As a gay man, I’ve found the whole controversy over gays in the military to be downright bizarre. We’ve always been in the military and there are an estimated 65,000 of us serving right now.

What I don’t understand is why. I get that some people need money for college or job training, but why would you willingly serve a right wing kakistocracy like the US that hates us, condemns us and denies us equal rights?

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It's not just the military, but this entire country that needs to be educated about the humanness of gay men and women. So, what this guy is doing is some educating by "coming out"...not just educating the public but himself as well. There is strength in owning my own integrity where it may lead me and it teaches me, when I do embrace myself as totally as possible (for we're on a jouney), that I am worth every bit of self-affirmation and celebration that I can give myself. I am worth it! For, I have birthrights that include dignity and freedom to be faithful to mySelf.

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If the "Don't ask don't tell" policy is replaced with one which openly encourages gays to join the military, the U.S. Navy will finally be able to use the Village People song "In the Navy" in their recruiting ads.

There was a story going around in 1979 that the navy wanted to use the song then, but changed their minds when it turned out the Village People were gay boys from San Francisco. Probably urban legend...

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As the world grows older, US policies grow more draconian and outdated than ever before. Countires under our thumb 5o years ago are now our equals. And it is irrelevant policies such as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that are prime examples of our impending decline. Why wouldn't the government want the best minds and bodies serving in the elite crowd of the military? Civil liberties in this country are at an all time low as we realize the dream that 1939 Germany could not implement. Please believe that by the time we've invaded Iran and fallen from grace, the military will be accepting any and all recruits, gay or not...

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So you and your son uphold the value of hyposcrisy and lying.

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yo , dude, the only threat is people like you.

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Oh dear, it's fudge you've got for brains, I'm afraid, you poor frightened bigot.

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I served 8 years in the active US Army and counted Lesbian & Gay troops among my friends, roommates, coworkers and neighbors. From regular clerical jobs through highly sensitive security positions, they did their jobs well and were not harassed to the best of my knowledge. They were not 'out' in the official sense, but were not closeted- everybody knew their preference and most respected it. The rest largely kept their opinions to themselves.

Maybe things are different down in the line units (Infantry, Armor, Artillery, Cavalry, Combat Engineer, Combat Aviation), but in the support, combat service support, headquarters units and such, I didn't see it. As an 84B Photographer, I worked extensively from Generals & staff at HQs through the line units and didn't see or hear of it. We also worked in support of CID (Criminal Investigation Division) and MP investigations and would have likely heard of anything of that nature.

The simple fact is that gay people have served our Army from the beginning and have performed great service to our nation despite being gagged as to who they really are. Who someone loves as a consenting adult is nobody's business except for the people involved. The only legit argument concerning homosexuality in the military is that of blackmail, which is not an issue if someone is out of the closet. Only a closeted person would be susceptible to being threatened by being outed. There is no security risk for a soldier that is out-- period.

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"It's a threat to discipline and it makes it difficult for fighting men living and fighting in close quarters."

Current evidence, including the experience of our allies who allow gays to openly serve, such as Britain, says otherwise. Here are some information updates:

Former Top General Calls For Repeal Of Gay Military Ban "General John Shalikashvili, who served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1993 through 1997, has joined the call for repeal of "Don't Ask. Don't Tell", the prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military."

Bill To Repeal 'DADT' To Be Introduced Next Week In Congress "...a Zogby poll taken in October showed three-out-of-four members of the military who are serving in Iraq or recently returned home don't care if someone in their unit is gay. The poll, taken for the Michael D. Palm Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara, also found that nearly one in four U.S. troops say they know for sure that someone in their unit is gay or lesbian, and of those 59% said they learned about the person's sexual orientation directly from the individual."

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Yo, shit for brains. Only openly homosexual behavior is a problem? No. Openly SEXUAL behavior of ANY kind is a problem.

In a military setting, the sexual behavior af ANY person CAN be a problem. Honest people shouldn't have to suffer. In an open and honest military, women serving in the Middle East wouldn't be dying from chronic dehydration because they can't drink anything after early afternoon. (Because any trip to relieve oneself is often a trip to rape by one of those "noble warriors" with whom they serve.) Perhaps an open and honest military, with gay soldiers able to identify to others MIGHT give women a chance to at least have SOMEONE They could trust to have their back when they needed to pee.

The problem isn't sexual identity, it's the lack of being accountable for ones sexual behavior.

Oh, and morons like yourself and your unfortunate son. You're a HUGE problem.

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The United States has wasted far too much money and time, and ruined countless lives of dedicated Military people simply because they are gay or lesbian. This is such a twisted sense of "justice" as to be solidly unjust. Twenty-three, count 'em!, other nations allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in their armed forces. Why must the United States, "the land of the free", be so persistent about restricting gays and lesbians from serving openly?

The DADT (Don't ask, don't tell) policy is a farce. Even the most discrete gay person who follows the rules explicitly might be "outed" by a fellow service member who is suspicious. Having served in the Military (Vietnam War Era), I am fully aware of how men specifically talk about "scoring", even when they aren't! "Scoring" in the era of my service meant "get laid" with a woman. In the late 1960's GOD FORBID you might even be suspected of being gay, a term that was relatively new at the time.

There have been numerous articles and commentaries written that suggest the gay man (lesbian woman) is NOT the issue. It is the straight man who has deep set fears about his own sexual orientation and because of that may "zone in" affectively on another man he suspects of being gay. Quite often the transference factor combined with the fear factor leads to highly destructive behavior, including causing honorable gay and lesbian service members to be discharged unnecessarily.

One must question all this fuss, the sweeping obsession and the persistent intruding into the private lives of others. It is unhealthy, counter productive and extremely wasteful. The policy (DADT) also speaks to a very unhealthy and immature understanding of human sexual behavior -- straight and gay -- and serves to underscore the stupidity of such a policy. Who cares what another person's sexual orientation is?

Why is that such a critical judgment factor, the ultimate litmus test, of one's worth and worthiness in our US Armed Forces? One's genitals are "private parts". How those private parts are pleasured or enjoyed in the privacy of others is no one's business! That includes the Pentagon, the Military in general, the church, the state and your neighbors!

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where is it? what did he/she say?

bring back freedom of speech!!

if you reinstate the deleted comment please delete this one so i don't look like an idiot...

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