Article In Military Journal Endorses Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

New York Times:

WASHINGTON -- In an unusual show of support for allowing gay men and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces, an official military journal article argues forcefully this month for repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law that requires homosexuals in the services to keep their sexual orientation secret.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[graffitijoe]

Obama? Obama, where are you on this? Obama? Always hiding out from the issues.

[Idea1013]

He has been awfully quiet, but at this point many posters are correct- we need to be jumping on our reps. about this to change the law, I think. Unfortunately, mine will be no help (Nebraskans) so it is up to the rest of them.

[graffitijoe]

As the C-in-C he can get just about any rule suspended or enacted that pertains to the military. Lawmakers would have to follow-up, but this policy could be over tomorrow along with Gitmo closing and troops being withdrawn.

"Meet the new boss - same as the old boss."

[OkieIntellectual]

You can bet the house (if its not already in foreclosure) that Colonel Prakash is going to be unpopular at his next promption board. I woud not be suprised if he finds himself being asked to retire soon, and if he refuses they will simply deny him a promotion for three years, at which time his commission will be discharged and he'll be out of the Air Force. Having grown up in a military family and having served myself, I've seen this tactic used many times.

[MetalMelissa]

It is really sad that this is still in place.
I've met many gay people (men and women) who served and got kicked out once they were outed.
Most were outstanding and courageous individuals who were great at their job. People I would want next to me once the bullets started flying.

This policy has been ridiculous for a long time now.
It needs to end.

[larry278]

What's with Pres Obama & his refusal to end DADT in US forces? Is it a tradition, something like what Churchill said of the Royal Navy having a tradition of the lash, rum & sodomy?

[BVLian]

It's a Law, not a tradition. It needs to be changed by congress so the the President can sign it. That simple.

[Steamboater]

Not as simple as you would like to believe. Obama has the right and power to suspend DADT until it's overturned but he pays the Gay community lip service and talks out of both sides of his mouth about Gay rights, on the one hadn doing nothing major about it and then suporting a seperate but equal status for us with marriage rights.

[BVLian]

Quick Facts:

-In a 2006 Zogby poll, 72% of active duty soldiers said they are comfortable with gays, and 23% report that they actually know someone in their unit who is gay.

-The Nations of Israel, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada have open policies. No problems of unit cohesion have been reported.

-More than 13,000 service members have been discharged since the implementation of DADT, many who are valuable members of the intelligence community and linguists.

Support HR 1283 Repealing DADT. The momentum has been great in the past 60 days.

[pjones006]

Big0ts don't have much need for facts.

[up420oz]

As a retired Canadian bird Gunner, I remember whe we first got women in our combat arm trade. First field exercise, out of 7 women, 1 was what we called the battery sleeping bag. With in a year, she and 3 others were gone. The remaning women and the women that came after them proved to be as capable as most men. It was a shock to the men having women in the trade, but that soon passed. We did have have a couple of guys try to make it impossible to have women around, using various methods. They eventially quit the military because of their own prejudice, and good riddens!
Then, we were told that gays would be allowed in the military. Again, just a few malcontents tried to cause stuff. They too quit, and again , good riddens.

What I noticed about these 2 situations, is that the people with the worst reviews, were the people causing the problems. And that these people were from low educational backgrounds.

I guess dumb and hate go hand in hand.

[BVLian]

indeed.

[Steamboater]

The American military still has members who try to make it impossible for women to belong in the military and cases of rape and sexual harrassment are a fact of military life for women but Gays are a threat?

[PlaceboStudman]

Hmmmm...I used to have faith in Rep Murphy's crusade to have DADT repealed quickly.

Now Im not so sure if anyone has the political will to kick the complacency out of the military brass to get this done

Shame

[BVLian]

Keep the faith. we have been working very hard and are getting results. Just because its not all over the news doesn't mean it isn't happening. We have momentum.

[PlaceboStudman]

Which begs the question, why isn't this all over the news? The biggest civil/human rights movement in 50 years, and we get crickets....

yeah, yeah, I know, saving people money through insurance reform that doesn't have a chance to save lives is far more important than human rights

Uh huh, sure...

[Steamboater]

Yeah ...yeah ...yeah. We hear the same thing about Obama and a public option in healthcare reform. It's all bullsh*t.

[Idea1013]

I don't believe I have ever seen the argument made so seemlessly as this:

“In an attempt to allow homosexual service members to serve quietly, a law was created that forces a compromise in integrity, conflicts with the American creed of ‘equality for all,’ places commanders in difficult moral dilemmas, and is ultimately more damaging to the unit cohesion its stated purpose is to preserve,” Colonel Prakash writes.

Bless you Colonel, for being so eloquent.

[edgarcaycedoc]

When I was in the military--'Nam and following--we had gays. Everyone knew who they were. Our only concern was if they did their job or not. Repeal DADT.

[Steamboater]

And during Vietnam Gays were allowed to serve too as long as they didn't reveal it to anyone and drafted on the condition they would undergo psychiatric counseling; it happened to me but I refused to join an organization where the inmates were running the facility.

[openlids]

Powerful photo. I don't care what that man's sexuality is, we are safer with him ready to protect us, and is a hero for doing so, whether or not you agree with the wars or gay marriage. It will be a shame if when his tour of duty is up, he cannot come home to the country he defended & marry who he chooses to.

Let's get it done already.

[MetalMelissa]

Fanned.

[openlids]

Thanks.

[Yeah-Me]

Ditto.. Fanned

[BVLian]

Look up HR 1283 as of today it has 176 co-sponsors. 5 added in the past week. We should reach 50% plus 1 by the end of October if we keep the current mathematical momentum. No dreams, just facts.

Call your rep if they are not already co-sponsors :-)

[A Meat Beetle]

My father was a WW2 combat veteran. He told me (and I think he would know) that when one is in the heat of battle one is NOT thinking about sex.

[MetalMelissa]

Very true.
I knew a lot of gay people in my unit. No one cared.

[TrueIndy08]

Well I have to go and pick up my son.... you people can sit here and debate DADT, the fact of the matter is, you may want it repealed, but your "fantastic congress" has to do that.... and by the sounds of it, it wont happen... not anytime soon...

they dont listen to you, so complaining about it wont make them change it.

I will believe it will happen when it happens.... until next time....

[BVLian]

Facts too much for you?

[TrueIndy08]

no... I have a child that needs picking up.... he cant drive himself home, he's 2.

[Steamboater]

The fact of a congress and president that doubletalks you is what bothers TrueIndy08.

[Liberal Angel]

This one seems to think that there's more than one Congress, with her saying "your" to refer to Congress. Is it too much to ask that you righties learn how to count?

[zekleslikpaw]

If gays are allowed to openly serve, it could happen (it will) that a gay and his/her partner are in the same unit (or fox hole as someone said). Will it affect the unit, if yes, how? Will straight people have the same rights, to have their wifes in the same unit? How about single soldiers, or those that cannot have their spouses with them, how it will make them feel? This truly will be a family army, but will it be good for the army primary purpose? Serious comments please.

[Cycadeoidea]

Legalize gay marriage in America and then the rules can be applied equally to couples of both persuasions.

[bob72]

I am in the Army. We have people in my unit that are married to each other. I have been in other units with people married to each other.

It is not an issue. Soldiers are grown-ups.

[colorperdaughter]

well said.

[Cycadeoidea]

Thank you for your post and thank you for your service.

[pjones006]

Sure, they can handle being shot at but not having to serve with someone gay. Pretty patronizing to those men and women who risk their lives for this country.

[BVLian]

I think you are asking if same-sex marriages will be recognized in the military?

Right now the military and the federal government does not recognize same sex marriage because of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). If DOMA is repealed in the future then of course DOD would have to probably recognize those same sex unionsl.

-The Palm Center has studied the issue of Unit cohesion in other western military powers with open policies. It has concluded that the unit cohesion argument is bogus (my words).

-The same standards and rules that apply to hetero couples in the military would logically apply to same sex couples in the military. So, simply put, they wont be in the same foxhole to begin with.

[Liberal Angel]

There is no "right" to serve in the same unit as a spouse. Just because gay men serve (are serving right now at this very moment) doesn't mean they're going to request their partners serve with them. That's not something that they do now. It's not something that anyone in the military has ever (or probably would ever) argue for. I know you want a serious response, and this is, but this isn't really a serious question.

[pjones006]

Men and women both serve so the chance that a husband/wife team are in the same unit is much greater since more marriages are between a man and a women. Now, if you prevent couples from serving together then it stands to reason that you would not want DADT since this information would then not be available. See, if you use logic things are much easier to understand.

[AmericCanuck]

Question for all the the folks that do not think that gays should serve in the military?

Why not?

[TrueIndy08]

I am just weirded out by gay people.... especially the flamboyant ones.... call me ignorant but I am what I am....

sorry!! I think they are weird at my workplace. and I am not in the military!

[AmericCanuck]

Check. Your personal feelings allow you to judge others.

I guess that rules out you being a "good" Christian.

You "weird me out" so I say that you should not serve in the military and by proxy, your husband is getting on my last nerve so please ask him to turn in his paper.

I have judged both you and your husband and my final judgment is that both of you are weird. Hell, your kids are probably weirdos too so they can't serve either.

You are allowed to judge and so am it.

Weirdo.

[Idea1013]

Are you saying there are flamboyant gays, being flamboyant, in a school environment?

[A Meat Beetle]

So everything is all about you and how things make you feel? Who put you in charge?

[pjones006]

Okay then, you're ign0rant.

[BVLian]

Quick Facts:

-In a 2006 Zogby poll, 72% of active duty soldiers said they are comfortable with gays, and 23% report that they actually know someone in their unit who is gay.

-The Nations of Israel, Australia, United Kingdom, and Canada have open policies. No problems of unit cohesion have been reported.

-More than 13,000 service members have been discharged since the implementation of DADT, many who are valuable members of the intelligence community and linguists.

Support HR 1283 Repealing DADT. The momentum has been great in the past 60 days.

[AmericCanuck]

Yeah but, but they make TrueIndy08 and her husband uncomfortable.

[MetalMelissa]

I think they should serve openly. Most people in the military (us young ones atleast, don't care about sexual orientation). However, I think it could complicate logistics issues:
Since they keep men and women separated (in barracks, boot camp) that kind of stuff, how's it going to work with gay people? Are they going to segregate them based on sexual orientation? I doubt it.

Maybe that has something to do with it, I don't know. But again. I don't see it as a major hurdle to get over.
It's a very stupid rule. One that needed to go away a long time ago.

[Yeah-Me]

To those trashing on TrueIndy08, as a gay person, I request you back off.

I comend her position by just simply, and truthfuly, stating that she is "wierded out". There is absolutrely nothing wrong with that. She's at least being honest, without being hurtful about the situation.

I'll admit, yes, some individuals can really seem "out there" in our community. Especially in our society of defined gender roles. It can be very jarring to others.

So try showing a little respect guys.

[TrueIndy08]

thank you for seeing the other side.... as I would never walk up to a gay person and spit on them, curse them, or violently go after them.... I just have my mindset and it often conflicts with people in todays world.

I have gay friends... doesnt make me agree.

I think its better to be Honest.... bc there are alot of people who are not.... the racists who claim they are not racists, yet they really are... why not just be honest about your feelings??? That way people can choose to either deal with you or not????

[Liberal Angel]

She isn't being respectful herself. I'm a gay man, and I request the confrontaion continue.

[OkieIntellectual]

Yes but she also implied in one of her replies that, if it were up to her, the gay teacher she works with would be out of a job because he makes her uncomfortable. Do you REALLY want to defend someone who would fire you for being gay?

[BVLian]

Look up HR 1283 as of today it has 176 co-sponsors. 5 added in the past week. We should reach 50% plus 1 by the end of October if we keep the current mathematical momentum. No dreams, just facts.

Call you rep if they are not already co-sponsors :-)

[Yeah-Me]

Excellent news with the co-sponsor numbers. Most excellent.