situations.

So when I think of the don't ask don't tell policy I think of it as an attempt to make everyone the same, for maximum efficiency and minimum internal conflict.

It's weird, but it's there. Doesn't stop gay men from going and fighting in the army at all, you just leave sexuality at the door.

Answer 2

Actually not quite correct... in both the USA and the UK (where I live) the official policy is "Don't ask, Don't tell" That is to say you must not openly declare that you are Gay but providing you are discrete and keep it to yourself no one will ask you either.

This has been the position since the late 1990's. Prior to that Gays were banned because it was feared that two Gay soldiers could get into a relationship causing discipline problems. These days there are in fact many gay people serving in the front line in both countries but i line with the regulations they have to keep a low profile so that you shouldn't ever become aware that they are there.

But either way it is simply NO LONGER TRUE that gays are banned from fighting and many do so daily.

Answer 3

'Scuse me, missy...but where did you get the idea that there aren't gays ALREADY IN the military, with many of them already having done multiple TDY's just like the straight soldiers? DADT only works as long as you and your boyfriend keep your relationship hidden from prying eyes. And because there's a war on, believe me, eyes are less likely to pry if you need warm bodies to turn into hamburger in Fallujah.

After all, haven't you watched the news lately? Several soldiers have tried to use DADT to get out of yet another Baghdad tour, and wha'd'ya know? Being gay all of a sudden is NOT a good enough excuse to get drummed out of the military. HMMM...now how did THAT happen, I wonder???

Answer 4

They're rethinking it, because where do you think the language experts and intelligence workers come from? Not from low-income small-town USA....

Gays have always been in the military; the argument was exactly the same for not allowing women to be in the Military,and yes, there have been problems because human beings are sexual beings. Ask any Army official now if they'd rather not have women in the service and they will tell you they can't fight the war without them.

I'm not surprised at some of the answers: stupid people, stupid answers.

Answer 5

Because people still go by the stereotypes, and think that all gay people would stare at everyone else. Dude, straight people are much more sex hungry than gay people.

I while ago I was watching the news and they were talking about making a 'gay bomb'. They said that they would bomb the iraqi soldiers with it and it would turn everyone gay-and that 'everyone would just think everyone else is too hot to fight!'. This is an example of what we're doing isntead of trying to cure AIDS or Cancer.. This is America.

Answer 6

I believe it will depend on the individual country. The USA being one of the most uptight when it comes to gays is probably going to be the last to allow any rights of the GBLT. We have a government that is so closed minded that it is probably dark 24 hours a day 7 days a week in there minds. Shoot they haven't even passed legislation for Civil Rights completely yet.

Answer 7

I just don't think it makes sense to not allow gays to openly serve, and instead raise the age you can sign up for the military at a point where people really start feeling the effects of age.

A comedian made a quote about this once: "I don't care if gays serve openly in the military, cause if someone is watching my *** out there, I want him to think my *** is cute. Hopefully he'll save it just because of that if the time comes."

Would you want a 22 year old gay men in perfect health as a soldier, a 45 year old straight man who is starting to get arthritis in his joints

Yeah, I thought so.

Answer 8

Doesn't make sense to me either. 25 countries now allow gays to serve openly. None have ever had to go back.

Bit I think the reasoning behind it is that it could cause a problem with staring in the shower etc.

As far as fighting itself is concerned: Ever read about the Spartans.

Answer 9

militia merely does what this is informed human beings such as you VOTE for the Obamainre who's merely as undesirable the bush device began the conflict. some human beings chosen to %. up a rifle and shelter YOUR exact to ask dumb questions

Answer 10

FYI, there are plenty of gay people in the military. the policy is that the military cannot ask a person what their sexual prefrence is. on the other hand if the individual should freely offer up the info that they are gay then they will be discharged or prevented from joining the military. it isn't really an issue of wether they can fight or not. it's a privacy and space issue. there are already seperate barracks for men and women. you would have to create a seperate barracks for gay women and another for gay men. trust me....straight soldiers will kill before they will share their showers and sleeping areas with gay men. it'll never happen. that's really just the tip of the iceberg. i personally don't think they (collectively) would make good soldiers.