Army Fired 11 Soldiers in Jan. As Openly Gay

[Croynan]

Army fired 11 soldiers in Jan. as openly gay

By ANNE FLAHERTY,

Associated Press Writer Anne Flaherty,

23 mins ago

12, March 2009

WASHINGTON – The Army fired 11 soldiers in January for violating the military's policy that gay service members must keep their sexuality hidden, according to a Virginia congressman.

Democratic Rep. Jim Moran said he has requested monthly updates from the Pentagon on the impact of the policy until it is repealed. In a statement released on Thursday, Moran said the discharged soldiers included an intelligence collector, a military police officer, four infantry personnel, a health care specialist, a motor-transport operator and a water-treatment specialist.

"How many more good soldiers are we willing to lose due to a bad policy that makes us less safe and secure?" asked Moran, a member of the House panel that oversees military spending.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090312/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/gays_military​

eM.

 

[heartfly77]

I know it is so wrong that our country discriminates like this. Having said that, the minute there is a draft, I am gonna wave my rainbow flag high and mighty.

 

[FPNY]

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\HAHAHAHAHAHAHA...good one heartfly! /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

[evilest]

Chances are they were replaced by guys barely old enough to shave straight off training and handed automatic machine guns. Capital plan.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

Do people realize that 600-700 people are kicked out of the service every year just for being gay? Not openly gay, just gay gay.

It's still a violation of military regs to have gay sex, on or off base. The number of people [STRIKE]persecuted [/STRIKE]prosecuted for this "crime" has actually gone up in the 15 years since DADT.

 

[JUB]

I'm too old to be drafted, plus they will not take in people with mild to severe hearing loss.
Does it really matter if a guy is gay? will it really hurt the moral of the str8 guys serving in the Military? Get Real America!

I figure having gays in the military would be a good thing like in ancient Roman times. They condoned relations because you fight harder for a lover than a friend

 

[Lukeee]

I figure having gays in the military would be a good thing like in ancient Roman times. They condoned relations because you fight harder for a lover than a friend

That is a good point!

I doubt anybody serving in the army (especially if they are serving during wartime) would be bothered about what another man does in the privacy of his bedroom. When their lives depend on these gay soldiers I don't think they even think about their sexuality.

 

[Ninja108]

I have to give them props but I could never serve for a country that would not only force me to hide who I am but also treats me as a second class citizen

 

[Rex]

I mean it's sad but until DADT is done away with, why are they being completely open about it?

They know the policy. Even if it is a backwards ass policy, they shouldn't violate it.

 

[EwanSF]

This more or less sums up my feelings on the subject...

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np6_b-72H3E[/ame]

 

[oasisdude]

It's still a violation of military regs to have gay sex, on or off base. The number of people [STRIKE]persecuted [/STRIKE]prosecuted for this "crime" has actually gone up in the 15 years since DADT.

Sodomy is still a crime in the military under the UCMJ, Article 125. Yes, a crime. Hetro or homo. How many hetro's are persecuted for consensual oral sex? As a retired military member after 22 years, it is high time for President Obama to change the policy. He can do it with the stroke of a pen -- the DoD will have to comply. Why must the USA continue to kick out troops for no other reason than sexuality? I can't think of a valid reason.

 

[star-warrior]

I have a gassy bowel. Will they use me as a WMD?

 

[MisterMajestic]

"it is high time for President Obama to change the policy."

Which do you want Barack to tackle first? Getting Billons of Dollars of Millitary benefits into play or starting a battle about "Don't ask don't tell"?

Let Barack get you active soldiers and Vets ALL the money & benefits he can get passed then he'll takle "Don't ask,don't tell" later....

He's got 4yrs folks...Everyone expects him to FIX everything in 6 weeks...It is IMPOSSIBLE...Give the man some time and space...

 

[oasisdude]

I spoke too quickly about an issue I'd like to see changed. It is not the President, but the US Congress who needs to change the law implementing what is called the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy, and to change the UCMJ decriminalizing consensual sodomy amongst adults. This process is more than a stroke of the pen. It will be a tough fight, even amongst the majority in Congress to do this. The same for DOMA. I am hopeful this will get done sometime under this administration and Congress.

 

[bankside]

"it is high time for President Obama to change the policy."

Which do you want Barack to tackle first? Getting Billons of Dollars of Millitary benefits into play or starting a battle about "Don't ask don't tell"?

Let Barack get you active soldiers and Vets ALL the money & benefits he can get passed then he'll takle "Don't ask,don't tell" later....

He's got 4yrs folks...Everyone expects him to FIX everything in 6 weeks...It is IMPOSSIBLE...Give the man some time and space...

I don't get how this is an effort. Just change the policy. Done.

Howcome this is so easy in so many other countries. Do it. Let Rush Linbaugh whine. Enjoy.

Canadian gays proudly and openly serve alongside Americans in the closet in several joint military projects - Afghanistan - NORAD, NATO, you name it. "Don't ask, don't tell" is epic fail, and they should just put it to a quick death as the stupid policy it is.

 

[SportsStud]

It's a crapshoot when it comes whether someone has to be completely closeted or not. I know several servicemen, who have said that a select few of their straight peers know that they're gay and they don't care one bit.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

I mean it's sad but until DADT is done away with, why are they being completely open about it?

They know the policy. Even if it is a backwards ass policy, they shouldn't violate it.

Once again -- you don't have to be completely open to be kicked out. If you go to a gay bar on a Saturday night, and somebody finds out about it, you can be given a discharge just as easily.

 

[SonOfSlobone]

I spoke too quickly about an issue I'd like to see changed. It is not the President, but the US Congress who needs to change the law implementing what is called the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy, and to change the UCMJ decriminalizing consensual sodomy amongst adults. This process is more than a stroke of the pen. It will be a tough fight, even amongst the majority in Congress to do this. The same for DOMA. I am hopeful this will get done sometime under this administration and Congress.

Technically that's correct. But I still say the heads of the various branches of the military could just quietly tell their people "stop enforcing this policy" if they wanted to.

 

[Miz1983]

Sodomy is still a crime in the military under the UCMJ, Article 125. Yes, a crime. Hetro or homo. How many hetro's are persecuted for consensual oral sex? As a retired military member after 22 years, it is high time for President Obama to change the policy. He can do it with the stroke of a pen

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's up to the Congress to change UCMJ. And unfortunately, we have a lot of conservative democrats in the mix......

 

[Blatino]

I know it is so wrong that our country discriminates like this. Having said that, the minute there is a draft, I am gonna wave my rainbow flag high and mighty.

Lol me too!

I believe it hurts our army much more than it does improving it by getting rid of gay soldiers. There are few who even want to be in the army. Although, I applaud those who do