Should openly homosexual individuals be allowed to serve in the military?

There is a current media story about homosexuals serving in the military. Some say the don't ask don't tell policy is best because it keeps sexuality out of the military process.





Others say if openly gay people served in the military it could cause sexual harassment or cause problems because the openly gay person would want some action.





Some say it's no big deal and discrimination. Gays are equal to heterosexuals.





What is your view? Should openly homosexuals be allowed to serve in the military?





If yes or no. Please provide a reason why. Thank you for your time and answers.|||No, military service members should not be OPENLY gay.


Don't ask, don't tell works for now.


Change the UCMJ sodomy restriction and solve the barracks room dilemma and you might influence my opinion.


Barracks room dilemma - in shared barracks space (including basic training, community latrines, etc.) who will the openly gay person live with?


Putting a gay male with either a straight or gay male or even a straight or gay female is inappropriate. Does that mean every gay person gets their own individual living and shower space in garrison? If so, what's to stop everyone from saying they are gay to get their own private living space, room and latrine? That, alone, would at least double or triple the amount of required barracks space. Race, color and religion don't introduce this dilemma. Sexual identity does and would inherently violate privacy concerns. For now, the Consideration Of Others outweighs the Equal Opportunity open gays are asking for.


Even if we made everything co-ed, could you imagine the dramatic increase of sexual harrassment, rape and pregnancies by the heterosexuals? It's more than pointing fingers at a gay person's behavior or discipline, changing will have 2nd and 3rd level effects on everyone.


Too bad for gays, but the military just doesn't have the resources to logistically support this. Don't ask/don't tell/dont come out and we can.|||I think homosexuals ought to be able to serve. Homosexuals can work in offices and where ever and be open. In the military people think that homosexuals will want to have sex with them or something. Which i don't think is true. Homosexuals are like everyone else humans people, they get horny like everyone else but they are not going to try to rape someone just because of that. It is discrimination to not allow them to serve. And even if the were allowed to be open about it they would still have to conform to military life like everyone else. And if you are in a war or something and a gay is fighting next to you and he saves you and has your back it really shouldn't matter what his sexuality is as long as he wears the same uniform that you do. It is so sad that people like this are treated like second class citizens.|||One problem I see right now if gays are openly allowed to serve is the issue of Gay Marriages.





There are only a few states right now where Gay Marriages are legal. If one of them decides to enlist will the military recognize their marriage? Would they only be allowed to be stationed in states where Gay Marriages are recognized? If the military allows gays openly serve and recognizes Gay Marriages, does that mean that the Federal Government now recognizes Gay Marriages?





Off topic, but if gays can openly serve what about transgenders?|||I think they should be allowed to serve. I really dont see how another girl liking a girl or a guy liking a guy would affect how good or bad they are at their job. As far as it causing sexual harassment or problems that would just be sad. And it would be up to the person wanting to serve if he wishes to tell his unit if he/she is gay or not. It shouldnt be the army choice telling them to just not tell.|||People should NOT be asked during their interview if they are gay.


But they should also NOT be kicked out if it comes out they are.


ALL soldiers, heteros included, have to abide by reasonable rules of conduct and professionality - having sex at work, having sex with subordinates and co-workers, especially on base should all be things off limits for EVERYONE.


IF gays can abide by these rules too, then I have NO reason to deny them the right to serve and possibly die for their country, and yours and my freedoms.|||No. Openly homosexual individuals make almost everyone else around them uncomfortable. The fact that's not fair, or represents some sort of double standard, or is just old fashioned, prudish, and passe doesn't CHANGE that fact. If homosexuals wish to serve in the military they should keep their homosexuality to themselves and just go about performing their duties in an honorable manner.|||No. Here's an example. A known gay is wounded and bleeding. Will they get the same care as anyone else? It's a mind thing. Here's another example and this one I experienced first hand. How about lesbians fighting over each other in the day room. That's MY house too. I knew and know many gays when I served and as long as they kept their private lives private and my private life was also private from them. We could all agree to this. The living quarters are too close to mix too many lifestyles.|||It's curious that many praise the military for fighting for "American freedoms". And yet they're simultaneously happy to treat some of those Americans as outcasts.





Just as the military was wrong about not allowing blacks and women into their ranks, so are they wrong about not allowing gays.|||They should be allowed to serve.





What ever happened to freedom? Shouldn't ANYONE be able to choose what they want to do in life? So what if a open homosexual wants to join the military? Let em join!





ALL THAT MATTERS IS THAT THEY'RE SERVING OUR COUNTRY AND FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM! Isn't that enough?|||sure why not...just as long as the military warns the gays that if they make any advanses to another serviceman that the military wont be responsible if the gay person gets the crap beaten out of them|||Denying a gay person on the grounds that 'they may want action' is ridiculous! There are heterosexual men and women in the navy - should they be banned?





Surely a persons behaviour should be judged and not their sexuality?|||i think they should be allowed. but they CANNOT be open about it. it keeps some men out and they need to be focused. i think just like women there should be restictions on what jobs they can do. such as infantry.|||NO.. I have nothing agaisnt gays but it is not something i want to see.. if your gay keep it private.. If i know your gay i wouldn't care but i wouldn't want to see it|||Sure, some of us have homosexuals in our work place. The millitary is still working for companies.|||They should be allowed and DO serve.





As long as they did the job at hand, I could have cared less what they did in their off time...........|||They should be allowed to serve.|||Same as Always NO too much of a disruption.|||Not yet.|||It should not matter whether one is straight or gay, male or female, white, black or brown; if you wanna serve, do so honorably.


What I have witnessed with homosexuals who are "out and proud of it" is that, before anything, they are gay. They can't be an American; they're a gay American. They can't be a republican or democrat; they have to be a gay republican or gay democrat. This smacks of identity politics and becomes a bludgeon if you ever question them on anything (politics, work ethic, professionalism). I can't see this being any different with "gay" soldiers. I DO NOT CARE IF YOU ARE GAY. Just, please, do not use your sexual preference as a defense or weapon and do not put your gayness in others' faces... that it is a shameless attack that seems to be saying, "Watch out or I'll play my trump card that is my gayness on you when I deem it necessary."


If you join up, do so to serve as a citizen soldier. If you wanna be a gay citizen soldier (snap, snap... all flamin' up in your face), go join the as yet unformed Gay Army.


If you have a job to do, do it. What you intend to do in the bedroom does not matter to the majority of the population and should not define how you should be treated. This is a private matter and it should be kept that way. Opinions will vary...