US Navy Capt Ronald Ravelo and the USS Abraham Lincoln

The USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class nuclear powered aircraft carrier currently undergoing a refurbishment in Virginia, recently held a “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender” celebration. One of the presentations came from Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan Wampler, who said

Policies like the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ propel this Navy to be the finest in the world…I take pride in knowing that I am part of an organization that…is…setting examples for the rest of the country to follow.

It’s unclear how openly accepting homosexuality makes the US Navy “the finest,” but Wampler is certainly entitled to his opinion.  It is notable, too, that he observed the military is ‘leading’ society on the issue of homosexuality.

The Lincoln‘s commanding officer, US Navy Capt. Ron Ravelo, closed the celebration of sexuality by saying his “mantra is simple”:

You can respect the ship by taking pride in, and showing respect for, the LGBT community. You show respect to your shipmates by taking pride in the fact that we have shipmates that serve openly and proudly.

That seems a pretty clear statement from the Sailors’ commanding officer that they must “take pride in” — in essence, affirm — homosexuality. It is also significant that, statistically speaking, a large portion of Capt Ravelo’s Sailors probably have moral and religious objections to the social acceptance of homosexuality — yet their Naval commander is “ordering” them to take pride in the open service of homosexuals.

Were a commander to highlight the religions of his Christian, Jewish, and Muslim sailors, and order the ship to take “pride” in their faiths and the fact they can serve “openly and proudly,” the response would likely have been different.

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