It might be easy to dismiss the gay issue in the military as simply saying that sexual orientation should not be a factor in day-to-day work. The problem is that the military is anything but day-to-day work. When I was doing convoy security in Iraq the people within my squad became my family. You shower, eat, sleep and work together non-stop. Privacy is non-existent within the tents and bunkers that we slept in. When it is a hundred and thirty degrees outside it isn’t uncommon for an entire tent of grown men to be only in their underwear sweating like pigs. No one cares. Social life is also non-existent, that is why eating and “downtime” become semi-social events among the soldiers.
Okay, where does the gay issue come into all this? Well, you might not believe this but there are openly gay people serving in the Army. Believe me, you can tell that these individuals, whether male or female, are gay. No one cares. No one harasses them or tries to “beat” them up. The Army, like anything else, has its fair share of “crazy” people. I guarantee you that all across the military you will find rape, drug usage, racism and assaults, muck like America in general. Does that mean that the Army fosters gay bashing, rapes and drugs, no. It does happen though.
What about the people that get discharged because of being gay? You know how at your regular job you can not “make-out” with you co-worker “on the clock,” well, same thing in the military. Open displays of affection, whether straight or gay, will land you into lots of trouble. Even married couples serving together have to follow these edicts. Is that bad? No, it helps maintain discipline and professionalism among the ranks. So if “gay” activity is happening in some discreet living areas no one cares as long as it doesn’t affect morale and unit cohesion. Almost all the million port-a-potties in Iraq have numerous e-mail addresses to “gay” sites or lonely males. Is it a joke or real postings? Who cares. You want to know the secret behind why some people get discharged for being gay? It is common knowledge that when people can’t hack the military they either try to commit suicide or become “gay” to get discharged. Think about it. What is the ONLY way to get out of the military? Crazy or gay. If they lack the guts to pretend their mad and suicidal they tell their commanders their gay. Both are complaints that are usually dismissed until the individual presses the issue by increasing their disruptive behaviors. When people get discharged from the military because of being gay it is more then likely that they have either “converted” to being gay or openly flaunted it by “making-out” with their lover in open view. Both are actively seeking to be separated from the military and it usually works.
So let me tell you, there are lots of gay soldiers right now serving the country alongside straight people and doing a damn good job. They, like straight people, do not let their sexual activities interfere with their jobs and, gay or not, succeed in their careers.
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