Barney Frank: Straight and Gay Soldiers Must Shower Together, But Not Men and Women

Barney Frank: Straight and Gay Soldiers Must Shower Together, But Not Men and Women Tuesday, December 21, 2010 By Nicholas Ballasy

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Barney Frank (D.-Mass.) says he agrees with the recommendation of a Department of Defense (DOD) working group that straight and gay military personnel of the same gender should be required to shower together when the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law goes into effect.

Frank, however, said Armed Forces personnel of opposite sexes should not shower together.

“What do you think happens in gyms all over America? What do you think happens in the House of Representatives? Of course people shower with homosexuals. What a silly issue. What do you think goes wrong with showering with homosexuals? Do you think the spray makes it catching? I mean people shower with homosexuals in college dormitories, in gyms where people play sports; in gyms elsewhere. It is a complete non-issue. ” Frank told CNSNews.com.

“To accept the principle that homosexuals can’t shower with other people is a degree of discrimination that goes far beyond this. We don’t get ourselves dry cleaned. We tend to take showers when we go to the gym; when we play sports,” he responded.

Rep. Frank continued, “The notion that knowing that someone is gay or lesbian as opposed to knowing that they are gay or lesbian people that have to pretend who they are; that that somehow makes a difference is pretty silly,”

Frank was also asked if he thinks male and female military personnel should be able to shower together.

One of the networks said 75 percent of the American people support Barney on this issue. That’s the problem, 75 percent of the American people!

1. It's a lie, all the MSM is propaganda and their polls are worthless.

2. Even if it was sort of accurate (which I doubt, see #1) who cares? The only poll worth anything is what the people in the military think. And they don't want to serve next to homosexuals.

I can understand how the average pogue might see things from your position, but infantry Marines work, fight, and live together. In many cases, especially during war (and yes, I served in Iraq), this also includes showering together.

I expect the logic behind having to do it in training is to desensitise you in preparation for when you have to do it, but for god's sake, I would WANT to be embarrassed in that situation and I'd be a lot happier if the other guys there were just as embarrassed as me.

I had one gym teacher, who was an arse bandit of the worst kind, and most of us suspected his persistent hanging around with a clipboard wasn't merely to quantify the accuracy of the towel flick.

'Hmmm, let's see... That guy is quite the exhibitionist but isn't staring at anyone's junk... could be straight, or not, but it's worth a punt. That guy with the semi-on but looking deeply embarrassed... either he's in the closet, or has priapism. Ah, this one's ensuring that nobody can stare at his junk and looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp. Either severely closeted or a homophobe. Conclusion: not worth the risk. OMG! Hold the phone! Look at this ginger beer! His eyes are bulging out of his head! No boner though... good self control.'

I've always found the keen attentiveness of the gym teacher and the exhuberance of some guys in the locker room, far more disturbing than the attitude of guys who clearly would rather be someplace else.

“How long will it be before someone sues to that effect? It is discriminatory to have mens/womens/ facilities? And use the fact that homosexuals do not have separate facilities?”

That’s why saying no to the ERA was the right thing to do.

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