Sailor Talks About Lesbian Lover, Loses Job

[MamaBear]

Sailor Talks About Lesbian Lover, Loses Job
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/44100.php

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The Navy is kicking out a female sailor who took part in a NYC rally for same sex marriages and was heard on 1010 WINS talking about her lesbian lover.

Navy Petty Officer Rhonda Davis was in uniform when she gave the interview to 1010WINS on Saturday June 3rd, as she marched across the Brooklyn Bridge with hundreds of others supporting same sex marriage.

Davis says now she is losing her job "because my superiors heard the broadcast from 1010 WINS."

**more***

I've always thought "don't ask don't tell" was sort of silly. There's audio at the link.

[eyesroll]

1. What people don't realize is just how often "telling" comes into regular

conversation. I didn't realize it myself until I attended a GLBT conference at my college, and was one of the few people in an opposite-sex relationship there. In normal, natural conversation people make reference to their families and loved ones -- "oh, yeah, my husband and I saw that play last year." It was tough for me to even want to say the words "my boyfriend," and this was in a supportive environment where everyone was welcome.

If it was "Don't ask about sex/don't tell about sex," that would be reasonable for everyone. I don't want to hear about most people's sex lives. But this isn't it. People can get kicked out of the military for talking about who they went to the movies with last night.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Bad timing. The navy has to get rid of 30K sailors in 3 years.

They'll use any excuse to give someone the boot.

[progressivegunowner]

3. LOL @ the Navy's bad timing

This is very bad timing. With the 'war on terror' seemingly bound to carry on for years, and the country's disapproval of the handling of Iraq, they are going to have a tough time replacing 30,000 sailors.

[Captain Hilts]

7. Bush has shrunk the navy to its smallest since BEFORE World War I.

No, they don't plan to replace the 30K.

The Air Force has been ordered to downside by 20K, I believe.

Of course, the "blue to green" program is being forced on navy/air force people forced out if they want to earn the years that qualify them for retirement. It's another draft for the army - using navy and air force folks.

[MamaBear]

5. Is that a permanent reduction?

Are they insane? (well ...)

[sui generis]

4. I wonder if you could be a guy and get kicked out

for telling them you had a lesbian lover?

That's how the lawsuit needs to progress. If "don't ask don't tell" means you self-identify as a lesbian, then what about men who consider themselves functionally lesbian? What if she just says she's only a part-time lesbian? Or she's only a lesbian on Tuesdays?

This whole thing is so profoundly absurd - it requires a lawsuit pointing out the absurdities of their definition of sexuality.

[swimmernsecretsea]

6. But strangely,

The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy is relaxed in times when military personnel are needed. It's broadly enforced, or undermines itself. It's a stupid, ridiculous law that encourages lying and discounts free speech.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Correct!! Being gay didn't get you bounced out in WWII.

It's a function of how badly folks are needed.

Obviously, there are exceptions. The Arabic translators being tossed out is an example.

[dsc]

9. That isn't entirely true

In point of fact Ike ordered his the chief WAC officer to compile a list of lesbian WAC's to which she replied OK but I will be the first name on the list at which time Ike's secretary piped up that no she wouldn't as she would be typing the list and she would be first. Ike decided against compiling the list.

[Captain Hilts]

10. They had bigger fish to fry at the time. nt

[Captain Hilts]

11. Oveta Culp Hobby? I've read no evidence she was gay. nt

[dsc]

12. It was in Shilts book about the military

Conduct Unbecoming.

[swimmernsecretsea]

13. Great book. I've read it myself.

I've posted this story before, but I knew a man who'd been in the Navy, and was given a dishonorable discharge due to homosexuality, during the 1st Gulf War. He was on his way out when they rescinded the discharge and promised an upgrade to Honorable because they needed his specialized skills. This was after 15 hours of interrogation with threats of outing him to his family and friends, bringing friends in the service in for questioning, all sorts of terrible treatment. When he was done with his new tour, they gave him just a discharge (not dishonorable), which is as bad. When I met him, he was living on Sixth and Mission, one of the worst streets in the city, struggling to get by, and depressed all that had happened. He couldn't find a job with his military record. It was as if they just wanted to use him up completely, and toss him aside like an empty bottle. He'd served well, and done everything he could.

[progressivegunowner]

14. Which brings to mind

Another important topic: the rights of Veterans and Supporting Our Troops (which does not necessarily mean supporting the war they are fighting). Veterans need to have access to healthcare and a regular paycheck that will allow them to do more than simply 'get by.' These men have honorably served our country. And supporting our troops, well, that would mean not using them unless absolutely necessary and only as a last resort (not as a first resort, Bush) because supporting them means keeping them alive and paying them well enough that they are more than able to take care of themselves and their family on their military paycheck. Neither one of these is done right now, by the way.