Gays in the military?

am doing some research for a paper so serious answers only please. I would like to know your feelings on Gays in the Military. I would also like to know how you feel about the current policy in place. Now Imagine for a min that you are on the frontlines and all you have is your buddies to your left or right and you are praying that they remeber that last 1st aid class or they got 40 out of 40 on their weapons qualification. At this very moment are you thinking " Are they gay"? Does it really matter to you their sexuality and why. What are your why's and why nots. Also if you can point me in direction of any "credible" resources that discuss this topic let me know. I am researching for a paper and I am not gay but my position is that I feel the current policy protects the homosexuals privacy and sheilds them from any ridicule after all sexual orientation does not affect job performance and we "all" know that "AIDS" is NOT a disease that affects homosexuals only.

I commend you on your choice of topic. My belief is that whether you are gay, bi, straight..whatever; it does not impede your ability to do a job or function, that is completely different. As for some references, I don't have time to sit and do a lot of research on this topic, as much as I would like to, but here is a website that answers general questions about homosexuality and myths...so on. http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.ht... Another place that you might find to be resourceful by asking them some questions is The Point Foundation. It is a scholarship fund, however they should be able to answer some questions for you and point you in a more specific and better location to help you out. http://www.thepointfoundation.org/ I hope you will find this interesting and helpful. Good Luck!

put the gays at the front line as operation human shiled.

Sorry.. this may sound homophobic, but having been deployed to a forward operating location... the idea of sleeping next to a homosexual is not my idea of comforting.

id be concerned if they had to throw a grenade - they might do a real gay girly throw and throw it 1 meter.
or if they had to run - again the girly run.

In 1981 the Department of Defense issued a new regulation on homosexuality that was designed to ensure withstanding a court challenge by developing uniform and clearly defined regulations and justifications that made "homosexual status" and conduct grounds for discharge (DOD Directive 1332.14 (Enlisted Administrative Separations), January, 1981):
"Homosexuality is incompatible with military service. The presence in the military environment of persons who engage in homosexual conduct or who, by their statements, demonstrate a propensity to engage in homosexual conduct, seriously impairs the accomplishment of the military mission. The presence of such members adversely affects the ability of the armed forces to maintain discipline, good order, and morale; to foster mutual trust and confidence among service members; to insure the integrity of the system of rank and command; to facilitate assignment and worldwide deployment of service members who frequently must live and work in close conditions affording minimal privacy; to recruit and retain members of the armed forces; to maintain the public acceptability of military service; and to prevent breaches of security."

In other words, straight men don't want to be in close quarters with gay men. It causes fights among the men and impedes trust. They've also found that it would effect enrollment numbers. With an all volunteer military, these issues are paramount. It's just that simple.

the whole gay issue is a form of sexual preference discrimination in this country, and shows how immature the minds of the public still are. Who cares what someone's preference is? Why would they care?

It is personal choice and individual rights to choose what and how they want to live as long as it doesn't inflict physical or emotional harm on someone else. That is what the constitution and bill of rights is designed to protect.

We are all humans, doesn't matter if you are female or male, or like females or males (the same as color of the skin,disability, nationality, religion, etc.). People tend to hate what they are afraid of or do not understand. (I am straight, by the way).

To the point, if someone is willing to risk their lives to defend what they believe in, and their fellow people in the country they live in, it shouldn't matter.

I also thought this issue would have died off more than a decade ago and people accept everyone for who they are and their differences while living and being concerned with their own personal lives more than what the other people are doing around them.

I personally have no problem with gays in the military as long as they keep their personal lives to themselves . I'm in the army and have served with all kinds of soldiers . It doesn't matter what your sexual preferance is when you are being shot at. There have been gays in the military since long before the current don't ask don't tell policy . I've got a couple of good friends who are gay , one male and one female , they work just as hard as any other soldier . They are highly motivated and always helping others .

as an ex soldier, i had a lot of freinds who were gay. thay were all great blokes and brilliant soldiers. in a front line situation i wouldnt have to worry about my saftey as i would know they would back me up 100%. and they really knew how to party. i am still freinds with them and keep in contact.

This country is along way from accepting gays in the military! I am retired military and have worked around many gay MEN and WOMEN. See we tend to forget about the women. There are allot more gay women in the service than men. People also tend to think that a gay man or women is wanting to sleep with every person they see. The gay people are know different than the straight people. They have there friends (lovers) just like we have our friends (lovers). The problem is getting the straight people to accept that these people are just people with a different choice of sexuality. I find it hard to understand how we can judge how a person will do his or her job based on whom they want to sleep with. If you think about this with an open mind, that is all this boils down to. We judge people for a job based on whom they are sleeping with. I have had some great gay people work for me and I have had some pathetic straight people work for me. So the bottom line is, until we as a country can stop acting like being gay is a disease verses it is just someone whom chooses to sleep with someone of their same gender, we are in for along haul.

yes there are gays in military.. think.. you only see men..

Its all about morale ...
An army made of gay men depicts men of femmenine nature. Now i am not against feminism but war is a place where there is a constant show off of a countries muscle. now you wouldnt want a army of troops who are emotional or sensitive .Now even if you look at it in terms of troops they are high chances that this gay guy may make an attempt to hit on his fellow comarades which complicates things especially in the battle field where its important to keep one's personal issues away from you as they tend to cripple a soldier emotionally

I don't really want to sleep next to a homosexual on a cot, and it's not just the military that feels that way. Look back on all the "reality" shows on TV. The gay guy always slept with the women. That's not allowed in the army.