Don't Ask Don't Tell.

[Rex Kickass]

The DoD report came out, and it turns out that most military members support a repeal of DADT, and encouraged by that report,

 

GOP Senator Scott Brown (MA) also supports repeal of DADT.

 

http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/index....a4-2314e6991fb5

 

I have been in the military for 31 years and counting, and have served as a subordinate and as an officer. As a legislator, I have spent a significant amount of time on military issues. During my time of service, I have visited our injured troops at Walter Reed and have attended funerals of our fallen heroes. When a soldier answers the call to serve, and risks life or limb, it has never mattered to me whether they are gay or straight. My only concern has been whether their service and sacrifice is with pride and honor.

 

“I pledged to keep an open mind about the present policy on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Having reviewed the Pentagon report, having spoken to active and retired military service members, and having discussed the matter privately with Defense Secretary Gates and others, I accept the findings of the report and support repeal based on the Secretary’s recommendations that repeal will be implemented only when the battle effectiveness of the forces is assured and proper preparations have been completed.”

[Soxy]

The DoD report came out, and it turns out that most military members support a repeal of DADT, and encouraged by that report,

 

GOP Senator Scott Brown (MA) also supports repeal of DADT.

 

http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/index....a4-2314e6991fb5

 

I am pretty shocked that the policy is still on the books, quite frankly.

 

I have been enjoying the Daily Show's coverage of McCain's responses to the incoming data.

[jasonxctf]

McCain's comments to the general's yesterday was pretty bad.

[HuskyCaucasian]

I dont care what the report says, troops are still afraid of working with homosexuals, they might look at other men's pee-pees int he shower.

[HuskyCaucasian]

McCain's comments to the general's yesterday was pretty bad.

what did he say?

[Rex Kickass]

what did he say?

Among other things he said that Gates, also a Vietnam veteran of the Air Force, did not serve in the military and told the Joint Chiefs that his opinion shouldn't matter because he doesn't directly supervise troops.

[HuskyCaucasian]

Among other things he said that Gates, also a Vietnam veteran of the Air Force, did not serve in the military and told the Joint Chiefs that his opinion shouldn't matter because he doesn't directly supervise troops.

sheesh

[Rex Kickass]

I am pretty shocked that the policy is still on the books, quite frankly.

 

I have been enjoying the Daily Show's coverage of McCain's responses to the incoming data.

 

The only other "developed" countries with this ban would be Greece and South Korea. Even Russia, who won't allow gay men to have a parade, lets them shoot at bad guys.

[BigSqwert]

The only other "developed" countries with this ban would be Greece and South Korea. Even Russia, who won't allow gay men to have a parade, lets them shoot at bad guys.

Check out the table in this page.

[KipWellsFan]

Of course the real question... is the Defence Appropriations bill including an end to DADT going to pass soon?

[southsider2k5]

The only other "developed" countries with this ban would be Greece and South Korea. Even Russia, who won't allow gay men to have a parade, lets them shoot at bad guys.

 

It is pretty bad that we give illegals more rights in this country than we do gay people.

[BigSqwert]

We do?

[Balta1701]

We do?

Gay people can't vote, have no rights at work, and regularly get arrested.

[flippedoutpunk]

I also cant believe that this is still an issue.. the military is like any other workplace, gossip and rumors are all over the place within soldiers and pretty much everyone already knows who is gay, what high ranking officer did what over the weekend, who received a DUI, etc.. I dont see any problems with gays in the military at all, heck all the showers ive taken in Iraq had closed stalls so the homophobes from the mountains of west virginia could be worry-free about ninja gay soldiers hiding in the showers just to stare at peoples wankers.. its an honor to serve our country and serve the people of the U.S., and to deny people that honor because of their sexual orientation seems a bit looney.

[Rex Kickass]

Gay people can't vote, have no rights at work, and regularly get arrested.

 

Hyperbole aside, it should be noted that....

 

In 29 states, it is still legal to be fired for being gay or suspected of being gay.

 

And it was just last year that a lot of people were arrested in Texas for being in a gay bar.

 

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local-beat/Temp...bow-Lounge.html

[lostfan]

On the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Association's Facebook page today they put up a message saying they stood with Secretary Gates/Admiral Mullen on DADT. A s***fit/temper tantrum from a bunch of people ensued. I don't think they should've made a statement on a political issue like that but really people in the military are such crybabies.

 

Don't ever let someone qualify their opinion on DADT by saying "I was in the military" to try and overrule yours. Their opinion means s***, and they follow orders from civilian leadership. Period, end of story. You wouldn't ask them "what's your opinion on going to war in Iran?" and then if they say they're against it to decide not to go... they will do what they're told. Secondly, they are fully entitled to their opinion as a citizen but you don't use your opinion as a service member to endorse a political position (it says in so many words in the UCMJ). You can't even say what you really think about the President in public.

 

Also I see a lot of people, mostly combat arms types, talking about how they don't want to share living quarters or showers with gays. I always tell them "YOU ALREADY DO, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT OR IGNORED IT ON PURPOSE." I haven't heard about a bunch of people getting raped or molested in the shower, maybe I just wasn't paying attention. Maybe it's still inappropriate for the stereotypical flaming homo to be in an infantry unit, but at the very least let's not chapter someone out because someone found out they were gay... that's just unfair, and spiteful.

[flippedoutpunk]

I've only seen one case where someone was chaptered out because of their sexual orientation, and that was a bizarre case of someone being caught in the act by his squad leader some how.. there was also this big thing at Ft. Drum where the local gay bar/club would be full of soldiers from 10th mountain (probably still is), and the Ft. Drum gossip column would even tell you that a lot of the soldiers in attendance at that club were hooah hooah infantry types..

[lostfan]

You can't be chaptered out for being seen at a gay club, that's one of the specific examples they would bring up in schools.

[Balta1701]

You can't be chaptered out for being seen at a gay club, that's one of the specific examples they would bring up in schools.

Well, there are anecdotes out there of a lot of bizarre methods that the military "Found out", like people who are seen anywhere else in public acting homosexual, like the line at a grocery store, or, I can't find it, but there's a case I vaguely recall of the military finding out by reading people's private letters/emails.

[lostfan]

Well, there are anecdotes out there of a lot of bizarre methods that the military "Found out", like people who are seen anywhere else in public acting homosexual, like the line at a grocery store, or, I can't find it, but there's a case I vaguely recall of the military finding out by reading people's private letters/emails.

It's kind of dicey territory because you actually had to have a rock-solid case usually, they'd have to actually say "I am a homosexual," etc. The criteria was "SAM" (Statements, Acts, Marriages). Reading someone's private correspondence is unethical as f*** but I think that would fall under "statements." "Acts" is a homosexual act you see them doing. Rumors, jokes (even if it comes from the alleged homosexual) and innuendo don't count which is why the gay club thing wouldn't work. Seeing someone in the line at the grocery store (I haven't clicked your link yet) probably counts as "Acts" if you see them kissing or something like that. One guy in my unit when I was in Iraq had his team find a Maxim or something like that that he'd taped a bunch of pictures of naked men, penises etc. inside when they were moving his stuff while he was on R&R, I guess it really depends on your unit leadership what they do about that, but my unit didn't do anything. Holding hands doesn't count either, I'm not sure exactly where the line is. I think Gates has made the burden of proof higher, actually.

 

There were a lot of people rumored to be gay when I was in and while people occasionally made fun of them nobody really cared. One of the best NCOs in my unit was gay and came out of the closet his last few weeks in, I had no idea but a lot of things made sense in hindsight. Nobody gave a s*** actually because his reputation as a professional preceded him. One of my friends who works in the building I do now is a lesbian and around the unit she is coy about it, but she actually has a live-in girlfriend. She said even if gays were allowed to openly serve she wouldn't come out, because she doesn't want some woman getting upset over something like being supervised for a urinalysis (her words: "it's not about that, you stupid b****").

 

"Marriages" is pretty obvious.

[Balta1701]

In other words, it's a clusterf***.

[lostfan]

Yeah pretty much. Not really worth the effort.

[Balta1701]

Yeah pretty much. Not really worth the effort.

No amount of effort is too much if it allows us to get rid of....those people...and their menace...

[lostfan]

The homos are totally waiting to rape you in the shower, all they need is for DADT to be repealed

[Balta1701]

The homos are totally waiting to rape you in the shower, all they need is for DADT to be repealed

I'm sorry Senator McCain, your time has expired.