I was just reading an article about a guy named Darren Manzella. He informed his superiors prior to deployment that he was gay. They conducted an investigation, decided he wasn't gay, and sent him anyway. He returned and did an interview for 60 minutes and proved to them he was gay. He was then discharged.
A few thoughts were running through my head as I read several articles on this. Most of these articles are openly critical of the military policy. I consider it one of the legacies of the Clinton administration.
Manzella's supporters are saying gay military members are being sent to Iraq. I can't figure out if they are complaining or proud. Yes, it is true that he admitted he was gay prior to deployment. Well, no offense, but gay is really the new mentally ill of the military. No, I'm not saying that gay people are mentally ill. What I am saying is that it isn't that unusual for someone to pretend to be mentally ill to get out of the military. I suspect, it is a lot easier to say you are gay to get discharged rather than go through evaluations for mental stability. It is highly likely that some thought he was putting them on.
Many discussing the issue focus on the fact that the number of discharges for being openly homosexual is down. It could be the military has just become a wise to the fact that not everyone who says they are gay is really gay. Add to that you have to really think about what being gay is. Is a one-time event enough to consider you gay – or just experimenting.
 Some are also being critical of the military's speed in handling the issue. They are fighting two wars. Even when they aren't fighting, the military is not known for speed and efficiency on these sorts of issues. How long did it take them to court marshal or attempt to court marshal the soldiers that engaged in improper actions while guarding Iraqi prisoners? I'd say that matter was a little more important than this one.
Should he be discharged?
I say yes. He knew the rule when he signed up. That doesn't mean I support the rule. In fact, I think gays have just as much to lose as everyone else if America were to fall. Don't forget, in some countries homosexuality can carry the penalty of death. However, Manzella went on television, openly announced his gayness and openly broke military rules. He should be dismissed.
Many believe the law will be repealed.
I found this quote in the Newsmax article to be interesting,
"The military is an incredibly discriminatory organization," Maginnis said. "If it weren't it wouldn't be effective. It has to discriminate, not only on sexual proclivities, but on those with serious medical conditions, against people who are too tall, too short, not smart enough and are color-blind. If we look, the list of reasons for discriminating against someone is 35 pages long."
But, I'm interested in what you think. Should the law be repealed? Will it be repealed?
In the interest of fairness, I'll present a few links to the reported story. I actually recommend the 60 minutes interview and the Newsmax link. I believe reading both will give you an interesting background on the story.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/13/60minutes/main3615278.shtml
http://www.newsmax.com/us/Dont_Ask,_Dont_Tell_/2007/12/26/59779.html
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/06/army_figures_out_gay_soldier_i.html
http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/185/don39t_ask_don39t_tell
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Comments: 32 ( 1 removed by LittleMissSunshine A. )
There have been many who have rose up in the ranks, and have served, in the services, with honor and dignity, who later years down the road have admitted to being gay. Is this not proof, that gays can be an asset, to our military forces?
This rule or law is discrimination in disguise. You can join if you are gay, but you have to hide this fact and pretend to be straight to serve your country. Personally I think it stinks. And it has never worked anyway.
Trying to use those angles later to avoid deployments and such is another thing though to me. I'm not sure how they should handle that.......
That's no false enlistment in my book. Just make me think if times really do change.
Don't Ask Don't Tell is Clinton's mess.
Honestly, I'd never heard that about a person paying back half the bonus if their legs are blown off. I think that policy isn't a very good one.
You do bring some very insightful thoughts to the table.
Otherwise, this is one of the factors that the military can use to get you out if you're not performing up to snuff or if your commander has lost confidence in you but can't quite put a finger on the reason. This isn't the only one. The Army can let you be a little overweight or teety on the two-mile run for years. Then, you might one day wake up and be given a ridiculous time frame to bring everything in line.
By the way I have never met you and do not blame you f or not particularilly wantingto comment on my articless. I have never until now commented on your. Just because I have never seen your name on my feed.
It disturbed me when Beth was nice enough to ask for help for me to get my cash option . Your comment was why,that I never commented on you.
Now I have. I do not hold it against you at all. It would have been more polite to have just said nothing at all and went on.
On another note, why don't you keep the private drama in private messages. You don't need to post crap like that for everyone else to waste our time reading.
For a long time after I left the service, I thought they should allow openly gay persons to serve, but I do see the problems it could cause. It would be one more reason to complain about discrimination, or favoritism, or harassment. Maybe the military will end up having men's barracks, women's barracks, and LGBT barracks. (that's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, for those who don't know). Will they allow gay marriage, and benefits? Will they pay for transgenger surgery? That is not on the table yet, but it could be, down the road.
As for using it as a reason to get out of the service, one could as easily light a joint up in the CO's office. When I, and several of my buddies got busted on the "wiz quiz" for pot, one of my friends told the colonel "I'm not quitting pot for the USMC, or anybody." He was out in 6 months. If you get a "general, under Other Than Honorable" discharge, you can appeal it after 6 months, and in my day, it was automatically upgraded to "general, under honorable circumstances." I don't know if that still holds true. The general "OTH" discharge was not the same as a "dishonorable" discharge, which could not be upgraded automatically.
Thanks for posting this, Shelley! I featured it on GRAFFITI POLITTI, and gave you a 10!
BUT it is wrong for a gay person to go into the military and then later try to use being gay to get out fot he military.
Someone said if this happens the person should be charged for their training...not a bad idea.
*Note: look out for maxwell is a "know it all, loud mouth, who will bring hate to any article he touches.
By the way Mandi, why don't you take down the pictures of your fat husband in his uniform? He is a disgrace and his physical appearance is in violation of AR670-1. His gut is not allowed to stick out so far over his belt that it creates a gap between his blouse and his trousers. Those pictures reflect poorly upon himself, his unit, his command, and the United States Army...and as an Senior NCO he should not only be setting a better example to his troops, but he should also know enough to advise you not to post such pictures on the internet for any anti-American organizations to download and use to present a poor image of American troops. It's called OPSEC, and if he isn't familiar with it I can send him a PowerPoint presentation that will explain the whole thing to him; but as a Senior NCO he should be very familiar with OPSEC regulations, physical fitness standards, and physical appearance standards.
No, I not only don't think he should have been discharged but the whole "DADT" policy needs to be thrown out once and for all. This isn't 1900 anymore. It's 2008 for crying out loud. Gays aren't mentally ill. Gays do NOT destroy morale. Gays DO NOT join just to find mates.
Hmmm...this sounds scarily familiar...can anyone say "women in the military...or blacks?"
The "old boys network" needs to be turned over and spanked for being so ignorant and hateful.
Gays/lesbians join the military for the SAME reasons anyone else does. To SERVE THEIR COUNTRY!
I know, I did and I'm an out gay female.
No, I wasn't out while I was in the military, obviously, but I served because I believed it was my duty as a citizen. I love my country and I'm not ashamed to say when something is just plain wrong.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is just plain wrong!
I don't know why Manzella decided to come out. I don't pretend to know what his motives were. But I can tell you this much, living a lie is more hazardous to an individuals' psyche than living openly and honestly.
Not once in any of these comments have I heard anyone defend Manzella. Not once have I heard anyone stand up against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I'd like to one day be proud of my service to my nation, but until "DADT" is abolished, I honestly wear a black arm band on Memorial Day. We have to stop being such whiney babies and grow up. GLBT's are a fact of life. WE DO NOT Choose to be gay. Trust me, I tried that. It nearly destroyed me as a human being.
WE ARE NOT child molesters. I have a wonderful, well adjusted, compassionate, hard working, brilliant and straight, nineteen year old son who is PROUD of his mother.
WE Don't want "Special rights" we want EQUAL Access to live freely like everyone else takes for granted.
WE DO NOT Hate men/women, I love the men in my life and am supremely grateful for the influences they have had on me and my family.
We're just people who have a different set of attractions. We want to live our lives equally, with respect, peace of mind and the ability to serve our nation without having to lie about who we are.
Is that really so much to ask?