No more dont ask dont tell?

As true as some of these ideas are in theory, I think any homosexual man or woman looking to join the military and be open about who they are isn't there to get some ass. It's not as though all the drag queens from Roy's Leather Bar are going to run down to the enlistment office and sign up the moment DADT is repealled. Any recruit who is willing to endure the training and the possibility of being sent into combat (I hope) has other things at the front of their mind other than "omg same sex showers someone drop the disco ball!" Also about these showers, this isn't a cheap 70s porno. I'm a Navy brat, and have many friends in the Air Force (due to living 2 miles from the base), and while group showers probably do exist in training facilities, living state-side on base in military housing/dorms, people are not showering together anymore. I have 3 good friends in Afghanistan right now, and even they are taking 1 man showers. Straight guys are embarassed enough about each others' parts, lets not kid ourselves.

 

Also, not even 10 years ago the first female cadet was admitted to The Citadel military academy here in Charleston. And OMG everyone was so worried! All the hazing that might happen, cadets distracted by the sight of boobs, the uber macho guys fully knowing no woman could do half the job he could. And...here we are. The school hasn't crumbled on itself yet. Change is scary, yes. But I don't think people who genuinely want to serve their country are making that decision recklessly, regardless of orientation.

Edited July 25, 2008 by Ryee

Also, not even 10 years ago the first female cadet was admitted to The Citadel military academy here in Charleston. And OMG everyone was so worried! All the hazing that might happen, cadets distracted by the sight of boobs

 

Female cadets and soldiers are not housed with men. Females still do not have all the equal rights men do in the military. A female solider is not allowed to be a part of an infantry unit, unless she is a driver. Pregnant female soldiers, if they choose to stay in the military, are then seperated even further. They are taken out of their normal unit and put into the "preggo" unit. Also the first female allowed into the Citadel didn't make it, she quit from the stress. I for one couldn't join the military because I don't have a gallbladder, how that effects my ability to be a soldier I don't know but the military discriminates against TONS of medical conditions. (I'm in no way shape or form saying homosexuality is a medical condition just pointing out there is a butt ton of discrimination allowed in the military in many forms.)

 

My fiance is ex military and comes from a long line of Marines. I listened to a conversation that took place between Gabe and his father about this issue. They both agreed that homosexuals deserve all the civil rights of heterosexuals but felt that it should be acknowleged that when you join the military you cease to be a civilian and any rights at that point are a privalage, as part of the military you cease to be your own person and become property of the federal government. You are so much a piece of property to the government that if a soldier is assaulted in a bar fight etc the person who attacked him can be brought up on charges of destruction of federal property. Gabes father also said that sadly this would make a lot of soldiers feel uncomfortable, yes we know that the gay men aren't checking out every package in the room but that doesn't mean every soldier would be thrilled to share barracks and that it would probably cause more than a handful to not reup. The military would also have to go in and remove sodomy from it's list of illegal activities in its code of conduct.

 

If DADT were to be done away with one thing that would need to be addressed were benefits. Apparently even if you were to say you wanted your benefits to be given to your lover upon your death the military still only gives benefits to spouses, children and family. Until the country deals with making homosexual marriage legal in every state and recognizing the validity of said union your lover of 25 years is still regarded only as a friend. This happened to Gabes uncles Bruce and Dennis. They had been together for 35 years when Bruce passed away. Sadly the company he worked for refused to recognize Dennis as his spouse and every cent from his benefits and life insurance went to Bruces mom, a horrible bigot of a woman who refused to even help pay funeral costs.

 

This isn't as cut and dry a case as one might think simply because it is dealing with the military, which in a way reminds me of the native american tribes here. For the most part they are allowed to govern themselves and live by the rules they set for themselves. The casino I work for is allowed to show complete and total favor to tribal members in all areas of the company. Also if you're caught stealing or cheating in the casino you are arrested by tribal police, taken to tribal jail and then tried in the tribal court, sounds very military to me. Don't ya just love sovereign nations?

Edited July 26, 2008 by Morgause

"What could be more surprising than the first batallion Transvestite brigade"

-Eddie Izzard http://youtube.com/watch?v=qPML-n1kRnY

 

It's not so much about any possible sexual harrassment or special accomodation issue, but rather a possible violence issue in my opinion on the matter. I think Ben's post hit the nail on head.