It's funny to read other "conservatives" around here attack the liberties of homosexuals (rights of free association and speech) from one side of their mouths while screeching at suggestion of regulations on criminal's gun purchases.
I imagine you'd rather some hardened criminal be able to purchase any firearm, anytime, anywhere than to allow your fellow taxpaying Americans to simply be themselves in the general public.
You would put your neighbor's safety at risk while preventing your son from acting as he is for the sake of your emotional responses. How many times this morning did you have to stop and wonder, "Did I say something which might give me away? Am I wearing something which might give me away? How will I avoiding talking about my weekend with co-workers?" Can't you see what's wrong with this picture? It's even beyond having to hide one's political leanings because they happen to work in an overwhelmingly Democrat-dominated industry and do not want to be "blacklisted".
You can't come from a view of sovereign citizens with unalienable rights and then start demanding someone ELSE (because, afterall, it's always THE OTHER GUY) compromise honesty, integrity, their human relationships...
The bottom line is this: you shouldn't ask of them what you would not stand for in your own life.
"... screeching at suggestion of regulations on criminal's gun purchases." Find me one person on this board who this description fits. Just one.
Don't ask don't tell works for the military, it can work for you at your job. As a matter of fact, that's the way things worked for as long as I can remember, and it makes no difference as to your sexual preferences, religion, ethnicity, political party, or type of car you drive. It gets to be a problem when homosexuals (or any other "group") get in everyone's face and demand not only tolerance, but acceptance.
And one of the most basic rights is freedom of religion. You cannot expect a person to deny their conscience by validating sexual disfunction (perversion) as a legitmate relationship. If they are homosexual, then they have chosen to disassociate themselves from moral people. We don't and shouldn't HAVE to accept them. Why should we have to compromise OUR honesty, integrity and human relationships? We are not asking them to do anything we don't require of ourselves.
Going back to the closet would should be their safest place and only protection. Your concept of protectionism like they are an endagered species is direct from Fantasy Island.