The Air Force recently pubished an official article written by military spouse Aja Trotter, writing from Osan Air Base, South Korea, on homosexual pride, describing the “reality” of sexuality [emphasis added]:

Often, societal norms and expectations cloud our ideas of what gender, gender expression and sexuality should be, diminishing our ability to see what actually is and often leading to rude assumptions and insolence.

For example, some people want or expect all men to be masculine. Some want women to be sweet and submissive. Some want the spouse of a married person to be of the opposite sex. And some want young boys to only play with trucks and actions figures. In reality, there are so many variations between gender expression and sexual orientation that it is impossible to box these identities into our own narrow limitations of what someone is supposed to do, or should be. Some women are more tough than sweet. Some young boys prefer the color pink and flowers. And some men are married to men.

The point is that there are spectrums or continuums of gender, expression and sexuality that we all fall within somewhere — there is no “one size fits all.” Moreover, no one should be shunned or discriminated against because they do not fall on the spectrum where someone else thinks they should.

Trotter is certainly entitled to her opinion, and it is admirable that the Air Force chose to publish it. On that note, though, how likely is it the Air Force would publish the opinion of her neighbor there at Osan, who is equally entitled to her opinion, even if it was the opposite as Trotter’s?

Silence has been treated as affirmation in the past within the military culture regarding sexuality. Few seem to acknowledge that silence could just as easily be a result of the perception that the military sanctions those who say anything less than that which affirms homosexuality — even if those statements are supposed to be protected expressions of religious faith.

Just ask Chaplain Modder.

Trotter finished by saying [emphasis added]

We all deserve the space to be ourselves, and to be seen and celebrated…Our differences are all uniquely beautiful and worthy of love. We also unite across these differences, as they allow us to learn from each other, build with one another, and create shared experiences together…

“Be you. Be proud,” while encouraging and supporting your fellow Airmen, friends, and family members to do the same. The freedom to exist fully and authentically is a basic human right that we should all practice for ourselves and uphold for those around us.

Be you, be proud, and it is a basic human right to exist “fully and authentically.”

Given the recent treatment of Christians who have expressed the tenets of their faith on the subject of sexual sin, it would be understandable if one asked if Trotter’s statements apply to religious beliefs, as well, or just sexuality.

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