So I was watching one of my favorite shows called The L word and there was an episode that was very intriguing.
On the show, there’s a character that is a captain in the military and is also a lesbian. And the episode I was watching, someone from the military accused that she’s gay and now she have to go through this whole trial for this guys accusation about her sexuality. She goes through the whole court thing for homosexual conduct. I think it is unnecessary for just one accusation on her sexuality, just one and they had to go on trial for it. This case determine whether or not she will stay in the service.
Here’s the clips that shows the court case and what it was like for her, and probably many other homosexuals, to be in that type of situation.
Is it right for this to happen to homosexuals? I mean what does their sexuality have to do with fighting for our country? It doesn't matter at all if someone is gay or straight. Think about it, gay and straight soldiers are there for probably the same reason and they are taught to do similar tasks. Their sexuality does not affect their skills in battle or whatever situation they will be in. They all will experiences the same emotions, fear and pain. So why does it matter if that person could be homosexual? Why go through this type of trial?
When Bill Clinton passed the "don't ask, don't tell" I felt that was a step to try to accept that there will be homosexuals in the military, and that homosexuality exists. So now lets take the rule about homosexuality and throw it away! I think the military should be honored to have people in general that would volunteer to join their service.
How do you feel about it? Should it matter if a person is homosexual or not to be in the military service?
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11 comments:
Briefly scanned your article, can offer a straight perspective on gays in military. Have served several enlistments in the Infantry. Living conditions are often brutal. It is not uncommon to share bathroom and showers with large numbers of men. It may seem petty, but I, as well as many of the soldiers I served with feel very uncomfortable about showering and living intimately with someone that may be sexually attracted to me when said feelings are unrequited. I have several gay friends, who are alot of fun to hang out with...very funny, witty, etc. I wouldn't be opposed to being in combat with gay people, assuming that they are properly trained and that I trust them. I am not interested in showering with them. Many of the men I've served with are not so nice, or open minded as myself. Some of them enlisted because they are tired of hunting deer...want something more sporting. Some of these men are truly bad, wake up every morning praying for a firefight; eager for any opportunity to use lethal force. An openly gay soldier who went on patrol with these men would likely never make it back. Reality is often ugly. Infantry training involves desensitizing recruits to violence from the moment they show up. DOD has heavy metal music videos with explicitly graphic combat footage that recruits watch during meals...they aren't interested in anyone with a history of civilian violence, but by the time they are finished, you will be capable of extreme violence, or you wont be in Combat Arms. The DOD's dont ask dont tell policy is in place to protect homosexuals more than to protect the honor of the military.
Never though I would say this but "gSahw is right on the money." as for me I'm not trying to become any more desensitized to homosexuals so I will not be wacthing this clip of your favorit gay show. Further more any one who violates the military code of conduct is subject to and most often given a military trail for their unbecoming actions.
I have to agree with Shaw. I wrote about this on another post. I'm not in the military but I assumed it was kind of how he described it. I think it's safer for the person not to be open about it in an environment like that.
I do understand that not many people are as open to homosexuality as some others are, and ok the “Don't ask Don't tell” is a good idea BUT I don't think the soldiers that are gay will be like “OMG btw I’m gay!" I’m just saying when they're not in the military base and they live THEIR lives the way anyone would and if someone from the same service see them, and then tell on them, is it right to kick them out of the military because they're gay? I don't think the gay soldiers would be "openly gay" to everyone. I just wanted people to see the emotions that Tasha (the gay soldier) had to go through in the trail. And how she had to live life, not her way but the military way being scared and worried about people finding out she's gay and also being kicked out. Also she’s a capital, that’s a higher rank than an average soldier.
Rules within military should be inforced uniformly regardless of rank. (hence...The Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ) UCMJ trumps the US Constitution for soldiers. Understand that once enlisted, a soldier effectively ceases to be a citizen of the US and pretty much becomes the expendable property of the US.
I also feel bad about the way gay people are treated in general in this country. They should be treated compassionately; allowed to get married or enjoy the rights of any married couple. I think it is reprehensible that some groups of people still "go after" gays (skin heads and other hate groups, extreme right religious groups) On the other hand, I resent our societies efforts to normalize homosexuality. I would support legislation that increased rights or improved circumstances for gay people...legislation that is spirited towards tolerance. Am strongly opposed to any law that forces gay indoctrination in schools or presents homosexuality as a normal and perfectly acceptable alternative to hetero sexuality. Gays that I know seem very unhappy...something is wrong, and they know it. Relationships are almost always volatile and short lived. Sorrow and desperate loneliness seem to go hand in hand with homosexuality...especially as they grow older. Wouldnt wish homosexuality on any one. Dont understand why many gays seem to wish it on straight people...guess misery loves company.
Christine, you should check out the comedian Eddie Izzard. He is a cross-dresser. He talks about a gay special military force. It may or may not agree with you, but it's hilarious.
gShaw your response was great, I don't agree with every thing you said but on the issue of schools I strongely agree wiyh you.
How is being gay less "normal" than anything else? Is it less "normal" than staring at a television for days on end, or spending two hundred bucks on shoes? These are normal activities by most standards, but I wouldn't say they're healthy.
Gay people have been around forever, and it has been accepted in some societies without problem. Remember the Romans? Plenty of other primates exhibit bisexual behavior, why wouldn't humans?
As for the danger openly gay people would face in the military - hey they're trained to kill too. It'd be the governments job to enforce rules against harassment. I understand the shower thing, but hey, build an extra shower or live with it. Being uncomftorable isn't as bad as being shot at.
Maybe the gay people you know are miserable because of the prejudice they deal with. Plenty of gay people have happy, long term relationships, and plenty of straight people don't.
Amuso, there was a city wwhere the people were like you say but it didn't turn out well as a matter of fact history tells us that " Sodom and Gamora" were completely destoryed for their perverseness. The would today is not normal, not even a little bit.
This is hilarious. Just because you, as a straight person may be attracted to the opposte sex, does NOT mean you're looking at every single chick that walks your way. So why in the world do straight people think that every gay man is looking for a piece of them? That is ridiculous, sorry to break it to most of them but they arn't the best fish out there.
The fact of the matter is these people fight for this country just has hard as any straight person, and to deny them their right to serve their country that they live in is ignorant in an astounding way. We live in 2008, don't you think by now we would have the tolerence and intelligence to see past something as simple and minute as who someone happens to be attracted to? It's bad enough that some women have to go through trouble with straight men oggling them and harrassing them on some bases, now the gay man has to worry about if they get kicked out from something they've worked and sweat for because someone might be uncomfortable. At least the gay people might know how women feel a little.
And gshaw why do you think that some gay people are unhappy? By god it's not that they arn't questioning their life, some of us just don't get a break from homophobic people and over religious people. Not every person on earth is going to be happy, just because you see a few unhappy homosexuals doesn't count for every one of them. And where do you get your information about gay couples not lasting long?
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