Posted on 04/11/2005 10:42:08 AM PDT by presidio9
An openly gay Army sergeant awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq is fighting to stay in the Army despite the United States’ strict “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy which threatens to discharge the man. Sgt Robert Stout, 23, claims he has not encountered prejudice among his platoon and is urging officials to reverse their “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.
“I know a ton of gay men that would be more than willing to stay in the Army if they could just be open,” Stout told the Los Angeles Times. “But if we have to stay here and hide our lives all the time, it’s just not worth it.”
Stout served his country in Iraq for more than a year but says he is likely to be discharged before his May 31 scheduled release date under the policy. Supporters of the Pentagon policy say allowing homosexuals to serve openly would ruin troop cohesion, a theory Stout says is “just wrong.”
The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was introduced by the Clinton administration to replace an outright ban on gays signing up for military service.
The numbers expelled, typically with honorable discharges, for making their sexuality known has fallen from 1,227 in 2001 to 653 last year.
“When it first came out, it was a good stepping stone,” he said. “But we’ve progressed past it both as a military and as a society. “We can’t keep hiding the fact that there’s gay people in the military and they aren’t causing any harm.”
Military forces in the United Kingdom hove allowed openly gay troops to serve in this war on Iraq with no problems, including several battles in which U.S. troops fought side-by-side with gay troops.
Stout, from Ohio, received a Purple Heart award after a grenade sent pieces of shrapnel into his arm, face and legs while he was operating a machine gun in Iraq last May. His battalion is now based in Germany.
A decorated gay soldier? I don't even want to go there.
"Stout, from Ohio, received a Purple Heart award after a grenade sent pieces of shrapnel into his arm, face and legs while he was operating a machine gun in Iraq last May. "
Well, sounds like he was doing a good job. There it is.
Toodles!
Why don't we consult Barney Franks on how to deal with this issue.
Right up until he violated the terms of his enlistment by making his sexual perversion a matter of public record, that is.
Good, I was waiting for this report. This guy is a dumb ass. He just couldn't keep his mouth shut.
If you can't follow orders you have no place in the military.
Why do they even have to bring it up? Because it is not about defending your country, it is about getting people to accept your lifestyle, which will never happen.
Let Barney find his own dates!
Considering the "source" of this article I would need more information on the situation. I have a sneaky feeling that this "source" is taking things WAY out of context.
Of course, the reason that they aren't doing observable harm is because they have to keep quiet about their perversion. Take that protection away and the damage will become extremely apparent.
But the rule is don't ask don't tell. I don't understand why they enter an organization with that rule, and then decide "I have to be able to express my sexuality!"
The question many gays ask is, what does being gay have to do with serving? To which I'd respond, Exactly--what DOES it have to do with it, and why should your sex life be part of it? I don't talk about my sexlife with co-workers, so why should you have that "right"?
Let's face it, gays have served in every war, and have served our country honorably. The one in this article has served this country to a greater extent than most of the straight people here who would make fun of him.
But...that's the rule. If you don't like it, get it changed. But the law isn't "Obey the rules you like".
I believe they prefer the term "tastefully decorated gay soldier".
Yeah, now he can take his PH and go find another job. He knew the rules going in. He just wants them re-written in his favor now that he got caught breaking them.
Did he "out" himself? If so, why?
Don't let the door....
Ewwwww
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