Darren Manzella is one brave soldier!
The Iraqi veteran made waves when he came out on 60 Minutes last year, a big no no considering the military’s ban on openly gay soldiers. Despite the hubbub, Manzella returned to active duty and, at the time, it seemed that the government had no plans of ousting him. Unfortunately that was not the case and Manzella received his walking papers last week.
While the military brass didn’t approve of Manzella’s man-loving, he says his peers didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary – they were “proud!”
After my appearance on 60 Minutes I received a lot of support from most of my colleagues. Some were surprised that I made such a public statement but told me that they were proud of me for standing up for people who could not speak out. To them, I was still SERGEANT Manzella though. I really didn’t notice a change in how I was treated or viewed.
Many of my peers and co-workers voiced to me that they felt it was unfair that I was being discharged. They felt, as many people in our military and society feel, that an able and competent soldier should be retained especially in this time when we are fighting two wars and need every capable man and woman who is willing to put on a uniform and serve their country.
The Republicans, of course, fail to see Manzella’s logic.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
fredo777
* Darren Manzella is one cute soldier!
There. I fixed it for you.
crazylove
Yeah- he’s hot. It’s sad he couldn’t keep his job.
Jason
Sweet mother of God, he’s hot. Ugggggggggh, does he need a job?!
kevin57
Yes, the Republicans fail to see it, but I haven’t noticed the Dems rushing to confront Bush about it. Yeah, he’d veto such a bill, but to watch Cheney try to mumble some defense of a veto would be fun to watch.
RPCV
When a person acts contrary to rules and regulations, he/she gets punished. Manzella is and should not be an exception. No sympathy…….
Jaroslaw
If you guys think he’s cute in that photo, check out the 60 minutes interview on YouTube.
As for the issue, the government has its head up its ass. A year ago, the talking heads, one of whom was Condoleeza Rice, was complaining about how hard it was to get Arabic translators. I think it was the late Tim Russert (?) on Meet The Press who asked if the State Dept. had a ban on Gays. No, only the military was the answer. So, it was pointed out there were all these military guys kicked out, but they were proficient, passed their security clearance etc. What is the problem? I don’t remember the answer, but I’m sure it was some diplomatic double talking bullshit. Yes folks, Gay folk REALLY are more dangerous than terrorist, apparently.
oneway
When does he make his Morning Goods debut?
Phoenix (the nancy boy, not the Pale one)
I’m sorry he lost his chosen career, but I’m not sad his life won’t be wasted in Iraq.
Bill Perdue
Actually the Republicans don’t have much say in the matter at all.
In the first place, it’s not their bill, although they support it. DADT is a bigoted law authored by Obama’s top advisor and rumored VP nominee Sam Nunn, a bigot. It was passed overwhelmingly by bigoted Democrats and signed by a bigoted Democrat, Bill Clinton, also infamous for going the air to boast about signing DOMA during his ’96 reelection bid.
Secondly, the Democrats control Congress, not the Republicans. You remember. The Democrats were elected in 2006 based on their promise to end the war. How many GI’s and Iraqis have died since they betrayed that promise.
The Democrats could have junked DADT at any time, but decided not to. Maybe it’s because they were so very, very busy shredding ENDA and junking it and the hate crimes bill. How many more Lawrence Kings will die because Democrats and Republicans sent a joint message that we’re fair game?
And where was fearless leader and bestest ever friend of the GLBT communities Obama when all this was going on? Obama was busily blowing air kisses at the Rev. Donnie McClurkin of course.
Good Luck to Darren Manzella in his fight to end the Democrats DADT. And Good Luck to all the soldiers, sailors, air crew and marines trapped in the genocidal conflict in Iraq. I hope they make it home ok.
fri
so this sick puppy wants the “right” to drop bombs on poor brown kids who have no rights at all and the govt wont let him cause he’s gay? boohoo, i say sarcastically, boohoo! with hundreds of millions of dead civilians from the war on terror, i cant force myself to feel bad for this guys situation at all. if anything i’m happy for his family, now they wont possibly have to deal with a son dying in an unjust war or returning with some f’d up issues and post-traumatic stress disorder.
l
John McCain has undiagnosed untreated PTSD. He’s gone to Colombia to self-medicate.
Rsquared
Commenters 4 and 9 make accurate points. Do your homework, Queerty, before making such a comment – your credibility is important to this reader.
BootsieGee
As a former Navy man and an honorably discharged veteran (after 8 years) I can say that until you have walked in his shoes you don’t know what he is going through or went through prior to his interview.
I went through three horrible investigations for being gay and can tell you that sitting in a small room, being asked to sign away your rights, threathened with jail time and having someone tell you that they are repulsed by your presence is no walk in the park.
For many people the military is a way to make something of yourself. Only he knows what drove him to the military. Just as I know what drove me.
I wish him the very best of luck in whatever he decides to do and applaud his courage and the fact that he has maintained his dignity through what I am sure has been a somewhat scary path.
fri
bootsiegee, what you had to go through is still preferable to the immense pain suffered by the iraqis and afghanis who have been killed, disabled, tortured, psychologically scarred, lost homes, lost family and friends, humiliated, impoverished, and turned into refugees by the invading american troops. i dont care what his primary motivation was to join the military, if he fanatasized about killed arab kids or wanted the power, to be a bigger man, etc), the results for the victims of his actions are still the same. by wanting to stay in the military, dropping bombs on some of the poorest people in the world, he displays a complete lack of courage, a complete lack of dignity, a complete lack of humanity.
LikaStarr
I am more amazed every day how us “gays” love to eat our own and spit them out. Some of you guys need to learn how to swallow.
In case what I am saying is not understood, look at Fri’s response to BootsieGee. This person totally takes Boot’s comment, chews it up and spits it right back in his face. It’s downright mean.
Most soldiers do not enlist so they can get some morbid satisfaction out of killing innocent victims. They enlist because they are proud of and want to serve their country to protect it. In this particular war, there are many soldiers enlisting because they think and are “TOLD” their service will help bring this fiasco to an end. In other words, they are told boldface lies. I seriously doubt the majority of soldiers (gay, straight or bisexual) join for an egotistical power trip.
I’m sure a few men and women alike do join for some of those reasons Fir listed. But to label even one that you do not know personally is the same as labeling them all. That is just as bad as labeling all gays as second class citizens which is EXACTLY what DADT does.
This conversation shouldn’t even be about why the war is wrong or why a soldier enlists. It is about discrimination against gays in our miliatary — plain and simple. Whether we agree with war or not, our country needs a military force. We also need that military to be fair and just, starting with our own countrymen.
I’ll end my comment by stating that I do not support this war and I also strongly feel we shouldn’t have started it in the first place. In a nutshell we, the American people (that includes our soldiers), were lied to. Unfortunately, what’s done is done and that is what we have to deal with. We also need a President in office that will work towards ending this war and not drag it out for another 100 years.
John
I’m going to have to agree with Bill. Thanks queerty for the knee-jerk political sniping though. It’s refreshing to see Americans not immediately bring divisive political rhetoric to an issue. Also painting all Republicans as bigots is really great and not at all offensive. It’s like sometimes when some members of a group share a characteristic, you just say they’re all that way. Should come in handy again I’m sure. Awesome work!