Quick, everybody, call your lawmakers! Write the White House! Send mental thoughts to Michelle! Whatever you do, don’t let our elected officials or the Pentagon try to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Sure, it discriminates against gay people who happen to be just as skilled as straight soldiers, but if we eliminate the policy the U.S. armed forces will lose one of their great military secrets: homophobic jokes.
“When my family asks what it’s like to be in the Army, I tell them it’s like a 24-hour gay joke.” That’s what one soldier told veteran military reporter Michael Hastings to explain all the punchlines delivered at the expense of GLBTs. Says Hastings: “The homophobia in the military is akin to the homophobia in locker rooms or frat houses. The reason the military won’t allow in gays is the same reason we don’t know what professional athletes are gay. It’s not part of the culture. In this kind of atmosphere, you find the type of language that you get when you isolate a bunch of dudes in testerone [sic] scented quarters. Jokingly, I’ve seen soldiers sit on each others laps, pretend to blow kisses and then some, while continually make sexually suggestive comments to one another.” (Maybe it also explains this?)
So does this mean letting gays serve openly would make everyone feel uneasy because they no longer get to crack jokes? Hmmmm: “The humor is not meant as malicious, I don’t think, and these are on the whole good guys. It’s just what gets joked about. Call it barracks humor, or call it an homoerotic environment.”
It’s not exactly surprising to hear about this type of thing, but we always love to play this simple thought exercise: Replace the word “gay” or “faggot” with any other cultural identity or slur and see how funny those jokes are.
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.
(Cartoon: Tiggy’s)
D-Sun
Oh no, homophobes might have a harder time acting like racists. What a horrifying thought.
luvrly
I have to admit, I actually got this argument. And yes, it really is homoerotic in the military. All sorts of jokes, the butt grabbing, the peeks in the showers. Ect ect. But once people learned that your gay, well. Then they didn’t know if you were joking or asking.
As for you video link, there are so many better ones. Like the super gorgeous Army guy who deep throats a banana. Or, maybe, hes a Marine. Either way. HOT!
[img]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gKS2YV62Sg[/img]
luvrly
Well crap. That didn’t work. Heres the full link:
Operation: Deep Throat
Alex
A lot of this stuff goes well beyond bigoted joking and well into sexual harassment. A friend in the Navy recounted a story of a guy being strapped to a bench and ejaculate upon by a group of his “buddies” as part of a hazing ritual. Thinking about this in the context that, maybe, one of those guys might have some sexual attraction towards other guys might force the military to deal with the widespread culture of sexual assault that pervades the military and targets not only many, many women, but plenty of straight men as well.
Maharajah
Ok, brand me as a product of an outdated view if you like, but am I the only one that thinks that the best homophobes make the best homosexuals?
As a man that has at least 15 friends currently serving in the armed forces, I often hear most of the ‘gay jokes’ but also, over many conversations I also hear that there are many homosexual trysts as well.
I think that the homoerotic nature of the army coupled with men that are at their prime (both physically and sexually) lends to them being homophobic to hide homosexual tendencies (at times). I am by no means saying that all men in the armed forces (or even, perhaps a greater percentage than within mainstream society) are homosexual, but I am saying that it is more than likely that men in the armed forces are predisposed to be in homoerotic situations than other men, and perhaps some of them engage in them.
Or, perhaps this is a further commentary to the point that as men, we are evolving our views of sexuality – in that these jokes, are just that. I think that either way – introducing sound, respectable examples of out, gay men would remedy the jokes.
Now, while I am fully for the repeals of DADT and the replacement of the legislation with more progressive actions (keep in mind that DADT has saved many of the LGBT community before), we have to consider possible ways in which the we (as members of the LGBT community) will be affected as well. We will still be capped in where and when we (as gay men especially) can be deployed and used. What happens when an out gay man is assigned to serve in a nation where homosexuality is outlawed? For example, we have men stationed in Kuwait, and in Saudi Arabia. Can they be deployed? Or might we be relegated to only certain positions?
Also, I think that the LGBT community needs to also consider the possibility that we will face harsh discrimination (from the current members of the Armed Forces) when we are allowed to serve. The article does discuss the homophobic nature of the armed service – but when we get there – how can we prevent against discrimination? What provisions are necessary?
emceebee
@ Lurvly :
That guy is clearly a Marine. We all know Marine’s are power bottoms. LOL!!!
Alexa
This is the same or similar argument that was used to try to stop women being in the military, or being accepted to military schools, or becoming pilots, etc etc etc. It was pathetic then and it’s pathetic now.
Roy Pyatt
I would just like to take a moment to remember my uncle Ricky James Brown (1945-2004) war hero(Viet Nam), humanitarian, homosexual, human being, son, brother, uncle.
The plight of GLBT service members is real and everlasting.
Lil' Bobby
You should’ve used the vid of Army guys dancing the Cha Cha Slide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX5ZVC1YY1k&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fthebananablog.com%2Fblog1%2F2009%2F02%2F03%2Fdancing-with-themarines%2F&feature=player_embedded
Queerky
During WWII there was a whole sub-culture of queeny men in the armed forces who put on drag shows and were in effect war-bitches to the boys deprived of feminine company. They were seen as providing as a service. After the war the men they helped keep up morale returned to their wives and girlfriends. I had the privilege of hearing first-hand from one of those old queens. He said the relationships were profound and not the least bit exploitive. My point is everyone has strengths and weakness, each has a role to play. Labels are designed to provide some basic information, but to really know what is inside one has to experience it.