Gays in military ban

my2monkeyboys wrote: So what do you think about the ban being lifted?
I am all for letting people have the right to join up and fight for their country. I don't care what they like to do in the privacy of their own home.
The only issue I see that might come into play is the sexual things that may go on more out in the 'open' and may cause issues. The same reason I worry about women in the military really....
I know there are probably rules/laws governing this type of thing, I just wonder what issues may come out of this and how they will be dealt with.
I love our troops and appreciate anyone who is willing to join and fight on our behalf. I just hope it makes things better and not worse.

MommyToAshley replied: I agree completely... what people do in their own private lives is their own private business and should not be treated any differently. I am all for gay rights across the board... they should be allowed to join in the military, have legal rights when it comes to who can see them in the hospital, insurance, wills, etc. (the only thing I don't think we should do is change the definition of marriage due to it's religious ties and how it is defined in the bible).

As far as things out in the open... I think the military should have rules of conduct regarding sexual conduct whether it involves gays, women, anyone. I do believe there are laws in place already. But, that still doesn't mean there haven't been crimes against women, especially when women first started serving. I fear that the same type of hate crimes might happen to gays, but I don't think you can stop progress because you fear what people filled with hatred might do. If that were the case, women wouldn't be able to vote and we'd still have slavery.

msoulz replied: ITA with what has been said. However, I have never served in the military. I would be curious what our soldiers and veterans think - but not if it simply involves anti-gay sentiment, but are there real issues and concerns that we "outsiders" are not aware of?

jcc64 replied:

Ita.

my2monkeyboys replied: Mary, that's exactly what I'm wondering about.... I don't want to cause worse problems if there are things we don't know about.
And I absolutely agree with everything you said, too, Dee Dee.

bluebear replied: I don't see why it would matter anyway!

luvbug00 replied: I'm so excited about it. I'm major pro equal rights for the gay/lesbian community!! My friends all sobbed in joy with our gay military friend. Then celebrated at a gay bar! Good stuff!

PrairieMom replied: It drives me nuts that in this day in age, and in this country ANYONE is discriminated against. Let them in. They have been there all along anyway, and it doesn't seem to have caused any huge problems.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:
I agree.

Mommy2Isabella replied: There are LOTS OF military members in my family!

DH was in the military, my dad, my brother, my cousin, my aunt, and MORE!

As far as gay people being aloud to be in the military, they weren't NOT allowed in before. It was just the "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

NOW, a lot will change. They have talks of having to have seperate barracks simply because you can't have women and men sleeping in the same barracks so simillar rules for gay men / women (though I don't know how that will work out). Same with bathrooms, and all sorts of things, potentially costing the governments lots of money.

Personally speaking, I think it was better when no one knew who was straight and who was gay. Why does it matter anyway, they are all there to do a job not get their "hook-up" on. So who cares if you are gay or straight!


Just my 2 cents

ETA: women

boyohboyohboy replied:
I agree! Why do we need to know who is gay or straight?

I have lots of military friends who are not happy about this, only because there are people who for what ever reason will target these soldiers now and in a time of high stress and life and death stakes, this is not needed.

I think it might have been best to address this not while we are at war.

I agree with Tara also that its horrible in this day and age anyone is discriminated against.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Me three...on all accounts.

lisar replied:
I have to agree with you on this. I dont care personally what someone does in the bedroom behind closed doors "to each their own" but I kinda liked the dont ask dont tell policy.

A&A'smommy replied:
me four!!!


I have a lot of military in my family too and can tell you that most of them have said there will be a lot of guys getting beat up...

my2monkeyboys replied: That's what is so sad... that we can't just overlook whatever differences we have and learn to just respect each other. Even if you can't be friends, that doesn't mean you have to be enemies.
I do not agree with homosexuality on a moral/religious level, but we are a land of the free and by God I think that means ALL of us are free, not just the ones that are just like 'us'. I would bet that when they are in the trenches fighting for their lives they're not going to be thinking about whether the guy next to them is cute or if he's going to pick him up later. They will be happy to just have someone there to keep the enemy from getting to them.
Like I said, I just hope this doesn't make things worse for all involved.