- Joined
- Jun 13, 2010
- Messages
- 22,676
- Reaction score
- 4,282
- Location
- DC Metro
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Moderate
Doctors? Seriously? I'm pretty sure there are openly gay doctors. I don't even think it's legal for a hospital to fire a doctor for being gay.
Actually, really it is that simple. Even the berthing issue. Straight and gay men and women already share berthings and heads.
As I've pointed out in other threads before, there are few times when many military personnel will actually have to share a shower or even really be naked for a considerable amount of time in front of others. Open bay showers are not common in the military. According to my husband, who has been in combat zones, they really aren't even common in those areas. Boot camp you have open bay showers, but from my experience in boot camp, 20 people have about 2 min to use 6 shower heads to completely wash their bodies (and this was the Navy). The only thing you are worried about in a boot camp shower is getting as clean as possible as fast as possible, gay or straight. Normally, military members do not actually share showers.
Berthing is different, but not exactly hard to regulate. Having sex on duty is still punishable. Raping or attempting to rape or sexually assaulting someone is still punishable. It doesn't matter what the sexuality of the person is. Inappropriate relationships are still punishable.
And besides all this, most of the homosexuals are not going to be flaunting themselves as homosexuals, even when they are allowed to serve openly. The social stigma attached with being gay isn't going to just go away. Many homosexuals may keep themselves in the closet on-duty voluntarily just to fit in. The biggest difference will be that they won't have to worry about something slipping about them actually being gay. They won't have to worry about getting turned in, and subsequently kicked out because someone seen them out in town with someone they are dating. They
Of course there are openly gay doctors. You have missed the point I was making.
First, God Bless your husband, but has he spent months on end at sea on a ship or submarine? There berthing situations in the military with which you and your husband are unfamiliar. Many of which I have experienced in my 22 years in the Navy.
Second, I think you've misunderstood me. I am not speaking against repealing DADT. Personally I could care less what anyone does with their free time. What I am saying is, the public and congress needs to understand that the service chiefs are going to need some time to work this out.
Third, every ship in the US Navy is open bay for the enlisted folks. So actually, really, it's not that simple.