But you are assuming that enough of the gay guys will harass the straight guys that this will be a problem.
no, i'm not. I don't doubt you will get instances of that occuring, and I don't doubt that you will get instances of that being suspected (Cpl Jones
always picks me to check for ticks.... why? etc.) which will create it's own problems - but my argument here assumes nothing more than the fact that they will be homosexual males, that homosexual males are attracted to other males, and that other males are aware of this. that is all that is necessary to start throwing up boundaries and barriers to personal interaction where none existed previously. we can all teabag each other throughout the field ex's because it's funny.... but no one is going to rub their penis in the gay guys' face or really find it particularly hilarious when he does it to them - he's
different because of his sexuality, he can't be fully part of the
joke part of the
group, part of the
intimacy that occurs in male-bonding. and because sexuality is generally unchanging, that is
always going to be there. we won't see a shift as we did with racial tension because whlie attitudes towards racial differences (and agreed, towards sexual differences) are subject to change,
basic sexual drive is not. he's not going to cease being gay anymore than you are going to cease being a woman - and
because of that the nature and level of interaction between him and others will
always have barriers and limitations that currently do not exist. because he will not cease being gay any more than I will cease being straight or you will cease being a woman that tension will
always be there, seperating members of the unit from one another and hurting that cohesion and unity that is so vital.
To me this is about personal responsibility and holding people accountable for their actions, instead of labeling a whole group of people (gays) as troublemakers based on their sexuality rather than their individual actions and worth.
to me it's about not making it harder for the guys on the pointy end to do their job and make it back home in one piece. i couldn't give a **** less if people are offended or have their feelings hurt, or suffer loss of self-worth, or
not, so long as
that end is achieved.