Why shouldn't homosexuals be allowed to be openly gay in the military?

Question

Why should homosexuals not be allowed to serve in the military? Is it a religion thing? And if so, why should religious beliefs dictate what happens in the military?

Having served myself (and continuing to serve), I haven't minded serving besides homosexuals, and feel that it takes a very special kind of person to serve in the military. Too few today are willing to sacrifice their time, sweat, and blood for their country. I feel that if you're willing to serve your country, it shouldn't matter what your sexual orientation is.

I find it difficult to understand why ppl would want to exclude anyone who is willing to serve, especially on the grounds of religious beliefs (as not all of us are of the same religion).

**In the past, it has been said that both African Americans and women shouldn't serve in the military becuase they would disrupt unit cohesion and cause difficulties. As this was proven wrong, this isn't a valid excuse to exclude homosexuals.

Answer 1

There is a very good reason. They do not want romantic relationships to take place. That could interfere with what people need to accomplish. Also, it would make some men very uncomfortable to have to sleep by and shower with a man who could find them attractive.

Answer 2

personally, I am for equal rights for gays and most times I think the catholic church can go screw itself with regard to its hypocritical stance on homosexuality,

however,

bieng effective in military times does not mean FORCING soldiers to accept each other, the military has the right to "phase" things in much slower than normal society.

you need to foster REAL bonds between the members of a unit and while prejudices against homos might be improper- they are still there and you don't want those prejudices, getting in the way of the more important goal of having a fighting unit bond, respect and act like a unit, regardless of the cause of those prejudices whether it be: religion, society, fear, or bieng forced to watch richard simmons as a child.

military life is different from normal society- AS IT MUST BE.

so it cannot operate under the same expectations and rules in mirror image form.

its hard enough getting complete strangers with so many differences to trust each other with thier lives- how the hell do you expect them to do it when the societal fear of homos is still at such a huge level.

you want to integrate openly homosexuals into the military- first get rid of the prejudice to a much larger degree in civilian life- THEN when it isn't such a big issue, make the change in the military.

the primary purpose of the military should not be to "make things fair" but to produce fighting men/women/theists who are capable of defending this country's interests- nothing else.

homosexuals can still serve thier country- however this way is the best thing for everyone for now.

Answer 3

HEY HERE IS A GREAT IDEA!!!! THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T SERVE SHOULD HAVE NO VOICE IN THE POLICY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CLOSE QUARTERS ON A DAILY BASIS. I AM TIRED OF CIVILIANS CONTROLLING MY LIFE WHEN I AM DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY'S FREEDOM AND NOT HAVING AN EQUAL SAY IN THE MATTER. Life with an openly gay person as a room mate would not be managable for most military members. It is not hate or ignorance, there simply just isn't enough privacy for it. Key word there is "OPENLY".

Answer 4

Well I think this is an excellent question and as a heterosexual female I really don't understand it either...except for perhaps the fact that those (straight persons) in the military may feel uncomfortable being seen or seeing others with a different sexual preference for example when dressing, undressing...showering perhaps, you know, it's that idiotic stigma that all gay men will hit on other men because all they think about is sex...there is alot of people that are ignorant out there who think this...homophobics for example.
You are completely right and I hope to read more of your responses.
Thankyou for serving our country

Answer 5

As a retired military member I have served with gay men and women. The only reason that the members with a different sexual orientation feel so persecuted is because this country can't even get rid of a moral code that is so outdated that it considers anyone that is different to be of weak character. Let's get rid of this disease we call god and start accepting everyone for what they are, People just trying to make it through life with out being harassed or ridiculed.

Answer 6

It's a matter of keeping soldiers focused on a task along with some amount of stereotyping.
Male soldiers are housed separately from female soldiers so that they they each think about being soldiers instead of looking at each other and being preoccupied with sex. It is part how the military controls the activities of the troops.
It gets quite a bit more complicated if they can't sort people according to gender, meaning that if military leaders can't count on being able to billet males with males and females with females without them forgetting that they are soldiers and spending all their time lusting after each other, it gets to be difficult to manage a military.
A military unit has to be a fighting team above all, not a team that spends its time and energy thinking about sex.
That's where the stereotyping comes in. If they have to guess about how people will act as a team, they have to guess that people in general will think about sex more than about fighting and--given the opportunity--most soldiers will HAVE sex rather than fight.
But they think that about heteros just as much as they think it about homos.
I don't especially like any of that, but that's how it is.

Answer 7

I think it is ok for homosexuals to be openly gay in the military, as long as they are not flamboyantly gay. I have nothing against people who are gay. I dislike the gays who define themselves as being gay. That aspect of their personality consumes them and that is all that they are. I'm straight, but I don't feel that my life revolves around it. One should not let their sexual orientation consume them. As long as the person realizes that they are more than just "gay"...that they are a soldier, a brother, a good shot with a rifle.... then they should be allowed to serve.

Answer 8

I Totally agree with you. Whoever wants to serve should be allowed to, especially since there are fewer and fewer people who support our armed forces. I suppose they don't let homosexuals serve because of the heterosexuals and sleeping arrangements. It might not always work out very well. And the gay men would probably have a hard time be around the hetero men. But I totally agree with you. And it's not a religious thing. Our country believes in the seperation of church and state, so it's not religious.

Answer 9

i agree with you 100% i have served with homosexuals & honestly what they do behind closed doors is no concern of mine, nor should it be the concern of anyone else. the difference is a homosexual can hide who he is alot easier than a woman or minority~ there are alot of closed minded people in the world & yes even in the military. also i dont think its a religion thing, as far as im concerned~ stereotyping catholics for being homophobic is just as wrong as not letting gays in the military. as a catholic~ i know many more that have no problem with homosexuals~

Answer 10

There are a lot of things that aren't allowed in the military that has religious ties. Adultry is illegal in the military. What does that have to do with the job at hand? Blacks and women were let into the military eventually and this is also true for gays.

Answer 11

Well I personally could care less. I am ex-Army and as long as they could shoot straight and would do it when they had to they were alright by me.

But the military is way to important to force social experimentation and change on. It is it's own culture with it's own rules and even it's own laws. You need to remember it takes a certain type to chose a job that is to kill people and break things. It really doesn't seem to be made stronger by outside interference, and a strong military is essential to us remaining free.

And if you think the women in combat doesn't cause us problems you are wrong. Look at that whole Jessica Lynch thing. Men get captured all the time, and you can't tell me one of their names. There is no way that you are going to convince me that our society is really ready to have that on a large scale.