The Department of Defense recently sent out a survey to 400,000 random active-duty servicemembers. According to Servicemembers United, an organization supporting GLBT servicemembers and their allies that is currently lobbying for the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT), this survey is inherently biased and in some strikingly negative ways.
A copy of some of the survey questions can be found here, illustrating the problems. Almost every possible answer to questions regarding homosexuality in the ranks is negative and, as SU notes, the very idea that a GLBT roommate would need to have a discussion about proper behavior while sharing space just because they are GLBT is insulting.
DADT is, at its heart, the result of religious bias and discrimination. It’s not Pagan religions that have trouble with people who love other people with the same plumbing. Historical records tell us that many Pagan armies — the Greeks and Spartans, most famously — encouraged same-sex relationships as fostering unit cohesion and heightened morale. These were some of the deadliest and most effective armies on earth, so the idea that being queer disqualifies one from being an effective member of the military is absurd on its face. Other modern armies, like those of the United Kingdom and its commonwealth countries, have entirely open policies regarding GLBT servicemembers in the ranks and they are not experiencing any trouble because of this.
DADT is an issue at the heart of a continuing fundamentalist Christian drive for absolute control of the US military. Its inherent homophobia is, unfortunately, a strong component of the Abrahamic religions and has nothing whatsoever to do with Paganism; it is an attempt to impose a religious doctrine on the military and its members. It has always been an imposition of this religious doctrine.
I served with queer men and women from 1979-1982, when anti-queer “witch hunts” were the norm. I saw several of these people discharged despite the fact that they were consistently much more enthusiastic about their service than I was, and despite the fact that they actually wanted to remain in service when I desperately wanted out. DADT is a senseless, religiously driven policy that should be struck down. This DoD survey is a blatant attempt to bias reports going to the government about the attitudes of servicemembers to avoid striking down this discriminatory law.
Make no mistake, DADT is on its last legs. This survey won’t ultimately change the trajectory of open equality for LGBT servicemembers, but it will undoubtedly give fodder to the Christian conservatives in our government who want all of us to live under their discriminatory Biblically inspired social rules.
Last Wednesday, the Army Times reported that it’s believed by some the Senate is likely to repeal DADT. So it’s probably no surprise a stunt like this would be pulled.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/06/military_levin_dontask_062810w/
I say one word: Good.
What I find funny is I’ve read several occasions
ifwhen its repealed, conservative Christians will refuse to enlist/re-enlist.Again, I only have one word for that. Good!
This whole thing is because some homophobes are afraid of all these crazy “what if’s” they’ve concocted in their heads. It’s the epitome of paranoia, and the last I heard, they treat people with these sorts of tendencies with meds and padded rooms.
We certainly do not want crazy people in the military!
Yeah, the utter hysteria they build up around this does sort of revolve around queer guys wanting the straight boys so desperately that they’ll get raped. You know, sort of like straight boys do to the women in the military. We can’t have that.
Considering all the incidents of harassment, gender discrimination, and rape/sexual assault perpetrated by *heterosexual* male military members against females that get swept under the rug, especially in combat situations, I would imagine that LGBT service members have more to fear from their straight comrades than the other way around.
No kidding. It’s awful in the military for anyone who doesn’t fit the slot perfectly.
[...] DADT: The DoD Survey A pagan perspective on the current DOD survey on DADT. [...]
Yes, how horrifying for straight men to have to worry if they are being looked at with sexual desire….like every military woman has to wonder EVERY day! I just can’t stop giggling at the hysteria…
Tell me about it. I had to deal with those assholes every day when I was in service.
Likewise, Erynn. It makes this grouchy old broad wish she could be Army again, just so the next time some jerk went off about how “disgusting” it was to have someone secretly (or not so secretly) lusting after them, I could remind them that back when I said that, I got told I should be “complimented” by their attentions.
But hey, better not, cleaning up the exploding heads would be SUCH a bother!
Yeah, they don’t have a mop and bucket big enough.
Trial opens in gay Republican group’s challenge to military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-ap-us-gays-in-military,0,6397609,full.story
Just thought I’d pour some gasoline on the fire.
Ridiculous!
This is just such a colossal headdesk. Seriously.