Gay Soldier Wounded In Iraq Discharged From Army

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/05/053105purpleHeart.htm

An Army sergeant from Ohio wounded in Iraq who wanted to remain in the military as an openly gay soldier was officially discharged Tuesday, according to a group that promotes studies of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in the armed forces.

The discharge came one day after the nation observed Memorial Day. (story)

Aaron Belkin, director of the Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military at the University of California-Santa Barbara, said he has maintained contact with Sgt. Robert Stout since Stout expressed his desire to stay in the military as an openly gay soldier.

[beyurslf]

1. Not that I support the policy, but didn't he know about DADT?

Surely he knows he can't stay in the military as an openly gay person. The policy may be wrong, but everyone knows about it.

[Misunderestimator]

4. like telling gay men not to have sex if they know about the sodomy laws

What? You were arrested for having sex with your partner in your own home? Didn't you know about the sodomy laws? :eyes:

[beyurslf]

5. No it isn't the same thing. The military's rules are not equal to the

laws of this country.

It is more like going to work for a company that rules against smoking while there, and then smoking anyway.

It sounds to me like he wants to be given a break from the rules of his job because he was injured. I admire his service, but still think he was foolish for saying he was gay and hoping he could still serve.

[Misunderestimator]

6. No I think he has every right to fight for his equality... there or...

anywhere... comparing anti-gay inequality rules to a company's smoking rules is absurd. But I'm sure you know that.

[beyurslf]

7. No more absurd than sodomy laws comparisons.

At least mine was a rule vs rule comparison. My point is that he KNEW the rules of the military and should not be surprised by the outcome. I have gay friends in the military and they all know that they can not come out if they want to continue to serve. Right or wrong, they know the rules by which they must play.

[Misunderestimator]

8. Hardly.... it took arresting the couple in Texas exactly as I described...

pulled out of their home because of the sodomy laws. And they are still on the books in many states, even if that invasion finally set a precedent against them.

Sure, he shouldn't be surprised. But, have you thought that, maybe, that's not the point? I suppose a woman in the military who doesn't get promoted because women are not allowed (that's the rule) in certain combat positions, shouldn't make a stand against that either?

The DADT "rule" is something that gay people in the military SHOULD stand up against. And this would be the PERFECT time. If every gay person in the military stood up right now, I highly doubt that they would all get kicked out. And if they did... GREAT!! Start the draft, because our troops will be severely depleted.

[beyurslf]

9. Everyone should oppose the DADT rule.

The more important impact would come from straights opposing the rule, though.
The military is an entity all on its own and doesn't really have anything against which to compare it in society. They don't live by our rules. (Not promoting women to certain positions is a good example of the military living by different rules. We would never stand for that in society, but the military continues to do it all the time without problem.)
I am not sure what the solution would be. I suppose standing up is one way to do it, but they should expect the be expelled when they do it. It seems pretty impossible to me to know how many queers are serving in the military currently, so I don't know how depeleted the services would be if all queer servicepeople were discharged. Obviously, at this point, they need everyone they have, of course.
I know about Lawrence v Texas. My state is one that not has sodomy laws, but we have laws that make the distinction between male-male sex and male-female sex.

[sui generis]

2. the ironic thing

is that the government sees gays being openly gay in the military as demoralizing (whatever) and putting "good" soldiers at risk, but doesn't see anything at all risk averse about relieving the military of skilled experienced dedicated personnel just because they're not breeders.

I support the troops, just not the military, and certainly not this war or the incompetent boobs who claim to be in charge.

[BeeBee]

3. "Support the troops..."

Unless they're gay!

[Ian David]

11. DADT not applied uniformly & fairly. It needs to apply to straights, too

In order to be truly fair, they have to discharge anyone for saying they are NOT gay.

Straight servicemen have to be banned from talking about their spouses, dates, lovers, and significant others.

Straight people can not be allowed to display family photos or talk about their children.

If they do so, they should be discharged.

If the law was applied that way, I'd get behind it.

[mitchtv]

10. dear Jesus protect me

from your followers