Well there has been quite a bit of controversy about the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy of the US Military lately. As a homosexual I see two sides of this.
First, I greatly respect the homosexual servicemen out there and feel they should be able to serve openly. Living closeted, I understand how stressful and depressing it can by to hide your sexuality. This issue has made me ask if a homosexual can die for his country, why can’t a gay be himself. Why should the men in uniform have to hide.
There is the argument that it would cause issues within the battalions, but with the general accepting of homosexuals in today society I do not see how this is going to cause an issue. If one is open about being gay and someone has a problem with it this could cause some animosity; however, most of the homophobia I have encountered has to do with showering or living with a homosexual and the fear of being assaulted. If explained that, we are human and yes we will look as much as we may try not too, we will not come on to you if you do not want us to. Almost every homosexual is very accepting and does not want to make you feel uncomfortable. It is the same concept as heterosexuals. If a heterosexual guy was to shower with a female, he would look, but he would not come on to or assault this female.
Granted there are exceptions to the above rule, but if those few exceptions are enough reason for the policy, then those exceptions are also enough to not allow women into the armed forces, or create separate armed forces for men and women.
Now on the other hand, for some very personal reasons I like the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy. I know this will be very controversial and get me flamed, but being gay excludes me from being drafted under this policy. I do not see the draft coming back anytime soon, but it is always a possibility. I disagree with the Iraq war, I feel it was a stupid idea to go in in the first place, and the younger Bush trying to finish the task his daddy started earlier.
Now my opinions of the war do not matter much, but it helps me to illustrate my point. Being gay, if I disagree with the war that starts the draft, I can simply choose to tell and get kicked out of the military. If I agree with the war, I could then choose not to tell. So in that respect, being selfish I appreciate the policy being there.
However, when I look at the bigger picture, I wish the gay servicemen could be themselves and come out of the closet. I cannot imagine how I would feel if I was in the military and could not come out.