Subscribe to Breaking NewsDuffy: The military is ready for gays and lesbians to serve openly
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates seems to think that it would be a huge ordeal to integrat gays and lesbians into serving openly in the military “IF” DADT was repealed. (It infuriates me that he used “if” – but I digress.) I believe the military has all the laws it needs right now and the so-called ‘integration’ should not take long or stress the military on any level.
If you want to watch television here in Iraq, the military provides its AFN network (Armed Forces Network). You can see news, sports, prime time shows and various other programming – but what may literally drive you crazy are the commercials. Without much variation, we are inundated with military propaganda promoting safety, volunteering and more. I find myself routinely whistling some tune or quoting these commercials I can’t seem to escape.
One message that is repeated is that of the military’s zero tolerance on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Not only is sexual assault and sexual harassment a constant message on AFN, it is also a message passed on through mandatory annual trainings, usually around Christmas. I had to take classes on sexual harassment and assault before coming to Iraq and recently had another briefing, toward the end of my current tour.
There are few if any differences in the classes each time. The message is clear: If you make someone uncomfortable by making unwelcome comments or committing actions that might be considered sexual in nature, you could get a reprimand or endanger your military career.
My own infantry unit can’t spend 15 minutes together without lapsing into some type of homophobic or misogynistic diatribe. The amazing thing is that when an unfamiliar woman is in their midst their vocabulary immediately becomes devoid of the previous perverse jocularity. What this means to me is that it is possible for them to refrain from being offensive for as long as required.
Whether it was the threat of the military’s zero tolerance of sexual harassment or some other chivalrous reason, my colleagues can hold their tongues if need be. They will be able to hold their tongues about gays and lesbians as well, if they’re told to.
Also, harassment based on sexual orientation is sexual harassment and gays should have the ability to bring complaints against real or perceived harassment. Just like a heterosexual male or female should be able to make a complaint based on a real or perceived harassment from a gay male or female. If the military ban is lifted, the sexual harassment policy will still be in place.
There will be slips and misunderstandings in the beginning and I accept that. Perceived harassment may indeed need to be investigated frequently early in the process, but as ignorance is replaced with experience, those investigations will slow. The military’s acceptance of gays and lesbians might never be perfect, but I don’t think removing DADT will cause any lasting problems.
We will always have those who prefer to hate. I have one soldier in my unit who disagrees with women serving, for example. People like this may never change their mind. But that shouldn’t keep gays and lesbians from serving openly.
“Michael Duffy” is a psedonym for a gay soldier serving in the Middle East.
@ censoredagain: Yes, the military policy is all about perception. You don’t even have to be involved. You can witness something you perceive to be sexual harassment of another and file a complaint. In cases where there is a misunderstanding the situation is corrected and the accused will be more mindful of his actions.
@ Maya: Gays are permitted to be in the miltiary. They are already in the showers and working as medics or doing other jobs that entail witnessing a naked body of the same sex. Nothing will change if DADT is repealed in that respect. I do believe that the miliary should be unisex and if you can’t behave yourself in a professional manner then that is your problem and may harm your career. I understand some female and male soldiers might be uncomfortable with this idea- and even fearful… so by all means have a unisex latrine/shower in addition to the men/women only ones. In a profession where discipline and self control are required it shouldn’t be too much to ask soldiers to avert their eyes, get their business done, and drive on with the mission.
The United States is so far behind the times, it’s scary. So very many countries around the world has gays serving totally successfully in their military with no problems at all. Give the American men and women the chance to act like intelligent adults by allowing gays in the military. Remember when blacks didn’t serve with whites? Not so long ago, was it? Get with the program; this is not the middle ages. It’s 2009. We need the homosexual element in the armed forces, like everywhere else in the world.
I don’t understand the reluctance to repeal DADT. Why is the most powerful military in the world unable to handle gays and lesbian serving openly when virtually all their western democratic allies do and have done for, in many cases, decades. What makes Americans so different to the rest of the worlds military? It makes no sense and from the outside world (ie not in the US) it make the US look incredibly silly and backward.
so much of what is learned while in the service of our country, is carried over to civilian life. I see it every day when at work with former service persons. from work ethics to manner of deportment.
“They will be able to hold their tongues about gays and lesbians as well, if they’re told to.”
the training received in service will end up helping all tgbl citizens of the country.
for often the former service persons are looked upon as authority figures in work and daily lives
“…harassment based on sexual orientation is sexual harassment and gays should have the ability to bring complaints against real or perceived harassment. ”
This victim mentality is one the many problems with our community and country. Above is just one quote of several in the article that are applicable. Take out the word “perceived” and I am in full agreement. Government policies and laws should punish action not perceived action. Disciplining or punishing an individual for perceived harassment is punishing innocent people and violating their 1st amendment rights (in government environment). It is now known that eyewitness testimony is one of the least reliable evidence presented in criminal proceedings and now we have to deal with “perceived” harassment. For those that think they are being harassed, OMG people get a grip. Stop being so vein and thinking everything revolves around you.
I have been serving in the military for 10 years now. I am active duty Army! I consider myself bi sometimes..lol! Anyway….DADT is a good thing to me. Hear me out before you start going off on me! lol
We shower together, sleep together and watch each other piss in cups for drug testing. There is a reason that male and female showers are separate!
I dont think that a straight female would be comfortable with a lesbian looking at her clit while she is peeing. Trust me…we have to look at that area to ensure the stream of pee is not tampered with. We have to watch it leave the va-jay jay!
Men have to watch the stream of urine coming from the penis into the container.
How about showers? We shower in open bays together! Some may feel uncomfortable.
Anyway I think that if gays and lesbians serve openly, we will need four different bathrooms! Male, female, gay and lesbian!
You do the math!
This whole topic still baffles me. They always speak of not “allowing” gays to serve because of “cohesion” in the ranks. I would presume that knowing a comrades, anything, in an open and honest manner far surpasses secrets, dishonesty and subterfuge when speaking of “cohesion” in a group.
We all know that most gays who think they hide their sexuality well…those who refer to themselves as “straight acting,” 9 times out of 10 are anything but. There are gays serving by the thousands, spending weeks and months or years with the same group of people. They know or suspect.
This dishonesty and speculation sews far more discord than having these people serve openly.
Requiring gay people to hide their orientation sets them up for blackmail, which threatens national security. The only way to eliminate that risk is to eliminate the need to keep a secret. Our government is using our money to teach discrimination and the stigmatization of all gay people. We must get our representatives to stop this madness by eliminating DADT. But Obama needs to tell Gates to get on board or retire.
A ‘huge ordeal’ for whom? Gays and lesbians, the military, or Sec’y Gates?
As a retired Marine and ‘gay’… I agree. DADT is the worst policy ever implemented.
I did not join the Marines because I wanted to do drag, or to join a fraternity or sorority, twirl batons or any other such ‘activities’.
I joined because I wanted to serve my country in its defense with a professional military organization.
The overwhelming majority of men and women prefer to be a member because of that singular reason. Gay or straight.
I served with other gay Marines (yes, there have ALWAYS been gays in the military) for my entire career.
Having an open and honest gay service member will do absolutely nothing to ‘harm’ or upset the military establishment, its mission and or its traditions. The individuals that will cause that are the ones with issues and those are most likely and overwhelmingly heterosexual. They are the ones today that are causing those issues.
The amount of time and resources to combat ‘issues’ of man vs. woman in the military is overwhelming.
Rape, indecency, domestic violence, fights (over women or men for that matter),sexual escapades etc etc.. are huge for the military establishment.
If the established rules and regulations are enforced and or practiced by any service member, having an openly gay member will have no impact whatsoever.
The issues here is the military is fighting this issue because it will show the American public just how poorly it can enforce or live up to its own rules.
Shure, shure. Go complain to your commanding office that your being singled out for persecution and you as well as the rest of us Mr. “Duffy” know EXACTLY the fate in store. Man, are ALL soldiers as f*cking THICK as you?!?
Micha:
DADT includes the mantra “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Harass, Don’t Pursue” If a soldier feels he is getting harassed he does have recourse to file complaints. Anyone who feels uncomfortable can make claims against those homophobic comments. You have to take into account that even if one isn’t claiming he is gay causing this investigation and possible punishment will put him at odds with his soldiers, his unit, and increase his or her isolation. But yes, if a soldier is willing to risk it he does have the power to complain.
I know that one does not need to be gay to be sexually harassed, therefore couldn’t a gay soldier, or even better a straight soldier file a sexual harassment case against the army for homosexual harassment? The soldier wouldn’t have to disclose his or her sexuality, because all that matters is the “perceived sexuality.” It might make the military take the situation of the homophobic remarks more seriously. Could be just a pipe dream.
Thank’s Again,
Mark H. * Long Beach, CA
I never really understood how openly gay people in the military hurts other soldiers or the army itself.
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