Army: Professionalism Maintained in DADT Repeal

In an article that actually says very little, the US Army notes nothing has really changed since DADT repeal was implemented.  Part of the reason is “many” homosexual servicemembers have continued to keep their sexual preference to themselves.  The only “change” was the absence of their fear they would be discharged if discovered.

Many “out” gay and lesbian Soldiers say they haven’t noticed much change in Army culture since the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” Sept. 20, and many still remain in the closet to those they serve with.

For most, it has been a relief that they can no longer be prosecuted or their Army careers jeopardized for being gay.

One “out” Army NCO said the repeal resulted in a changing perception: 

With the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law, more Soldiers are starting to realize that sexuality doesn’t affect how a Soldier does a particular job, Terry said.  “An individual’s sexuality doesn’t have anything to do with their service as a Soldier or with their job performance as a mechanic or admin specialist…”

Of course, that’s a canard.  No mainstream opponent of repeal claimed a homosexual was incapable of flying a jet, driving tank, shooting a gun, or anything else.  Even the Sergeant Major of the Army noted, however, the repeal caused a “shift in culture” in the Army.  The cultural change of the military — the official acceptance of an aberrant lifestyle choice — is significant.

Another soldier noted “a lot” of people in the military want to see a return to DADT:

“There’s still a lot of people who want to see the policy put back in place,” he said. “And my take on that is, if we stay in the closet, and not let people see who we are and that we do exist, we’re giving them permission to do whatever they want with us.”

Some, though not all, of the Republican presidential candidates have called for a return to the policy that prohibited homosexuals from serving in the US military.

3 comments

  • I look forward to your evidence on how homosexuality is an aberrant lifestyle.

  • aberrant: (adj) Diverging from the normal type
    normal: (adj) conforming to the standard or the common type; usual
    common: (adj) of frequent occurrence;

    I guess it depends if you consider 5% to be frequent

  • So, being Jewish is aberrant? In which case, the US military has allowed that for years, so it is not really a cultural shift.