It's not 1966. While I'm completely opposed to the idea of allowing gays to serve openly, I think DADT is a good compromise. As a guy who has helped to process hundreds of homosexuals out of the Navy over two dozen years, I can tell you that the only ones that are getting kicked out are the ones who want to get kicked out.
On balance, there are probably thousands of homosexuals who serve, and it's not really a secret to anyone that they're gay. But, they don't make an issue out of it. Most people just ignore them, and most of the younger troops have the attitude that's reflective of "what you do in the privacy of your own home, is your own business".
That will all change - for the worse - when we have two service men walking hand and hand to the base exchange, or decide to come to mess night as someone's date dressed in a some black cocktail get-up. It will be a mess.
“As a guy who has helped to process hundreds of homosexuals out of the Navy over two dozen years, I can tell you that the only ones that are getting kicked out are the ones who want to get kicked out.”
That says it all (and it is my understanding, as well). I don’t think you can ask any more from the military than is already being done. Serving openly will only work if order and discipline can be maintained and it sounds like gays already have that.
It’s not 1966.
I know but men still don’t want to work around homos. In 1966 we served KP duty at the homo outprocessing barracks once. We were warned of what we would see and not to have a reaction to it.
We saw plenty in the chow line!