Support growing for openly gay soldiers
This is how change happens. I’ve always thought that if straight soldiers could just see their gay counterparts working along side them, the situation would change. I’ve talked with friends who are in the military and many of the straight soldiers know the soldiers who are gay within their unit. They don’t tell their superiors about it, but they know. It’s pretty hard to keep the lie up about why you aren’t dating or at least can’t tell anyone about who you are dating, or have no stories to share when you talk about those people important in your life. I think that most people who you work with, once they get to know you, see that as being greatly unfair.
At the end of the day, the important thing you need to know is if you can trust your fellow soldiers to cover you back. And in the field (such as Iraq), being gay or straight is just not the hot issue anymore.
Hopefully, Congress will get that idea soon, before we loose more good soldiers to don't ask, don't tell.
A new survey from the University of Pennsylvania shows that 50% of junior enlisted service members say gays and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military. The National Annenberg Election Survey reveals a significant increase since 1992, when two similar surveys found that only 16% of male service members held the same view.
The Annenberg poll follows a report last week from the Urban Institute, which estimates that 65,000 lesbian and gay Americans serve in the armed forces. “Despite the military’s gay ban, service members have seen firsthand the contributions of lesbian and gay Americans,” said Sharra E. Greer, director of law and policy for Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group for gay service personnel. “Heterosexual service members serve alongside lesbian and gay colleagues every day, and they are increasingly comfortable doing so.” (source)
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I just wanted to thank you for this post, but would like to make a comment. I was in the 101st Airborne Division for more than six years, in wartime and peacetime. It's true that almost all soldiers know at least one person, and many cases, more who are gay. But, over the past few years, expecially under the Bush Administration, things have gotten worse for these soldiers not better. Violence has increased and worsened (ie. Barry Winchell) Plus these soldiers still have no where to turn for help. While acceptance is better in the ranks, there needs to be much more change in the command structures.