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tboz tboz
 
M$2 November 14, 2009 03:48 AM

Should gays be allowed to openly serve in the military?

The AMA (american medical association) has recently made a public statement stating that the don't-ask-don't-tell policy of the military should be repealed on the grounds that the policy has been proven to harm the health of gay soldiers.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gTm5n50-yzS_lRjXLDkMiENC5gugD9BSSLTG1
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carlaneele... carlaneele...
 
 November 14, 2009 06:40 PM
Supporters of "don't ask, don't tell" issue generalized warnings that having openly gay soldiers would impede the military from doing its job to defend the U.S. But I have never seen anyone explain how knowing the sexual orientation of a soldier could have such dire consequences. It is an insult to both heterosexuals and homosexuals to imply that they cannot work together as fellow soldiers. If there is no national security basis for "don't ask, don't tell," then it is unconstitutional discrimination, plain and simple.

It is disappointing that President Obama, who condemned "don't ask, don't tell" during his campaign, has not taken aggressive steps to eliminate the policy.

Note that similar arguments were made in the past about how women soldiers would weaken the military.
Source(s):
The Ban on Gays in the Military http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/opinion/10wed2.html
Court Rejects Challenge to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31168203/
AMA Opposes 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell;' Says Gay Marriage Bans Contribute to Health Disparities http://xml.latimes.com/features/health/sns-ap-us-med-doctors-gays,0,2605814...

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potterarch... potterarch...
 
November 14, 2009 04:13 AM
Absolutely they should be able to serve openly. Being gay has nothing to do with our military men and women's daily performance in their duties, nor does it distract gay men to be working around other men any more than straight men are distracted by women serving in the military. I'm very shocked that the world today can still view "non-straights" as different people, even after all the civil rights movements we've been through. Making people have to legally hide their sexual orientation is harmful to their mental health; it forces them to think that they're wrong to be gay, and wears away at their self-esteem.

The article you linked also talks about equal rights for marriage, but gay marriage is a whole other ball game. There we're talking about legal rights versus religious ceremonies, and that's completely different. Repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is a step in the right direction, but the religious communities of America get involved with gay marriage, that's something much more complicated.

But "Don't Ask Don't Tell" is as simple as you can get - if someone confides in their superior about their sexual orientation, they get kicked out of the military and lose their job. How does no one see this as discrimination?

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xblindtrut... xblindtrut...
 
November 14, 2009 05:37 AM
Honestly when it comes done to the moment when we really need the men.

Like say we enter a world war of some sort.

it wont matter who joins the army.

They will just open all the doors and just let anyone... gays, straight, trans...

It don't matter in times of war but...
When they don't need the men its a problem.

Thats what i have a problem with.
Do what the army says...
Be all that you can be...
Just let anyone be who they want to be.

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richaji richaji
 
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drivel drivel
 
November 14, 2009 01:27 PM
The distinction needs to be made between who someone is, and what they do.

While I see no problem with homosexuals serving in the military I also do not see a problem with the military making in some circumstances homosexual acts illegal. ... similar to how adultery in the military is illegal. There are some good reasons why adultery and homosexual acts in the military are prohibited.

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lidyax lidyax
 
November 14, 2009 02:51 PM
And what are those reasons? Comparing homosexuality as the same with adultery is insulting. Would a heterosexual want to be compared with adultery? Or divorce?

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tboz tboz
 
November 14, 2009 05:07 PM
What is the policy on soldiers having heterosexual sex in the military?, I don't think that is allowed either, unless on leave. I think it id dangerous for gay men to be forced by law to lie to their military doctors about their sexual history. What are the "good reasons" why straight people should be allowed to have sex and gay people shouldn't.

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psionandy psionandy
 
November 14, 2009 05:51 PM
Is adultery in the Military really illegal? How many convictions are there and how much jail time did they server

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maggieray maggieray
 
November 14, 2009 11:12 PM
tboz why would you think sex is not allowed in the military unless on leave? Being military doesn't take your normal day to day life away. Sex on duty is not allowed of course but that should be the case with most jobs I'd think. As fo the adultery issue, there is a USMJ provision that does make adultery a chargeable offense. Typically it is only charged in combination with other charges and only when it creates disturbance to military order. They dont go out of their way looking for cases to press charges but if it comes into connection with other charges it is added.

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druebeall druebeall
 
November 14, 2009 07:21 PM
I think that what people do in their bedroom should stay there. As far as health risks are concerned, as individuals in general they should practice safe sex just like everybody else. As long as their Military performance is not impaired, it should not matter.

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ilovebookz ilovebookz
 
November 14, 2009 07:25 PM
Yes. Just because someone is gay doesn't mean they shouldn't have the same rights that every straight person is entitled to. The military has employed rapists, terrorists, and murderers for Pete's sake, so why shouldn't a gay man or woman be allowed to be open about their sexuality while serving in the Military?

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owl owl
 
November 14, 2009 08:01 PM
Why not? Their professional life should be considered different from their personal life. When persons of opposite sexes with normal sexual behaviour are serving in the army and that is making no difference (despite the fact that the attraction between opposite sexes is stronger than between same sexes and it is more widely practiced), what difference a handful of persons with different sexual trends could possibly make. After all, they will be fighting in the arena and not doing sex in hours of need.

They must be given a chance.

Thanks

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rondata rondata
 
November 14, 2009 09:34 PM
People have issues making gay people all about sex, when that's not the case. Their sexuality does not make them who they are. It just defines where their romantic interest is. But it's not all about sex. They do things that everyone else does and it doesn't/shouldn't matter what they do behind closed doors. That's not going to affect how they do their job, if they're good at it, etc.

People should really quit defining people by the word GAY.

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jopayperez jopayperez
 
November 15, 2009 12:28 AM
I think gays are better off as spies rather than being on the military.

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tboz tboz
 
November 17, 2009 05:20 PM
That is too funny!

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knockknock... knockknock...
 
November 15, 2009 04:32 AM
Why not? are gays something other than human beings

Can't they hold a gun . (OOpss Dont misunderstand plz I meant the actual ones )

Cant they shoot. (Owww not again)

Personally I am not at all Gay (sorry to disappoint). Cant even look two men kissing each other(its Disgusting)

But who are we to decide what others should do and Not do

I personally think that there is a boundary between a people's individual freedoms and society's access to it.

The society has no rights to interfere or dictate terms, when someones gay or lesbian or anything else

The Society Should learn the seriousness of "PERSONAL FREEDOM"

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cuppycake cuppycake
 
November 15, 2009 10:23 AM
Yes.

Gays pay taxes like American citizens, go through the same military training, fight for our country just as well, are just as likely to die for our country as a straight person. Gays and lesbians should not be defined by their romantic interests and who they're attracted to.

If someone passes any required physical and mental exams, who cares what their sexual orientation is?

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