Chapter 15 Lot's of talk about DADT...

2010-02-06T10:48:00.002-07:00

That's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen talking about his personal beliefs about DADT repeal. I actually met ADM Mullen a few times in Iraq and watched him discuss some of the stuff we were doing in Sadr City. He's extremely intelligent and down to earth and to hear his words about DADT both make me very happy to have a CJCS that understands our plight, but misunderstands the way to tackle this issue IMO. He's right to say that there will be a lot of issues that come up with a full repeal of this policy that need to be addressed. Huge issues about personnel, housing, POSH, EO, et all. However the right thing to do here is to issue a moratorium on discharges under DADT while the policy is being reviewed and implemented. All that we are asking for is the ability to love someone and not have to look over our shoulder when we're not at work. I really don't think that's too much to ask.

Pres. Obama speech at HRC annual dinner

2009-10-10T19:47:00.002-06:00

Let me start off by saying that I think Kevin Spacey moonlights as Joe Solmonese.

President Obama's speech was very inspiring, though he didn't give any firm dates or really talk about anything new. He reminds us that we should not compare 10 months to 10 years and that progress is being made particularly with the Hate Crimes Bill that recently passed in the House. Progress has been made, but it is debatable how quickly it has happened and how quickly it will in the future.

Lots of great talking points and quotes came from Obama with this speech, in particular telling a member of the crowd that he loves him back and how honored that "he's made it," now that he's had the chance to "open for Lady Gaga."

He went on to say that he understands the fight and says, "I'm with you in that fight," going on to say his administration, "cannot and will not put aside issues of basic equality." I'm with him on that, but I don't believe that we've been at the forethought of any administrative decisions, especially recently.

As far as DADT is concerned he mentions that gays "are Soldiers," and that he'll fight for our rights "whether in the office or on the battlefield." In what, I believe to be his first public statement on the issue since taking office, he says, "I will end don't ask don't tell, that's my commitment to you."

He also mentions specifically working hard on ENDA, believing in "equal rights for committed gay couples," getting DOMA repealed and passing a federal domestic partnership initiative.

He reminds us, "do not doubt the direction we are headed and the destination we will reach." Once again political talking points that help us feel a little better, but in the end offer nothing substantial except for his word, which we had in the primaries... but he is the president, so I believe that we can rely on his word, it will happen, the question is when?

Rep. Patrick Murphy Special Order Hour on DADT

2009-10-06T21:38:00.003-06:00

Lots of great stuff was said and I'm glad to see this issue tackled in the House after 16 years. The bravery and dedication shown by all of the speakers speaks volumes for progress in the United States and for that I'm grateful.

However, Rep. Louie Gohmert came and shit all over everything afterwards by babbling right wing religious nonsense and speculation, passed off as irrefutable fact. (Sorry if I ramble a little here). The first thing I need to say (and this is out of order, but it just frosts my weenie), I really don't understand the segue that led to, essentially, DADT repeal will lead to hitler taking the office as people give up personal freedoms for financial stability. Will someone please explain to me how granting more personal freedom to gay and lesbian Soldiers will lead to financial instability? And Hitler taking office?

Rep. Gohmert began by saying (paraphrased) that Soldiers are allowed to perform homosexual acts, "as long as it's not offensive." This is patently false, under Army Regulation 600-20 (Army Command Policy) Chapter 4-9 (Army Homosexual Policy) a Soldier may be chaptered by credible evidence of statement, marriage, or act. A homosexual act can be anything from holding hands to full intercourse, and everything in between, regardless of where or when. If I were witnessed kissing my boyfriend in the privacy of my home (say through a crack in the blinds) at midnight by a "credible" witness, I could be chaptered. The way Rep. Gohmert painted it is that Soldiers are free to be homosexuals, they just can't talk about it at work. It is a disservice to the American people, gay Soldiers, and his constituents to act like the DADT policy does no harm and should not be changed.

He goes on to say that the military is not a social experiment. I tend to agree with him in terms of actual social experimentation, but ending DADT is not social experimentation. It is more akin to desegregation than anything else, and look how that "social experiment" turned out. Later his argument morphs from "as long as it's not offensive" to "anything that distracts." Anything that distracts? What, like fancy colors? Fast moving rabbits? I really can't wrap my head around right wing fundamentalist dogshit... er.. dogma.

He (and this is actually a really common argument) also says that there are several Soldiers that will get out, refuse to reenlist, or refuse to enlist in the first place after DADT repeal. I say it's good. We don't need people like that representing our Nation's interest (flipped the coin on that one, didn't I?). The army's EO policy WILL read (after DADT is repealed):

"The US Army will provide equal opportunity and fair treatment for military personnel, family members, and DA civilians without regard to race, color, religion, gender, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, or national origin..."

(or something along those lines)

Racists and sexists in the army now are not welcome, they get bad marks on their evaluations and do not make it far in the army. It's hard to be a leader in combat, or anywhere else, if you harbor hatred for the men and women that are supposed to follow you. Unit cohesiveness comes from strong leadership and oftentimes strong leadership means setting aside personal feelings and opinions for the good of the whole. As a matter of fact, that's what's FUCKING EXPECTED OF YOU, as a military leader.

I also personally know that many people will change their mind when confronted with a great leader or Soldier. Many of the Soldiers I worked with in Iraq (as a squad leader, in real combat), were homophobic. I heard all kinds of ignorant shit come out of their mouths (everyone they disagreed with was a "fag" or "faggot," everything that sucked was "gay," on many occasions I heard some of them talk about how they would kick someone's ass if they found out they were gay, etc.). After we got back and I realized I HAD to come out for my own sanity, many of them found out. Guess what? THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS! When confronted with a difference than the stereotype, they did a self assessment, realized their error, and moved on with life. The most common rationale after I came out was, "SSG (Insert my real name here) went through combat with me, why should I hate him?"

I've seen this happen multiple times with several EXTREMELY homophobic military people. It leads me to believe that this is what would happen almost solidly across the board.

But no, we'll make Hitler come to office and as commander in chief the whole military will have a policy banning heterosexuals from joining and it will be a gay pride parade every day... with rifles and tanks. Pink ones. Yay!!!

Military Readiness Enhancement Act is just another can of worms

2009-09-15T22:30:00.004-06:00

With the National Equality March on Washington fast approaching, there is a lot of talk about “repeal of DADT.”

Patrick Murphy has done a lot of work with DADT repeal (called the Military Readiness Enhancement Act), even touring with the human rights campaign this summer to raise awareness of the bill. He has gotten 169 cosponsors in Congress. The main front runner of a Senate version of the bill, Ted Kennedy, recently passed away leaving the torch to other senators to carry.

Admiral Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that he will give his opinion on DADT later this fall.

The problem I have is repeal creates only a baby step forward in ending the policy of gay apartheid (I LOVE that term) that exists in America.

More than any federal agency, the military is hell on families. Between deployments, training, and permanent changes of station, a support structure for ALL military families needs to be established. For straight couples, the military has excellent support structures in place to help ease the stress such as family advocacy programs, TRICARE, Family Readiness Groups, Army Community Service, the American Red Cross, etc. Gay couples, even after the repeal of DADT, will not have access to these programs.

Being able to tell people you’re gay without fear of losing your job is one thing, but most of us serving in the closet have at least a handful of military people that already know. However, to be in a committed relationship and still not get the same benefits your straight comrades get is entirely another.

In the area of dual military relationships, the army usually does a pretty good job of getting dual military couples stationed and deployed together; if you’re in a gay relationship, it would continue to be a roll of the dice.

So, in order to make the repeal of DADT even remotely fair, it needs to be repealed right alongside DOMA. Throw the two in together with a federal ENDA and you would have a super bill that would effectively end the apartheid. I don't actually believe this will happen, even though it's common sense (give rights to people who are denied rights... seriously... DUH!).

But that's the order it will go in... MREA (Congressmen yells hooray for gay victory!) this fall or this upcoming spring. Then they'll feel out the political climate for gays, a few more states will legalize gay marriage. A senator will notice that this gay marriage thing is gaining popularity... BOOM!!! DOMA repealed. Hooray!! Election time rolls around later that year or the next, the whole giving the rights back to the gays is really popular and we'll finally have ENDA. Senators and Congressmen rejoice!!!

Right now, I see MREA as trading one can of worms for another, smaller can. Either way, it still denies people rights that they should have.

Let's hope the march raises an eyebrow or two... and someone carry a sign for me (I can't carry one myself).

My story is featured...

2009-09-15T21:44:00.003-06:00

On I'm From Driftwood.

Check it out.

Some kick ass artwork by Jason is also featured. Special thanks to him and especially to Nathan for giving many people who feel voiceless a voice and someone to listen.

An older story was also featured a while ago.