Posted on 02/19/2005 5:36:14 PM PST by quidnunc
The Royal Navy has turned to Stonewall, the gay lobby group, for advice on how to recruit and retain homosexual sailors.
Senior officers want to encourage more gay and lesbian sailors, estimated at 2,100, to come out, paving the way for the first openly gay admiral.
The partnership, to be announced tomorrow, will provide the template for a wider change in the culture of the armed forces. Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, said: We hope that the RAF and the army will be following shortly.
Vice-Admiral Sir James Burnell-Nugent, Second Sea Lord, said he looked forward to working with Stonewall, whose founders include Sir Ian McKellen, the actor. The admiral said it would help a culture in which all our people are valued for themselves and are thus able to give 100% to their job.
In a symbolic move, the navy will place advertisements in the Pink Paper, the first time it has sought recruits through the gay press.
Commodore Paul Docherty, for the navy, said: (The advertisements) will show those who are gay and are uncomfortable about the environment (here) that our position on diversity is not just empty talk.
He added: It is quite possible that we will have a gay admiral in the fullness of time. Anecdotally, we have had gay admirals in the past but they havent come out because it wasnt allowed.
Under the scheme, Stonewall will give practical advice on setting up a gay and lesbian network to provide support, social gatherings and help on coming out. It will advise on promoting role models, collect data on sexual orientation and help implement gay-friendly relocation allowances, travel benefits and bereavement leave.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Pray tell as me eyes be stung by the buggery post.
Bwahahahahaha.....
Is that a trestletree in your pants ar you just gald to see me, Sailor?
we shall beat to quarters
Shouldn't this be in the humor section?
There is no way that the once mighty Royal Navy would be this sick and stupid. This story just can't be real.
bump
"There is no way that the once mighty Royal Navy would be this sick and stupid. This story just can't be real."
Wish it were just humor, but it appears that Her Majesty's Royal Navy is "looking for a few divine flamers who like water sports".
England is lost.
Captain Bligh: Mr. Christian, hoist the spanker!
Mr Christian: I beg your pardon sir?
CAptain Bligh: The sail, man, the sail. Hoist the spanker sail!
Mr. Christian: Oh...Uh.. Aye Sir!
a bunch of seamen... ewww
They tried drilling "access holes" in submarines but it did not work too well.
Perhaps they should just leave a trail of meth pills or extacy to the recruiting offices.
(sarcasm off)
What happened to the "oops overboard" solution when they would come out?
BTTT
Now it can be said it is slang for Andrew Sullivan.
I always thought it was tradition!
There was a standing joke about the submarine crews in Pearl Harbor 150 men go down. 75 couples return. This was usually claimed immediately after some Bubble Head made the crack about there being only two types of ships targets and submarines.
To Navy types Im glad you all have a sense of humor.
James I must be rolling in his grave!
I love starting the day with coffee sprayed on my monitor!
Oh, man. hahahaaaa!
The Brits have been faggots for centuries, no news there.
Hehe . . Boazo, where'd you get that British naval recruiting billboard anyways - huh - HUH!?
Hunkka hunkka burning AIDS! And these are the best allies we can get?
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