Withers: Soldiers talk about ending DADT. Gay soldiers had to be quiet
[1]
On Tuesday the Defense Department [2] hand picked about 350 soldiers to discuss what would it mean for DADT to end. From many accounts, the comments were thoughtful and perceptive. Some wanted to know how the military would deal with benefits if gay soldiers are married. Right now troops who are legally hitched can’t transfer them to their mates.
A female solider noted that for her sharing living quarters with a lesbian equals bunking with a man. Another soldier said he had no desire to wade into the conversation. Just give him the orders and he’ll follow. The moderator of the conversation asked if anyone thought they served with gay troops. About half said yes.
There might have been gay soldiers in the 350, but because of DADT they can’t publicly speak up. Even as the military talks about ending the ban. If they want to add a voice to the conversation, a third party will be used. Then their thoughts will be made known to the decision makers.
There is no problem with the Defense Department going through a slow repeal process, but the fact gay soldiers don’t have the same speech rights as their peers galls. Publicly the military brass [3] have no problem with this. “We want gay soldiers to serve openly, but don’t talk to us as we go over what needs to be done.”
I’m not sure gay troops should participate when they have so little value to their superiors. Of course this is true everyday for gay soldiers under DADT. So what’s one more indignity? Isn’t that the holy grail of minority life in America? Trying to decide which dishonor is worth ignoring, and which requires holy hell?
[1] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/news-female-marine-military-top.jpg
[2] http://www.365gay.com/news/troops-question-impact-if-gay-ban-is-lifted/
[3] http://www.365gay.com/blog/040210-secretary-of-the-army-changes-his-mind-he-will-adhere-to-dadt/
Troops question impact if gay ban is lifted
(Washington) Troops attending the first meeting of its kind on ending the ban on gays in the military said Tuesday they want to know what changes were in store for them if gays were allowed to serve openly.
Picked at random and assembled in the Pentagon auditorium, about 350 rank-and-file troops asked the leaders of a new working group whether bunking arrangements would change and if the spouses of gay personnel would be given military family benefits, among other issues.
The answers to those questions aren’t expected until the end of the year, when the working group releases its findings on the impact openly gay service might have on the force.
Officials say they will spend the next several months reaching out to troops and their families in focus groups and meetings like the Tuesday forum to determine what concerns they’ll have to address.
Attendees of the Tuesday session said that one female Marine stated that bunking with a lesbian would be the same as being told to share a room with a man. A soldier said he didn’t want to wade into the political debate and that he would follow orders.
Another service member asked if a gay service member who gets married – now forbidden under law – would receive military family benefits.
At one point, a moderator asked how many troops believed they have served with a gay person. About half the people in the audience raised their hands.
Attendees described the meeting on condition of anonymity because they said they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.
President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the ban. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said a repeal of the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is inevitable. But he says he wants to do it in a way that would mitigate any risk to unit effectiveness.
Accordingly, Gates has assigned his chief legal counsel, Jeh Johnson, and Army Gen. Carter Ham to lead a working group on the subject. The results of their review are due Dec. 1.
One issue officials have been wrestling with is how to gauge the opinion of gay service members without forcing them to break the law by disclosing their sexual orientation.
Officials say it is likely that a third party will be hired to help survey the force and reach out to gay troops.
Withers: Soldiers talk about ending DADT. Gay soldiers had to be quiet
[1]
On Tuesday the Defense Department [2] hand picked about 350 soldiers to discuss what would it mean for DADT to end. From many accounts, the comments were thoughtful and perceptive. Some wanted to know how the military would deal with benefits if gay soldiers are married. Right now troops who are legally hitched can’t transfer them to their mates.
A female solider noted that for her sharing living quarters with a lesbian equals bunking with a man. Another soldier said he had no desire to wade into the conversation. Just give him the orders and he’ll follow. The moderator of the conversation asked if anyone thought they served with gay troops. About half said yes.
There might have been gay soldiers in the 350, but because of DADT they can’t publicly speak up. Even as the military talks about ending the ban. If they want to add a voice to the conversation, a third party will be used. Then their thoughts will be made known to the decision makers.
There is no problem with the Defense Department going through a slow repeal process, but the fact gay soldiers don’t have the same speech rights as their peers galls. Publicly the military brass [3] have no problem with this. “We want gay soldiers to serve openly, but don’t talk to us as we go over what needs to be done.”
I’m not sure gay troops should participate when they have so little value to their superiors. Of course this is true everyday for gay soldiers under DADT. So what’s one more indignity? Isn’t that the holy grail of minority life in America? Trying to decide which dishonor is worth ignoring, and which requires holy hell?
[1] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/news-female-marine-military-top.jpg
[2] http://www.365gay.com/news/troops-question-impact-if-gay-ban-is-lifted/
[3] http://www.365gay.com/blog/040210-secretary-of-the-army-changes-his-mind-he-will-adhere-to-dadt/
Troops question impact if gay ban is lifted
(Washington) Troops attending the first meeting of its kind on ending the ban on gays in the military said Tuesday they want to know what changes were in store for them if gays were allowed to serve openly.
Picked at random and assembled in the Pentagon auditorium, about 350 rank-and-file troops asked the leaders of a new working group whether bunking arrangements would change and if the spouses of gay personnel would be given military family benefits, among other issues.
The answers to those questions aren’t expected until the end of the year, when the working group releases its findings on the impact openly gay service might have on the force.
Officials say they will spend the next several months reaching out to troops and their families in focus groups and meetings like the Tuesday forum to determine what concerns they’ll have to address.
Attendees of the Tuesday session said that one female Marine stated that bunking with a lesbian would be the same as being told to share a room with a man. A soldier said he didn’t want to wade into the political debate and that he would follow orders.
Another service member asked if a gay service member who gets married – now forbidden under law – would receive military family benefits.
At one point, a moderator asked how many troops believed they have served with a gay person. About half the people in the audience raised their hands.
Attendees described the meeting on condition of anonymity because they said they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.
President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the ban. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said a repeal of the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is inevitable. But he says he wants to do it in a way that would mitigate any risk to unit effectiveness.
Accordingly, Gates has assigned his chief legal counsel, Jeh Johnson, and Army Gen. Carter Ham to lead a working group on the subject. The results of their review are due Dec. 1.
One issue officials have been wrestling with is how to gauge the opinion of gay service members without forcing them to break the law by disclosing their sexual orientation.
Officials say it is likely that a third party will be hired to help survey the force and reach out to gay troops.
Withers: Soldiers talk about ending DADT. Gay soldiers had to be quiet
[1]
On Tuesday the Defense Department [2] hand picked about 350 soldiers to discuss what would it mean for DADT to end. From many accounts, the comments were thoughtful and perceptive. Some wanted to know how the military would deal with benefits if gay soldiers are married. Right now troops who are legally hitched can’t transfer them to their mates.
A female solider noted that for her sharing living quarters with a lesbian equals bunking with a man. Another soldier said he had no desire to wade into the conversation. Just give him the orders and he’ll follow. The moderator of the conversation asked if anyone thought they served with gay troops. About half said yes.
There might have been gay soldiers in the 350, but because of DADT they can’t publicly speak up. Even as the military talks about ending the ban. If they want to add a voice to the conversation, a third party will be used. Then their thoughts will be made known to the decision makers.
There is no problem with the Defense Department going through a slow repeal process, but the fact gay soldiers don’t have the same speech rights as their peers galls. Publicly the military brass [3] have no problem with this. “We want gay soldiers to serve openly, but don’t talk to us as we go over what needs to be done.”
I’m not sure gay troops should participate when they have so little value to their superiors. Of course this is true everyday for gay soldiers under DADT. So what’s one more indignity? Isn’t that the holy grail of minority life in America? Trying to decide which dishonor is worth ignoring, and which requires holy hell?
[1] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/news-female-marine-military-top.jpg
[2] http://www.365gay.com/news/troops-question-impact-if-gay-ban-is-lifted/
[3] http://www.365gay.com/blog/040210-secretary-of-the-army-changes-his-mind-he-will-adhere-to-dadt/
Troops question impact if gay ban is lifted
(Washington) Troops attending the first meeting of its kind on ending the ban on gays in the military said Tuesday they want to know what changes were in store for them if gays were allowed to serve openly.
Picked at random and assembled in the Pentagon auditorium, about 350 rank-and-file troops asked the leaders of a new working group whether bunking arrangements would change and if the spouses of gay personnel would be given military family benefits, among other issues.
The answers to those questions aren’t expected until the end of the year, when the working group releases its findings on the impact openly gay service might have on the force.
Officials say they will spend the next several months reaching out to troops and their families in focus groups and meetings like the Tuesday forum to determine what concerns they’ll have to address.
Attendees of the Tuesday session said that one female Marine stated that bunking with a lesbian would be the same as being told to share a room with a man. A soldier said he didn’t want to wade into the political debate and that he would follow orders.
Another service member asked if a gay service member who gets married – now forbidden under law – would receive military family benefits.
At one point, a moderator asked how many troops believed they have served with a gay person. About half the people in the audience raised their hands.
Attendees described the meeting on condition of anonymity because they said they were not authorized to speak publicly on the issue.
President Barack Obama has called on Congress to lift the ban. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said a repeal of the 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is inevitable. But he says he wants to do it in a way that would mitigate any risk to unit effectiveness.
Accordingly, Gates has assigned his chief legal counsel, Jeh Johnson, and Army Gen. Carter Ham to lead a working group on the subject. The results of their review are due Dec. 1.
One issue officials have been wrestling with is how to gauge the opinion of gay service members without forcing them to break the law by disclosing their sexual orientation.
Officials say it is likely that a third party will be hired to help survey the force and reach out to gay troops.
Marine Corps: Study gay ban but don’t hurt force
(Washington) The Marine Corps commandant said Wednesday that the ability of U.S. troops to fight and win wars must trump other concerns as the nation considers whether to let gays to serve openly in the military.
In testimony before a House committee, Gen. James Conway said he supports a Pentagon assessment …
VT parents protest BSA gay ban
VT parents protest BSA gay ban
Brits showing the way for American repeal of military ban?
The cover photo of an out soldier on the British army’s official magazine is a symbol of the success of the military’s nearly decade-long policy to allow openly gay personnel, according to this article. The British military reportedly has been advising its U.S. counterparts on a strategy to repeal its own gay ban. The Independent (London)
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/brits-showing…
Military Gay Discharge Moratorium Bill A Non-Starter
New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has decided not to pursue a senate amendment that would pause military discharges based on sexual orientation, gay weekly the Washington Blade reported. Gillibrand, the freshman senator appointed by Governor David Paterson after President Obama tapped Hillary Clinton to head the State Department, signaled last week she would introduce the reform as an amendment to a Defense Department reauthorization bill. The amendment would place an 18-month moratorium on the military gay ban, also known as “don’t ask, don’t tell,” the law that prescribes discharge for gay and lesbian service members who do not remain celibate or closeted.
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/07/military-gay-…
