Duffy: Don’t ask my fellow soldiers about ‘Don’t Ask’

I have a lot of opinions. I am sure that we all have a lot of opinions. Why in the world would a big army open up the question of whether to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to soldiers?

I was never provided an army-sponsored chance to express my feelings on the Iraq or Afghanistan war. I have never been asked to discuss my feelings on anything, really. I was told that the Army isn’t a democracy and was not able to voice my opinion on anything or anyone I may have had to share my bay, chu, or tent with.

Recently I read that the first submariner females were graduating the naval academy. I missed my chance to comment on that idea. I missed my chance to comment on many things, apparently. It’s not like the Army has a Facebook page designed for servicemembers to comment on how they feel about each sex, each creed and each race. Why is the gay community singled out as a group that it is ok to comment on? Why haven’t I heard much of an uproar against this idea?

Each stage of integrating women and African-Americans throughout the years was undoubtedly met with plenty of opinionated military personnel at all ranks. They made movies such as “GI Jane”and “Men of Honor” to show the opinions and the battles that segments of the population face to be treated equally. There was never a suggestion box for soldiers to place their comments expressing their willingness, or lack thereof, to serve next to others. Integration happened and you had to suck it up and drive on.

I am extremely worried that this process will be used to develop excuses to keep the gay military ban from being repealed. At best, it seems to be a method of garnering support for more separate-but-equal laws like those used outside of the military for marriage and adoption.

I find nothing positive or pleasurable in the idea of being “free” to be a target for discriminatory policies after I am allowed to be out. I would rather stay mute on some important parts of my life and serve than serve while constantly evaluating any new rules or laws that set me apart as something other than a soldier.

Oh, and next time they want to bail out banks… I would like to comment on that too.

‘Michael Duffy’ is the pseudonym of a soldier who formerly served in Iraq.

2009 Gay Soccer World Championship Opens in Washington D.C. on Sunday June 14, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC — The International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) will open the 2009 Gay Soccer World Championship (www.iglfa2009.org) in the Washington D.C. area on Sunday morning June 14, 2009. The 2009 Gay Soccer World Championship is being hosted by the Federal Triangles Soccer Club (FTSC) of Washington, D.C. This marks the first time the tournament has been held in the United States since 2004 when it was held in San Francisco. This also marks the second time that this tournament is being hosted in the Washington D.C. area by FTSC.

This year the IGLFA 2009 Official Gay Soccer World Championship tournament coincides with the end of Capital Gay Pride. The Capital Pride organization is a partner with IGLFA 2009. The 2009 IGLFA Tournament is also being supported by both the D.C. United of Major League Soccer and the Washington Freedom of the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Both the D.C. United and Washington Freedom will have players signing autographs this Sunday, June 14th at the Capital Pride Festival.

The preliminary round-robin matches for the tournament will take place on Monday June 15th, Tuesday June 16th, and Thursday June 18th at the Maryland SoccerPlex. The Quarterfinal, Semi-Final, and Championship games will be played at Trinity Washington University on Friday June 19th and Saturday June 20th. All games are free and open to spectators.

“D.C. United is proud to support the upcoming IGLFA World Championship this summer as well as the Federal Triangles Soccer Club of Washington D.C. and its efforts to bring players and teams from around the world to our city. The D.C. United fan base is a diverse, vibrant, and passionate demographic truly representative of the word, ‘United.’ Our supporters are all ‘Black and Red’ regardless of race, creed, color, nationality or sexual orientation.”

Stephen Zack, Executive Vice President, D.C. United

“We are proud to the support the IGLFA 2009 World Championship and congratulate the host club, the Federal Triangles Soccer Club of Washington, D.C. for bringing this tournament to our city and world class soccer to our pitches. The word ‘Freedom’ has a different meaning to everyone. The Washington Freedom supports diversity and the culture of being free to be who you are regardless of your race, creed, color, sexual orientation or national heritage.”

Mark Washo, President and General Manager, Washington Freedom

“IGLFA 2009 will put the international spotlight on DC’s dynamic sports scene and vibrant GLBT community. Both international and GLBT markets have proven to be big spenders when traveling, so the image and economic benefits are significant for the city.”

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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/06/2009-gay-socc…

Senior GOP Consultant Backs Gay Marriage Washington Post

Steve Schmidt, a top adviser to Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) 2008 presidential campaign, today laid out the case for gay marriage, warning that the GOP will continue to lose young voters and the Northeast as long the party opposes it.

At a meeting in Washington of the Log Cabin Republicans, a gay rights GOP group, Schmidt dismissed conservative arguments that allowing gay marriage would weaken the institution, as well as objections from religious conservatives, warning that they could turn the Republican Party into a “sectarian” party.

“For the party to be seen as an antigay, that is injurious to its candidates in places like California and Washington and New York,” Schmidt said.

He called heterosexual marriage “a tradition,”not a “creed.”

See Senior GOP Consultant Backs Gay Marriage Washington Post