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| Summary: Should gays and lesbians be allowed into the armed forces? |
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Author:Eliot Jones ( Tunisia )
Eliot Jones is a freelance communications consultant.
Created: Friday, November 10, 2000
Last Modified: Thursday, August 20, 2009
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In 1993, President Bill Clinton attempted to remove the long-standing ban on gays in the US military, resulting in a compromise known as "Don’t ask, don’t tell" - one that achieved such currency in US society that politicians routinely campaign as "don’t ask, don’t tell" candidates. The USA is the only country in NATO to maintain such a ban. The UK held one until January 2000, when it was lifted after being declared unlawful by the European Court of Human Rights. |
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| No-one now can realistically doubt the ability of a gay man or woman to be as hard-working, co-ordinated, intelligent or patriotic as one of their heterosexual counterparts. It is therefore sheer bigotry to deny those who want to join the army (and even to suffer its endemic homophobia) the opportunity to do so. |
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This is a debate about soldiers being required to defend their country while living and rooming in close quarters with each other. It is a fact that their effectiveness depends on mutual trust and uncomplicated camaraderie. Sexual relations or tension between soldiers, of whatever gender, undermines this bond. |
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| Much of the argument against the admission of gays is based on the problems caused by homophobia amongst heterosexuals. This homophobia is maintained and encouraged by continued segregation. Allowing straight soldiers to see how effective gay soldiers can be will reduce the prejudice. |
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A genuine worry is that not all gay applicants for the military will be driven by a vocational calling. The high concentration of individuals of one gender within a military unit make it a fruitful source of sexual partners, and will provoke a disproportionate gravitation of gays, lesbians and bisexuals towards application. This in turn will provoke even more homophobia among heterosexuals as these motives become clear. |
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| Many other professions require a bond of trust and intense living conditions amongst employees, and gays are not barred from any of them (emergency services, oil rig workers, etc.). |
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The armed forces are a special case, putting their employees into life-or-death situations where any mental distraction could be fatal. Men and women aren’t sent into combat together; why should gays and heterosexuals? |
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| If gays were accepted in the armed forces, they wouldn’t need to remain in the closet. This therefore reduces the risk of blackmail, which is itself fast decreasing as homosexuality is increasingly accepted. |
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Closeted homosexuals run the risk of blackmail, which could have implications for national security if they were privy to military secrets. |
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| Sexual identity can be reached at different times. Gays and lesbians frequently only come to terms with their sexuality in their late teens or early twenties, which could be long after they had enlisted in the armed forces. A ban would therefore entail the firing of serving staff who had joined in good faith. This is discrimination at its worst. |
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The problem is not so much the concept of a ban, but the half-hearted enforcement. If a ban is well-publicised and it is understood that the peculiar and intense living conditions of the army, navy etc. make in inappropriate to encourage sexual interest between staff, then gays are not being misled. |
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| | This House would not admit gays into the armed forces
This House believes that the military and sexuality do not mix
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| View the full discussion |
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TheDebator
Member
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Posted: Sun Nov 8, 2009 10:34 pm
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Does it matter? |
PuddzLeader
Member
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Posted: Mon Mar 2, 2009 12:11 pm
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Heres the real question, why should gays NOT be allowed in the millitary?! |
justin p.
Member
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Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:59 am
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Leave people alone. Their decisions are their own. They shouldn't have to deal with the people who don't like them. Because at least they actually have the balls to fight! |
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