Pentagon to host salute of gay troops

Two women, both active duty sailors in the Navy who gave their names as Nikki, left, and Lisa, kiss as they march in the Gay Pride Parade in San Diego Saturday, July 16, 2011. / AP Photo

(CBS/AP) WASHINGTON - Last summer, gays in the military dared not admit their sexual orientation. This summer, the Pentagon will salute them, marking gay pride month just as it marks other celebrations honoring racial or ethnic groups.

Officials said Thursday that they're planning the first-ever event to recognize gay and lesbian troops. They declined to give details about what the event will be, but officials said Defense Secretary Leon Panetta feels it's important to recognize the service of gays in the armed forces.

June is gay pride month in the U.S. This is the first time the Pentagon could participate, since September's repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." Under the 1993 law, troops were kicked out for talking about their sexual orientation and more than 13,000 lost their jobs.

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The public acceptance by military leaders of gays in the military has been increasing. In December, a Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the pier after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Marissa Gaeta of Placerville, California, descended from the USS Oak Hill amphibious landing ship and shared a quick kiss in the rain with her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Citlalic Snell of Los Angeles. Gaeta, 23, wore her Navy dress uniform while Snell, 22, wore a black leather jacket, scarf and blue jeans. The crowd screamed and waved flags around them.

"It's something new, that's for sure," Gaeta told reporters after the kiss. "It's nice to be able to be myself. It's been a long time coming."

[Thorgood2]

It's a sad commentary when our society accepts homosexuality. By definition heterosexuals are attracted to the opposite sex. In restrooms, dorm rooms, and military barracks, it's a simple process to separate facilities to maintain the needed level of decorum and comfort between the sexes. However, homosexuality makes chaos out of this convention as separation; decorum and comfort disappear when it is not just opposites that attract.

Expecting straight soldiers to bunk and shower with gays is analogous to asking married women to routinely do the same with groups of strange men. Clearly, both are reprehensible.

[venusvegasvada]

Whatever.

Why don't you go over to Afghanistan and give some cred to the 15% of the military over there that is out on patrol, right now, getting shot at and mortared daily. The ones that eat MRE's every day and could frankly, give a flying !#@$ less about your politically motivated, made up BS which honors a bunch of sodomites.

[Molly-Pchr]

Oh, boy, another special interest group. Another parade!

[treehgr07]

Awesome. These men and women fight for our freedoms. Key among those freedoms is equality among each other. It is time that all organizations support the rights of others. This gesture is a nice way for the military to show support. I welcome it.

[formerlyluvnut]

GAWD I'm glad I served in the 60's & 70's, did my time when men were men and women were women, and got out! All this political correctness crap is destroying MY country. Pathetic.

[Rafterman11]

Yes, formerlyluvnut, freedom and equal rights for all is a b****, isn't it?

[AOCGUY]

As anyone who has tracked my posts can attest to I support equal rights, including marriage and full and open membership in the armed forces for gays, but this is just plain pandering. We don't have straight pride celebrations in the military why should we have gay pride. Yeah I understand that gays have been discriminated against in all walks especially the military but this can backfire big time on this administration. REAL BAD IDEA

[John782011]

Goober, your problem with this is?