The Pentagon may be changing their tune on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. The Defense Department’s Cynthia O. Smith released a statement saying that though they’ve been booted from the service, gay patriots can still help defend the nation.
[Gays and lesbians] have the opportunity to continue to serve their nation and national security by putting their abilities to use by way of civilian employment with other Federal agencies, the Department of Defense, or in the private sector, such as with a government contractor.
Gay defender defenders Servicemembers Legal Defense Network points out that this statement’s the first time The Department of Defense has invited queers to help fight America’s so-called good fight.
SLDN director of communications Steve Ralls says,
In its new statement, Pentagon leaders clearly acknowledge that lesbian and gay Americans make important contributions to our national security and that our country is better off when their skills are employed, not turned away. As this new statement points out, lesbian and gay service members are welcome to return to the Department of Defense, as civilian employees, often doing the same job as during their uniformed careers, even after being fired under ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ Indeed, the National Security Agency, Department of State and Central Intelligence Agency – and even the Department of Defense – all welcome openly gay civilian employees. Our armed forces should do so as well.
Ralls also reminds us that The Pentagon, which once vehemently defended their discriminatory policy, has recently put the issue before Congress, thus pulling themselves out of the debate. With the Democratic presidential candidates all pushing for Don’t Ask’s repeal – as well as Representative Marty Meehan and other politico’s work – Don’t Ask may soon be a thing of the past. This, of course, would be great news for Jason Knight and Eric Alva, two of the most soldiers booted from service for being gay.
mozzer13
Dear Pentagon,
Fuck you. Fuck your bus, and fuck the backseat in it you are offering up.
Most sincerely,
Gay Patriots
ProfessorVP
Believe me, if there was a real war going on, DOD would gladly take gays and lesbians as the military did during WW2. Neither Iraq nor Afghanistan has anything to do with making the US safe; in fact, it accomplishes the opposite. Any gay guy who wants to be part of it must certainly be in it for the excitement of sharing quarters with the straight guys, plus the travel and adventure. It can’t be for achieving peace, or national security.
hisurfer
Much as I hate the war, the last post seems like a needless slam on gay men and women in the service. Soldiers sign up for a wide variety of reasons, not just to share quarters with straight guys & have a bit of adventure.
ProfessorVP
Surfer, I made it clear I meant participating in Afghanistan (where the US used to support the Taliban until it interfered with the Bush family building a pipeline there) and Iraq (a no-brainer). Both Avila and Knight went to that region. If they didn’t know the US’s meddling did more harm then good, I have no sympathy for them. If they did know, then, well, it must be to shower with str8 boys and have adventure. What else could the reason be then? So again, they can kiss my ass, I’m not grateful.
allstarecho
Fuck that. If they don’t want me during war, they can’t have me during anything else.
hisurfer
No one gets to choose where they’re sent.
I also know plenty of soldiers who hate the war but still believe, or are struggling to believe, in the military.
Besides that – have you ever actually been on a base? I don’t think that soldiers share quarters in the way you’re thinking. Most bases look like American suburbs, complete with dorms, apartments, and single family houses. Yeah they shower with straight boys – at the gym, same as the rest of us.
ProfessorVP
Surfer, there is a large contingent of men who signed up right after 9/11 because Cheney said the terrorists “will hear from us.” (Y’know, Cheney of the 5 Vietnam deferments.) Saddam, of course! The kids knew exactly where they were going. To Afghanistan and Iraq, to get “the bad guys.” If they didn’t know what the War on Terror was really about, they’re too stupid to live. If they knew it was a crock, and just went for action, I don’t care if their horny asses get blown off. And listen, don’t tell me about the pristine life on bases with no man-on-man action. Don’t even go there.
hisurfer
“they’re too stupid to live… I don’t care if their horny asses get blown off.”
You scare me. Seriously – you can’t attack Cheney & Bush (whom I despise, for the record) and espouse such hate yourself.
ProfessorVP
Of course I wish they WEREN’T too stupid to live, but if you joined up to kick Saddam’s ass because of 9/11, what’s to say later they won’t stick their fingers in electric sockets, or jump off of bridges? It is not my problem. And if they go there to, er, fraternize with the str8 guys, (not out of the question, since the war was obviously never necessary), no… no, I just don’t care. I feel for thre real victims, not perpetrators, thrill-seekers or lazy-asses who couldn’t pick up a newspaper and learn what the war was about.