Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

[sareth]

Some recent incidents have resulted in people stating that the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy instituted by the military under President Clinton can be implicated in these incidents, including the death of a U.S. Navy Sailor. The logic is that Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual military personnel cannot report when they are being harassed, because they will

Comments

[brentdax]

When asked the circumstances of why, they should report it is because of a belief on the part of the perpetrator that the victim of the harassment is gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
See, I thought they could have done that. Surely it at least sometimes happens that one soldier thinks another is gay but is wrong...

[sareth]

You'd think, yes.

[meganeko_mausuu]

In the story I tweeted, the sailor in question was afraid to report the harassment /because/ he feared being found out and thrown out.

And I thought the original idea behind DA/DT was a good one- noone should be forced to admit they're gay, and be thrown out for it. But the part that rankles is that they can still be thrown out if they DO admit it... and that's the part that leaves so many in fear.

I dated someone awhile back who was affected by this- he had to be careful what he said to his boyfriend in emails because of this fear, and all the sneaking around is part of what hurt their relationship badly, IMHO.

Oh, and just so it's not all srs business, I'm using one of my latest icons. *grins* I named it "anime dirty look" in my files, in honor of you, and your adventures with the unfiltered google search results with the same name. ^^

[sareth]

Well, that's what I'm saying. He could have reported the harassment *without* admitting to a thing and risking being thrown out. But because so many people do not understand the policy, they assume that if they report, they will be asked "is it true?" So they won't report.

A pity, really.

I agree that people shouldn't be thrown out for their orientation. I am in the minority of vets/serving members, I admit.

And yes, finding a good bedah is almost impossible! Where did you find this one?

[meganeko_mausuu]

Well, maybe now that the so-called "family values" crew (how is teaching people it's okay to oppress someone not like you a family value?) is out of office, some things will eventually change. Not that I think Obama is THAT much better, mind you... (I still say the ficus tree should have won!) but I'm hoping since most of the country is sick of the oppressive atmosphere in general that they created, that frustration alone will help to make SOME difference.

As for the beedah... yay for Danbooru? ^^

Freedom of speech

[anonymous]

I was in the USNavy in the 1970s. Long before the "Don't ask/Don't tell" era. At that time, you could be tossed for being gay. Also at that time, most of the people in the Navy would have loved to be tossed, and several claimed to be gay in order to be tossed. And it didn't require a court martial, and you got a general discharge instead of an honorable discharge or dishonorable discharge

Re: Freedom of speech

[meganeko_mausuu]

You are entirely correct, sir. It may not be everyone's favorite stance, but your right to say homosexuality is wrong, SHOULD be as protected and worked for as the right to be openly gay. I'm not so sure about the right to use inflammatory language when saying so, (IE, a certain F-word,) but that opens a can of worms against free speech that I'm not entirely certain I'm willing to go into.

Re: Freedom of speech

[sareth]

Also some good stuff there, 'nee!

Re: Freedom of speech

[meganeko_mausuu]

Thanks... I try. ^^;;;