Gates Treads Lightly On Gays In Military

Defense Secretary Robert Gates is urging caution about potential changes to the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy governing the openness of gay troops.

Speaking at the Army War College, Gates stressed he is not yet taking a position about whether gay troops should be open about their sexuality. That could lead to their discharge under current policy dating to the Clinton administration.

President Barack Obama committed during the 2008 presidential campaign to moving to end the policy. But Gates notes that it took five years for the U.S. armed forces to integrate during the Truman administration.

Gates is touring war colleges this week, selling his plan to reorder the Pentagon budget. He wants to cancel some big programs and scale back others.

[kansas1946]

wonder why gays want to insist that "everybody" accept their gayness ? Why can't they just be gay if that's what they choose to be, and shut up about it ?
Posted by luke_4u at 4:58 PM : Apr 17, 2009
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I have never in my life heard any gay person insist that anyone "accept their gayness." What they want are equal rights under the law. Hysteria should not make law and most of what I have read on this board is nothing but homophobic hysteria based on no fact.

[flreason]

And what about the young lady who is a soldier that doesnt want to shower in front of other men? I mean, what is her problem? Is she worried that the men will "get off" when seeing them? What is her problem anyway?
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First off how did those guys make it through bootcamp? Because I can guarantee you there were gays who went through bootcamp with them.... it's not as uncommon as you would like to think. Chances are they have showered next to a gay man and never even knew it.

Second, you are talking to the wrong woman about nudity. I have no problem with nudity around my friends... we don't look at eachother that way, but several of us have showered in the same room before (at a resort with an out of order womans shower)... I have also showered in the same room as lesbians (both in boot camp, and at my command) and I never felt oogled or the least bit uncomfortable... I am secure enough in my sexuality not to be threatened by showering in the same room as a lesbian (they haven't tried to have their way with me yet..). However, I can see your point about the front lines (not all people are as secure as I).. so the simplest solution would be to have trial units that would test the feasibility of homosexuals on the front line... if it proves to be too much of a problem, then allow them to serve in the same capacity as women do... that is a good way to begin integration of homosexuals into the military.

[cs4466]

I wonder why gays want to insist that "everybody" accept their gayness ? Why can't they just be gay if that's what they choose to be, and shut up about it ?
Posted by luke_4u at 4:58 PM : Apr 17, 2009

I could care less about what you think about me or whether or not you "accept" my so-called gayness. I just want equal treatment under law - the right to marry (civil marriage, not religious marriage, the two things are completely separate). You can be as bigoted as you want, but you cannot discriminate against me through the law.

[luke_4u]

I wonder why gays want to insist that "everybody" accept their gayness ? Why can't they just be gay if that's what they choose to be, and shut up about it ? Or if being gay is such a big problem for them, then why not switch and choose to be straight ? The whole world doesn't "need" to know that they picked being gay, instead of being straight.

[cs4466]

I have to think that the gay man has the same urges when seeing men that straight men have when seeing women.
Posted by mortar29 at 12:54 PM : Apr 17, 2009

Primitive ape. You've been showering with gay men all your life - at school, at the gym, at the Y - you just werent' aware of it. Because unlike animals like you, we know how to control ourselves and we know what is appropriate and what is not. You're beneath contempt.

[manlambda]

Let's see because she's a soldier and would know signing up that is possible. If you're willing to go into combat you know what you're getting yourself into. Obviously this hasn't been an issue with the Israeli army so it shouldn't be here.

[manlambda]

They might but guess what they are there to do a job. Obviously the Israeli army has done a hell of a job all these years. According to you they should have been overrun by now because str8 gays can't control their urges and they are frightened by the gay men so Israel should now be an Islamic state. They are proof positive that gays, str8s, men and women can serve together and guess what do a hell of a job.

[manlambda]

You have yet to address the fact that this is not an issue with other countries and second really our soldiers in foxholes days on end and showering there. That's not what I saw in the coverage of Iran and Afghanistan. Hell Israel has had women for years in combat. It can be done with no issues. You are just showing your homophobia with these comment and yes it is fear if you think that a gay man is going to get a thrill watching you shower.

[manlambda]

Again projected paranoia. Do you think that other countries have faced this in their ranks? I sent some things I found on the internet how it has affected other countries and there seems to be no issues. Israel has been since 1982 and not known as the most liberal country. Guess what no issues. Again it is homophobia afraid that a gay man might get off seeing them. The last thing anyone is going to be thinking of in combat is sex. And really is this really happening nowadays that soldiers are spending days and days in foxholes??

[flreason]

As I said, I am not going to say he cant be muslim, or gay, or straight, or a cross dresser, etc. It doesnt matter. But, if his activities cause an issue with the rest of the unit, he must cease doing them.

Let me first say that I have been deployed to the gulf twice... and both of those times were on a ship. I'm sure you think that it's hard to get along with someone you don't agree with on land, but it is doubly hard on a 500 ft ship in the middle of the ocean... I have seen tempers flare at times. However we make it work... as would the rest of the commands if openly homosexual members were allowed in.

Now, this brings me to my next point... Do you really think that gays would be more apt to cause problems than anyone else? It's not like they can't show some restraint when it comes to the work place... If the UCMJ were adjusted to omit the homosexual clause then it would be just like any other person... if they cause trouble in a command, then you move them to another command... and if they show a record of causing trouble, then you bring punative actions against them.... up to and including separation from the service. It's that simple!