That's right guys, today is the day. Don't Ask Don't Tell's repeal has officially been implemented in the United States Military today! No more is there any restriction on Homosexual conduct! This is a positive step for the US government and I am super proud to be gay, and super proud to be an American today. Miss Lady and I celebrated this morning with a big old kiss right outside of the Main Gate of Ft. Campbell today, which was awesome.
Although the repeal of this bill has vaulted the US government into the current times with significant progress, the work for the LGTB community is not yet complete. The spouses of Gay soldiers are still not covered under Tri-Care (which is understandable as it is not yet legal everywhere), And the Transgender community is still not allowed to join. However,
soldiers can no longer be threatened by their seniors with punishment due to their sexual orientation! Of course there are other ways to punish that kind of get through that loophole. If you are gay or straight and kissing in public, in uniform you can still be punished for PDA (Public Display of Affection) and while that is not strictly enforced among the straight soldiers (think of all the pictures of troops returning from war and kissing their spouses openly and with out abandon) I am sure it will be a common punishment over the next month or so for those soldiers brave enough to kiss their partners in public within eyesight of their superiors.
That's ok by me, it will take some time for everyone to get on board. I understand that not every one is as accepting and tolerant of my lifestyle, and the lifestyle of many like me. WE WILL GET THERE.
Here is my sincerest wish for change. Even though DADT has been officially repealed, US Service members, especially those in line units (i.e. combat arms, infantry, cav, scouts, etc) who are brave enough to come out to your peers, will not be threatened or injured, not by their superiors, but by their peers. When you are in a unit where everything you do is with not just other people, but other men.
You eat, you shit, you shower, you do EVERYTHING, I am afraid that the response will not be as friendly. Really anywhere, but those types of jobs in particular are what I am sincerely worried about. Good luck to everyone who chooses to make today the day to be honest with your military peers. May the transition be as painless as possible, and may no man or woman be harmed as a result.
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Comments (15)
This is fantastic!! I hope this can help make the transition into even transgenders being able to join, but this is really a big deal! Yay U.S.A.!!
Whoo! I know things seem rough sometimes, but we've made so much progress in the last two decades! It's raring up to be a beautiful century.
Homosexuality has no place in the US military. The entire purpose of gay rights is the destruction of American culture. That includes the military.
Um, for the benefit of those who are not aware, Transgendering will disqualify the member, as the surgery would engender, so to speak, an identity change, and they want to know who you are, not who you want to be. Also, there are and will remain regulations that cover criminality for homosexual sexual activity. It is punishable and will remain so with fines, reduction in rank and confinment!!! Unit cohesion and co-operation are based on being able to trust the individual next to you, in all the meanings of all the services, and if there is even a hint of peekaboo, Fights are inevitable. You have the right to be whatever you want to be, but your sexual expression and habits WILL get you bitten in the ass!! No brag, Just Fact!! Peace to all!!
The restrictions on PDA are more strictly enforced among the higher ranks (officers and non commissioned officers) than the lower ranked enlisted, and mostly they're enforced non-verbally. Promotion in the higher ranks is more political than in the lower ranks. If you look at the pictures of soldiers coming home from the war kissing their wives, you will see the officers aren't among them and rarely are the higher enlisted ranking members. I suspect this will be true of gay soldiers as well. A gay private may be able to get away with PDA, but a major will not.
Can't wait for the next gay pride military parade. NOT!
@blonde_apocalypse@xanga - Seems fair to me. As long as it's all kinds of PDA, not just of the gay variety. Seems any member of the military should at least appear to be soldier first, whatever-orientation second.
@Jewelbeetle@xanga - I've been to pride parades that have uniformed members of the military marching in it. It's not that crazy. They still went home at the end of the day and continued to serve their country.
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga - what? oh that's right no one cares
@Ashtraygirl84@xanga - If you were really tolerant, why would you say such a thing?
My views are mainstream views.
Homosexuality in the US military is totally radical.
@blonde_apocalypse@xanga - That is true, however, trust me I've seen it happen to lower enlisted as well. Political in motive or otherwise, if some one has a problem with your sexuality they will pin you for pda
@LoBornlytesThoughtPalace@xanga - And trolling on the internet is so 1999
@Ashtraygirl84@xanga - Liberals, atheists and gay rights advocates always think it's trolling when somebody has the nerve to express an opposing opinion.
I'm a straight man. with republican views although I consider myself from a political stand point independent. I support gays and gay marriage. as a former machine gunner in the marine corps I can say no gays can not be part of the infantry related fields.but yes to the rest of the military
To be honest, this blog reminds me of the episode of Family Guy where Quagmire and the guys are talking about the military. They make a comment on how men used to fight in the wars and were manly but then over time they become gay. I have nothing against gays, etc., just saying this reminded me of that episode.