So did they do this one right and also repeal the ban on gays serving, or are we now back to the 1992 status quo?
That's an interesting question. I would hope that it allows gays to openly serve now. But, given the dishonesty and stupidity of our Congress anything is possible.
The legislation doesn't take effect until the Secretary of Defense has received a report including, among other things, "determine appropriate changes to existing policies and regulations [and] . . . recommend appropriate changes (if any) to the Uniform Code of Military Justice." The Secretary of Defense also has to certify that policies and regulations to implement the repeal have been prepared and that the report was taken into account. The report has already been published. It explicitly recommends inclusion of gay military personnel under the Military Equal Opportunity program and repeal of the UCMJ prohibition on sodomy. So, technically there are matters still left up in the air. However, implementing regulations that go against the report's recommendations will be pretty much impossible. Repeal of the prohibition on sodomy is a bit more dicey, as that requires further Congressional action and can't be done by regulation alone. However, regulations will, with or without Congressional action, end up requiring equal treatment of homosexual and heterosexual oral and anal sex. 10 USC 925 also leaves broad discretion in how a violation of the prohibition should be treated, so regulation can be implemented to make the offense a trivial one even absent further Congressional action. Considering that the CJCS and Sec. Def. support a policy of equality and how the legislation limits their discretion to draw up policy that doesn't support equality, there shouldn't be any problems there, and once implemented such changes will be exceedingly difficult to get rid of without further legislation.
It's a sad commentary on our society that it's taken this long, well into the 21st Century, for the fight for equality to win this battle.
An efficient congress would have paid more attention to ENDA while they are congratulating themselves.
The Army can't keep enough captains and majors as it is. Imagine how much harder it's going to be when they're suddenly responsisble for making sure there's no homo-related assaults along with all the other bullshit company-grade officers have to put up with from on high. Everyone wants to imagine what's going to happen is going to be a couple of E4s sitting around, cleaning weapons, one of them will say he prefers boys and everything just keeps going on as usual. What's going to happen is the other E4 is going to say "get the fuck away from me faggot", the first E4 becomes a pariah, eventually booze and bored troopers fuck that gay guy up, bad. The privates get Art. 15 and transfered out, the CO gets a black mark for political reasons, and his career comes to a screeching halt, the unit morale is shot, and thanks to the necessary personell transfers, unit cohesion and effectiveness breaks down. But Obama gets to pander to the swishers during re-election time so I guess it's totally worth it.
Two they also didn't pass the so called "Dream act" to give citizenship to about a few million illegals...so yea a good day...though I support it I am a little pissed on how this is being hailed as a victory for Obama....he didn't fight for this he did everything to avoid dealing with it...but the MSM want to rally around him for something and this is it. For those of you who oppose it don't worry the military isn't suddenly going to be swarming with legions of limp wristed drag Queens wearing pink tutu's..but with same brave hard working and tough warriors that have been part of our miltary since day one....this I know for a fact.
Except none of that shit is happening in the militaries of other nations who don't have a DADT rule. Besides, it's pretty much bullshit that a soldier is going to sit around and say to his buddy "Did I ever tell you I love the cock?" Conversations like that do not ever happen. Those who become known to be gay are in two categories: (a) those who choose to "come out" to people who care about them or have reason to know - and there's still going to be virtually NONE of that in the military because they know better than you who the bigots are; (b) gossip circulates when someone is seen, for instance, at a movie with their partner or whatever - that is, the gay person is just living their life and some nosey assholes puts 2 & 2 together. Finally, of boredom and booze induces some dumb fucker to commit assault, we don't need his stupid ass in the service anyway. Tell me, how is it that racist rednecks get bored and drunk yet DON'T go find a "nigger" to beat the shit out of, eh? I'll tell you - because being a bigot does not necessarily mean you are going to assault someone. If you are the sort who's gonna beat the shit out of someone, it doesn't matter what the justification is - get the fuck out.
Just like middle school. Well, I guess the army can just grow the fuck up if that's what's really going to happen.
They're already responsible for making sure that there are no assaults, and that's a different task only in the minds of delusional lunatics incapable of competent service in the military. Maybe they should just take assault seriously, whatever the context. In any event, have you seen the rates at which women in the armed forces are sexually assaulted? There is roughly a zero percent chance that the problem of homosexual assault in the army will ever be anywhere near as bad as the current problem of heterosexual assault.
I'm also of the impression that the racist rednecks who enlist will watch their black unitmate's backs and become 'brothers' (for lack of a better word) with them; it's just the niggers outside of the unit and the Forces that they hate. Of course, I have no idea and no personal knowledge.
I'd really rather not have gay couples at Marine social functions, but push comes to shove, I guess that wouldn't be the end of the world. The Marines already has pretty strict standards on things like PDA. You're not even supposed to hold your wife's hand while you walk if your in uniform IIRC--except maybe at the Birthday Ball I guess. I think it is a bad idea, personally, but I gotta admit, when I took the big "How do you feel about homos?" survey they put out earlier this year I realized I care less about whether a dude is gay than if he's a good shot. If he is able to kill bad guys and doesn't go on and on about sucking cock or some shit, I could give a shit.
Is your clicking finger broken? Now that provision will, of course, eventually be found unconstitutional, but until then discrimination in the provision of spousal benefits is legal under this change in law.
*sigh* Fine... (clicks) Ah. Hey, I'm not clairvoyant. How was I to know to un-hide your post so I could see for myself?
It amazes me just how many people that have never been in the military, never had any contact with the military, never seen the military outside of movies or parades just how the military culture, mindset, and life is like.
Three things. They passed the bill that stops TV stations from cranking up the volume during commercials. They stopped the DREAM act.
Hell, let 'em at it. The ones who aren't girlie little fairies will add to the ranks of capable servicemen. The ones who are... well, war will thin 'em out. Skin doesn't really see what EP is having a major bitch over.
No worse that folks who've never spent much time interacting with gays assuming every gay person is a swishy fruit that sits around daydreaming about the cock all day. Oh, and there are more veterans who have commented on WF in favor of ditching DADT than there are veterans who have taken the opposite view.
No, they didn't. Congress did something that makes people feel better if they accept a lot of politically correct but nevertheless irrelevant premises. And it's going to demand a progressive level of "tolerance" from American servicemen that exceeds the level required in the private sector -- under penalty of imprisonment, no less. Frankly, I'm sick of hearing about people's "rights." Nobody has a "right" to serve in the military. The military either needs you or it doesn't. This is going to impose all kinds of new costs on people who couldn't give a shit about anyone's homosexuality as long as they don't have to know about it. And those costs are completely ignored by everyone who thinks being gay in the military is a "right." I served in the Navy. I don't know how this is going to play out in the other branches, but I can tell you some of the things that are going to happen now in the Navy. There's going to be a sharp increase in the number of gays getting caught together illegally in bunks, broom closets, and showers. And the Navy's going to have some real problems dealing with this without charges of "discrimination," or persecution. And another thing: Just because being openly gay in the military is suddenly legal, that doesn't mean everyone who's gay in the military wants to be open about it. You're going to have some good servicemen getting outed as a result of this. It's going to hurt good people on both sides. People from San Fran Freakshow may not realize this, but open homosexuality is not the norm across America, even if it is overrepresented in this opportunistic and outgoing Congress. And I resent this belief that servicemen who share conservative social values are captive subjects for this PC bullshit. It's no secret that this recent DOD report on the subject has been misrepresented in the press. Talk to actual servicemen: Even though gays are already serving, and even though everybody has a pretty good idea who they are, there's an overwhelming preference for them to just keep it to themselves. This is going to cost the military a lot more good people than it's going to add. But hey, being in the military is a right, huh?
Oh bullshit. Anyone incapable of putting his country and his unit ahead of his fear of the gay is a detriment and a danger to all around him for as long as he tries to serve. The repeal of DADT not only will allow gays to serve openly but will help rid the military of sociopaths who put their country and comrades last.
It's not fear. When I picture you sucking a shit-stained dick I don't feel fear -- just nausea. Should I be disciplined for that? Or for admitting it?