Gays in the military

[BassMan2000]

Being a Marine a have a few opinions on this matter.

Do I think it's a good idea? NO

You can not force people to respect you or socialize with you.

On the radio this morning there were two guy military members talking about how good it would be to come out and have the opportunity to have the comradery with there fellow service members.

That will never happen. I was in the Infantry and you share almost everything tents, showers, rooms.

If you knew someone is guy would you share you space?

Having a leadership position in the Marines I have witness the isolation gays receive.
Even if fellow Marines were tolerate they would never invited them to hang with them because of the relentless teasing.

If you have rank you make able to survive, but the low ranking members it would be very hard.




 

[T-Block]

Seriously, just because a person is gay don't mean they will be interested in you. As long as they don't try and make a pass at me, I'm cool.

[BassbyGrace]

If you are still in the service bassman, you might want to walk carefully with comments on an open forum like this.  Just some EOR advice.

[kodacolor]

We brought up a similar question in my old Academy Choir. Should we allow a known homosexual to room with other members of the same sex during a choir tour? Probably not, since the effect would be similar to co-ed rooming.

I don't see how this would be the similar to co-ed rooming.  When you have straight girls and straight boys together there is a pretty high chance of mutual attraction and activities that come along with mutual attraction.  When you have straight guys and gay guys together there is no chance of mutual attraction.  If anything the straight guys will fear that the gay guys are attracted to them and will be overly persistent (or try period).  If that tension is some how squashed and some ground rules are set for both groups there shouldn't be a problem.

[B3Wannabe]

The military is not a religious institution. The country is not a religious institution. We cannot use the church as a comparison for them.

I was in the Army, while I don't agree with it, I think that we cannot prevent them from being "who they are" in a secular institution.

I say let them be "free". In a way, there is a comparison to Blacks and women serving in the armed forces.

Bassbygrace's job would be to make sure they are treated fairly. Teasing someone because they're gay is verbal abuse, and could possibly get you in trouble in the military. You don't have to hang out with them, but when it comes to doing your job, you cannot let your personal convictions get in the way.

I am sure there are many military that didn't like the idea of a Black president, but they have to follow his orders, even if they don't like it.

As T-Block said, as long as they aren't making sexual advances at someone, then they should be fine.

Sometimes women will even share barracks with men, in a field environment.

[B_XALTED]

I didnt read all of the posts thoroughly, but why is there so much emphasis on the male homosexual, you know there are a lot of gay women in the military, and I dont see where they are put out there like the men.

[emusicme28]

I dont see why there is so much emphasis on this anyway. Me and a guy friend of mine (who's in the military) got into a discussion about this recently. He was fired up about this openly gay guy and saying how he would never room with someone like that or there'd be a problem. I quickly let him know that out of all the gay men I know, only a few "look or act" like they are. You really can't point out every gay man in the army because not all of them look or act a certain way; so why be harsh to one  who is Open.?  As long  as they are not making any unwelcome advances I'd say leave them alone.

[kodacolor]

I didnt read all of the posts thoroughly, but why is there so much emphasis on the male homosexual, you know there are a lot of gay women in the military, and I dont see where they are put out there like the men.

IMO, it seems like people (mostly guys) enjoy lesbians...if ya know what I mean

*rimshot*

[B3Wannabe]

IMO, it seems like people (mostly guys) enjoy lesbians...if ya know what I mean

*rimshot*

Indeed.

[emusicme28]

IMO, it seems like people (mostly guys) enjoy lesbians...if ya know what I mean

*rimshot*

yes ma'am!!! You can say that again...

[T-Block]

IMO, it seems like people (mostly guys) enjoy lesbians...if ya know what I mean

*rimshot*

Unfortunately, ur correct. I remember back in the day when I was a fan. But not the ugly lesbians. They had to be fine, lol.

[csedwards2]

wow

[B_XALTED]

Unfortunately, ur correct. I remember back in the day when I was a fan. But not the ugly lesbians. They had to be fine, lol.

ReALLy?

[baggettcindy]

There are already gays in the military. Sometimes it is very obvious.

[THE WOLFMAN]

man, look. can he shoot?  yeh? then fine. i dont need to know whut he do.

[BassbyGrace]

There are already gays in the military. Sometimes it is very obvious.

 

The military is not a religious institution. The country is not a religious institution. We cannot use the church as a comparison for them.

I was in the Army, while I don't agree with it, I think that we cannot prevent them from being "who they are" in a secular institution.

I say let them be "free". In a way, there is a comparison to Blacks and women serving in the armed forces.

Bassbygrace's job would be to make sure they are treated fairly. Teasing someone because they're gay is verbal abuse, and could possibly get you in trouble in the military. You don't have to hang out with them, but when it comes to doing your job, you cannot let your personal convictions get in the way.

I am sure there are many military that didn't like the idea of a Black president, but they have to follow his orders, even if they don't like it.

As T-Block said, as long as they aren't making sexual advances at someone, then they should be fine.

Sometimes women will even share barracks with men, in a field environment.

good post.

[T-Block]

ReALLy?

Way to put me on blast B. 

[cordney]

I really have mixed feelings on this subject...If they do lift the policy, I think things will go down hills before it got better.  Being a former military member, I can say that you see Gays on a daily basis.  The females are out there more than the men...alot of the time you can tell by the way the females dress or how their hair is did...JMT.

 

[Kbenny]

I was in the military for 25yrs, and while I can say that while I have ever hear anyone openly admit that they were homosexual, I, among others had our ideas based on certain actions. Perhaps it could have been a preconceived notion, as the saying goes, "if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck...it's a duck)...maybe a bad example of prejudging. But I thinking the deeper issues at the time involved disrupting the good order, morale and cohesiveness of the unit...after all the mission is to be able to act a a team and trust for teammate. Not to say that because one is gay, they can't fight, shoot, fly, etc., but the distraction factor does come into play, will others "want" to "play" together...maybe, maybe not.

From a leadship standpoint, a main concern was the influencing of a homosexual relationship on a younger/lower ranking troop...especially one in a vuneralbe state. We all know that homosexuallity has exisited in the military since its beginning. But just as the regulation prohibits PDA (Public Display of Affection) in uniform for heterolsexual couples, it would most definately discourage it for homosexual couples. The issue is then, what about PDA out of uniform, while on base...no rules on this, but then this would "relax the rule" for gay couples on base...I'm sure this may soon become a rights issue then. Not sure where this will end up, but I'm sure there will be problems. (Benny)

[B3Wannabe]

I sure that "disrupting the good order, morale and cohesiveness of the unit" was also said about integrating Blacks and women into the military.

I'm just saying that it's a secular institution, as long as they aren't breaking any "laws" they cannot be prevented from serving.

I do like the PDA issue. That could cause some problems, but again, it can't be prevented.

I've also heard the "if someone made a pass at me" issues. I submit instances where women are subjected to unwanted advances from men to that one. A simple "I'm not interested" should make the person back off. Consistent unwanted advances then become sexual harassment.

So, the same laws we already have in place to protect women from men, can also be used to protect men/women from unwanted advances from the same sex.

If a person, whether they're heterosexual or not, is not able to control themselves, then not only do they not need to serve in the military, they may also have a larger mental issue.