What happens if someone who is drafted says that he or she is a homosexual

[LynneSin]

This is from an article in my local newspaper (also covered in Truthout today)

Charles Pena, director of Defense Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, a conservative Washington-based think tank, does not see a military draft in the future. Instead, he said, the federal government is more likely to require compulsory national service.

"We won't have a draft like we had in the Vietnam era," Pena said. "There are two important stumbling blocks to bringing that back. First, what do you do about women? They weren't drafted before but are now an important part of the military. Second, what happens if someone who is drafted says that he or she is a homosexual?"

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2005/02/17expertsseemilit.html

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I can't believe anyone, including this asshole, would say something like that today. Nah, nevermind - it's assholes running the country.

Personally if I draft happened and I was drafted - I'd find another woman standing there in the line at the draft board and start sucking face with her big time if that means I could get out of the military.

[LoZoccolo]

1. I guess I don't get why you're upset.

You say at the end of your post that you'd do the same thing that the guy throws out as a way of avoiding the draft.

[LynneSin]

3. The guy is from the Conservative Think Tank Cato Institute

and is, I suppose, being an assinine homophobe!

[Warren Stupidity]

2. those of us who are old enough

remember that the 'not me I'm a faggot' option was always available. However back then declaring oneself to be gay was a lot less acceptable than it is now.

[Strelnikov_]

4. "Oh, Thats Precious. Now Shut Up, And Here's Your Rifle"

Or, conversely, they will be placed in special battalions, and be used like Stalin's 'penal' units in 'reconnaissance by fire' operations.

Anyone who survives the war will be able to get married.

[Hugin]

6. Yeah, I believe they'll be called, "Gannon Battalions" or some such. n/t

[icymist]

9. The 'Gay Brigade'?

Sounds like a Monty Python skit.

[Senior citizen]

5. As I understand the process,

during wartime homosexuals are accepted into the military, however if they should happen to survive combat, they can then be forced out without benefits after they return.

Randy Shilts did a book about gays and the military. It was most illuminating.

[LynneSin]

7. I'll have to read that book

I loved "And the Band Played on"

[Senior citizen]

11. It is called, "Conduct Unbecoming:

Lesbians and Gays in the U.S. Military, Viet Nam to the Persian Gulf"

Extremely enlightening and well-written.

The history is astonishing, particularly the "out" lesbians and gays who were known to the military leadership, but were considered indispensable.

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. It would be funny to see the RW spin

when they claim that 1 1/2% of the population is gay, but 45% of inductees are claiming to be gay.

[burn the bush]

10. I think they send them to the WH for further testing. After that they are

exorcised by the religious right.