I created this blog as a place for people to learn and discuss issues surrounding racism, sexism, classism, and ableism. I welcome comments as long as they are respectful to others.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Be All That You Can Be....Unless You're Gay???
In recent months the current Don't Ask Don't Tell policy that the United States military follows was up for voting on a possible repeal. The vote didn't happen due to a filibuster led by John McCain. After looking into this a bit more I found some articles and research that would favor the repeal for openly gay men and lesbian women to join the military, as it stands now the military can't ask about sexual orientation, but if you come out then you are kicked out. I guess I'm not really sure what sexual orientation has to do with defending our country? Some of the arguments that support the current DADT say that it would "effect the cohesiveness and lower morale." A study done in a few other countries with similar view points as the US have lifted the ban on allowing openly gay people into their military, and research following the ban lift has shown that the effectiveness and morale has NOT changed. What's holding this country back? Check out the following videos...they may be offensive, but they are funny and definitely shed some light on the situation.
In the military you have to live closely with your fellow warriors. When It is time to take a shower, depending on where you are you may have to take a shower with anywhere from 0 to 10 people. Some showers in the military just have a single pillar and shower heads around it. In the Military you also have to share the same room and living quarters of members of the same sex. I'm not against gays at all and I have friends that are gay, but I already dislike the fact of taking showers with a bunch of guys, and it would be even worse if I had to do so next to someone who was gay. Although the topic has gone crazy in the media, having a Military background has shed some light into what would actually happen if it was "Okay" to come out and be in the military. I know there are a lot of people in the Military that do not like gays and if they took that policy away it would probably bring down moral in some units, especially in the combat arms fields. It would not be a pretty sight for the homosexual who was in their unit. Brian
At this point in my life I wouldn't care whether or not a military member was gay but for discussion purposes I'd like to play devil's advocate.
Just ask yourself a few questions about your comfort level with different scenarios. I see some problems that I may not have a problem with now but back when I was in the military I probably would have.
Would you, at any point in your life, been uncomfortable showering with a man you weren't involved with? Would you, at any point in your life, been uncomfortable sleeping in the same room, every night, just feet away, from a man you were not involved with? In the military you're expected to be fine in those kinds of situations with the same sex. Those situations are already uncomfortable for a lot of people. Add in the fact that someone may be checking you out and it gets even worse.
I see a lot of uncomfortable situations arising. Should the military then create 4 different divisions for people then instead of just men and women? If not, why aren't we all just showering together then? If you're ok with showering with a gay woman why not shower with a hetero man?
Thank you both for taking the time to think about this issue and also responding. I get where you are both coming from in feeling uncomfortable to beging with, I don't like showering with anyone either, regardless of sexual orientation.
Something to think about though, has it ever occured to either of you that you've probably showered with a person that identifies as being gay? In the study that I researched and referenced briefly above it commented that just because these other countries didn't penalize people for sexual orientation didn't mean that everyone that was in a same sex relationship came out of the closet. Proving that people only come out when they are comfortable to do so, regardless of whether or not they will be punished by work or some other institution.
Maybe too, age and experience in the world has something to do with this?
In the military you have to live closely with your fellow warriors. When It is time to take a shower, depending on where you are you may have to take a shower with anywhere from 0 to 10 people. Some showers in the military just have a single pillar and shower heads around it. In the Military you also have to share the same room and living quarters of members of the same sex. I'm not against gays at all and I have friends that are gay, but I already dislike the fact of taking showers with a bunch of guys, and it would be even worse if I had to do so next to someone who was gay. Although the topic has gone crazy in the media, having a Military background has shed some light into what would actually happen if it was "Okay" to come out and be in the military. I know there are a lot of people in the Military that do not like gays and if they took that policy away it would probably bring down moral in some units, especially in the combat arms fields. It would not be a pretty sight for the homosexual who was in their unit.
ReplyDeleteBrian
At this point in my life I wouldn't care whether or not a military member was gay but for discussion purposes I'd like to play devil's advocate.
ReplyDeleteJust ask yourself a few questions about your comfort level with different scenarios. I see some problems that I may not have a problem with now but back when I was in the military I probably would have.
Would you, at any point in your life, been uncomfortable showering with a man you weren't involved with? Would you, at any point in your life, been uncomfortable sleeping in the same room, every night, just feet away, from a man you were not involved with? In the military you're expected to be fine in those kinds of situations with the same sex. Those situations are already uncomfortable for a lot of people. Add in the fact that someone may be checking you out and it gets even worse.
I see a lot of uncomfortable situations arising. Should the military then create 4 different divisions for people then instead of just men and women? If not, why aren't we all just showering together then? If you're ok with showering with a gay woman why not shower with a hetero man?
Thank you both for taking the time to think about this issue and also responding. I get where you are both coming from in feeling uncomfortable to beging with, I don't like showering with anyone either, regardless of sexual orientation.
ReplyDeleteSomething to think about though, has it ever occured to either of you that you've probably showered with a person that identifies as being gay? In the study that I researched and referenced briefly above it commented that just because these other countries didn't penalize people for sexual orientation didn't mean that everyone that was in a same sex relationship came out of the closet. Proving that people only come out when they are comfortable to do so, regardless of whether or not they will be punished by work or some other institution.
Maybe too, age and experience in the world has something to do with this?