While the US military still maintains “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies and fires fluent Arabic linguists if they’re homosexual — during a time of war and sagging recruiting numbers — the British military is actively recruiting gay people for their military:
(365gay.com) This weekend, the British Army, Air Force and Navy will be marching in Manchester’s Gay Pride Parade in a bid to encourage gays and lesbians to enlist. A recruitment booth will be set up in the city’s gay neighborhood where the Army will tell prospective recruits about partner benefits and couple’s housing.
Lt. Col. Leanda Pitt, who commands recruiting efforts for the army in and around Manchester, said the parade was an opportunity to try and find new personnel.
“As far as the army is concerned, sexual orientation is a private matter and we are intending to promote the benefits a career in the army can bring,” Pitt said. “Over the three days we will be able to reach a large audience and also enjoy the atmosphere that the festival brings to the city.”
So while our Prudy Bluenoses get their panties in a wad over the idea that somehow homosexuals in the military will lower morale, destroy unit cohesion, distract from the mission, and creep out repressed privates who think the gays are looking at their privates in the showers, the British military repealed their ban on gay soldiers back in 2000 and for some reason, their military didn’t suddenly self-destruct.
Don Pardo, tell us what our homophobic intolerance has won us this round!
Under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ more than 10,000 service members have been discharged over the last 10 years under the policy according to statistics from the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network.
A February report by the Government Accounting Office shows that don’t ask, don’t tell’ has cost taxpayers more than $200 million.
I served with more than a few gay soldiers and they were as patriotic and capable as any straight soldier, oftentimes moreso, as they worked twice as hard to overcome ingrained prejudices.
