I asked one of my friends from Israel if they let gay people serve in the army there.  They do.  He was actually pretty surprised by the question. Everyone has to serve, so why should gay people be treated any differently?

What he said was: "It is enough that they are willing to die."

It doesnt matter what a person background. The point is that they want to serve our country with high pride. They are people too like us and need respect like eveyrybody else.

I think anyone who wants to serve his or her country deserves our respect.

Of course.

Why should heroes have to sneak around?

http://www.thegaymilitarytimes.com/history.html

And what about gay women?

Gays are feminine by nature; therefore they should not fight on the front lines. Maybe they can serve in some rear capacity...Sorry...bad idea. Decorate the barracks or something.

The item is stated in an interesting way  -   "Should Gays Be Allowed to Serve Openly in the Military?" doncha think? How would they manifest that, marching to show tunes? Meticulous attention to decor in the barracks? A company of soldiers with neatly trimmed moustaches?

Im TIRED of hearing about gays!!  Let them do what they want,  but why do we have to hear/talk about it all the time.  Is the whole world turning gay?  lol

If gays pass the physical requirements and are willing to sacrifice themselves for a country that had nothing to do with 9-11, they should be allow to serve openly in the military. I seriously doubt that our enemies care if our soldiers are Gay, straight, Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Christian, Sciencetolgoist or whatever.

Definitely not. It would affect the overall morale of the troops and will cause frictions and brawls, especially in the barracks where their presence would be undesirable. How would you feel going Into the shower room knowing that you are being lusted for? In my opinion, they should stay home. Want to serve? do it in the office, not on the front line, where a simple distraction can be the difference between life and death.

Don't ask don't tell, why and why not? besides the obvious you have 100's and 1000's of seemingly wonderful people that for some reason or antoher have decidedly made a decision to be gay. The more you push it back, the more you get the parades, the real serious drag queens, queers, feminie males, and male females. It gets to be the same argument for many other things society dreads to deal with, but knows it has no choice. Do I personally like it? No, the answer in the Bible does not allow same sex couples, the Bible is a clear product of a voice of that I would like to believe is how we should live. Even though there is much evidence of the opposite, does that mean people should have no beliefs? No sense of fear, no fear of wrong doing? To people that are gay and proud of it, they are not seriously asking themselves why? I believe there are other factors a resentment towards a parent, hostility towards rules and regulations when people no longer want to be together. I think there is more to being gay than what meets the eye.

Nope! They need to go back in the damn closet were they belong!!! Whether your Gay, Bi, or a straight person thinking of becoming gay or bi curious! Get back in and stay in the damn closet...SICKOS even you transsexuals too!!

I believe that homosexuals should defently be allowed to serve in the military. If they allow bisexuals to serve than it should be no different for homosexuals. And if a fight breaks out or a gay starts to feel up someone who is straight then that person should be considered for exspoltion. This is not a hard debate to settle and it could be solve quite easily if people would stop being so afraid of what will happen once a homosexual is aloud into the military. So I say to those who are afraid suck it up it's not the end of the world. And I can tell you right now that if Hiliary Cliton becomes president, the type of people to be allowed into the military isn't the only thing that is going to change, so we should just accept it now and be done with it.

yes.If a gay person wants to serve in the military, they should. If they are willing to be there for their country and want a career in the military yes.

Not to offend any military people (my brother is one), but comedian Bill Hicks once said, "Anybody dumb enough to want into the military, should be allowed in. That should be the only requirement."

Former U.S. Sen. Dole must come on this website a lot. This issue was over with in 1993. Yes, they should be allowed.

No. There's a certain attittude, machismo, that goes with being in the military. It's more than just suiting up and serving your country - military personnel represent America. Gays and homosexuality throughout the world is generally looked down upon. Openly gay military personnel I think hurts morale and self-esteem. It should'nt matter , but it does. No one really feels comfortable with openly gay people in the military. Frag the F*g ? You betcha that will happen.

Unlike alot of those self-rightous, pseudo-upperclass army dodgers, if your willing to take a bullet for your friends and country I don't care who you get diggy with...you've already proven yourself to be alot more of a man/woman than the other cowards.

Yes. Discrimination according to sexual preference appears to be the last acceptable discrimination against a person who has no control over the criteria for the discrimination.

As long as they don't create a hostile enviroment, the same policy should apply to everyone.

Yes. A no brainer.

Of course. Bet if you needed 'em to fight, you'll sure as hell ignore their sexuality. Mr P: who said that gays were asking to have sex in public? And if they did openly admit they were gay and the 'whatever happens next' was hassle or bashing or whatever else, then the individuals responsible for this treatment should be prosecuted. Gays have been serving in other armies with NO distracting consequences whatsoever. In fact, the British Army has just signalled that gay couples in service will now be able to live together in barracks houses, just as married couples do. The Army has indeed come a long way. And since gay 'marriage' will be legal in the UK after the 21st Dec 2005, the Army has delivered right on time.

Off course....what has their sexual preference got to do with anything.

If people are so worried about being distracted, why are there women in the military? Gay and lesbian people live in this country too. Let them serve it.

Yeah, I'm sure most gay guys in the military wouldn't parade around with rainbow uniforms, but the fact is they are not allowed to be open with who they are. I would find that terribly distressing if what must be a huge part of ones existence has to be kept secret. The arguments of well what if it was distracting/harmful to morale/ or encouraged violence are the same arguments people used when the army was desegragated. They were stupid arguments then and they're stupid arguments now. Who really cares if the guy covering their ass from a barage of bullets is gay, straight, or, as GoneAway feels is analogous, a satanic transvestite dancing around with a dead chicken that he/she just finished fornicating with (and Republicans wonder why liberals think conservatives are a little daft on alot of issues). Why should this nation ever sacrifice its ability to have the most talented military by eliminating soldiers based on personel attributes that have no affect on their jobs? UPDATE: SFALCONER, you can see it now, tell me then what are they wearing? Does it make you curious?

I can just see it now, the Gay Brigade 1st decorating division.

Should gays be forced to pay taxes? Of course. Should gays be held to the same federal and local laws as heteros? Of course. If there is a draft, should gays be included? You better believe it. Should gays be allowed (have to love this word, allowed to have the right to have your head blown off representing the usa) to serve openly in the military? Yes, they should. ** Why is it a big deal? In the last year seven translators with an expertise in Arabic were discharged from the military because they were found to be gay. What is the biggest skill our military is missing in Iraq? Arabic language skills. Great example of our leaders prioritizing their politics over the effectivess and safety of our military. Outrageous, barbaric, irresponsible, and moronic if you ask me.

I get letters about joining the naval academy etc. all the time. Clearly they are recruiting people. Now why would a group that is trying to get more people turn certain people off from the idea of serving just because of their sexual orientation. I don't care about race/sexuality/gender etc. when it comes to the armed forces. As long as they can do their job i'm happy.

Frankly, I don't care. If the particular homosexual feels comfortable enough to openly admit what their sex life is like than fine...just be prepared for what happens next. Another thing to keep in mind is to apply the same standards for everyone. We don't allow straight individuals serving in the military (or even as citizens) to go around having sex in public all day long and flaunting their sexuality. Thus, homosexuals shouldn't be given an expection...

I don't think it ranks as an item of national importance. .. but you are an uptight sexually frigid ass if you still care about sexual orientation in 2005. Gays are teaching your kids, working and running companies, and helping make the American machine run. Deal with it or get lost. . .there are plenty of places left in the world that persecute things like sexual orientation - like the Taliban, for instance. . .

Yes! Every American is given an equal opportunity for a job they want. Why not let the gay person have an equal opportunity to serve his/her country?

yes. but i dont see why they'd want to defend a nation whose president and bulk of the population want to prohibit their personal rights.

I don't see what the big deal is here.As long as someone is willing to serve their country we should honor their personal choices.Maybe the real problem is that all the closet cases in the higher ranks are afraid of being outed by openly gay peers.

First off, why would they want to serve openly? What's so wrong with keeping one's sex life a secret? I have no problem with gays joining the military -- they're Americans whether you agree with their lifestyle or not -- but there's nothing that can be done to prevent other soldiers from ostracizing or even using violence against them if they choose to be open about it.

Of course.Look how many translators were dismissed because they were gay.Then the military was upset because they didn't have enough translators.My God,they were serving their country.

Any distraction that screws with the mix is bad. -Corporal numbah

Ask a soldier. Find out what makes the American military the most feared fighting force in the world, I don't think it has anything to do with homophobia. If they can add to the effectiveness of the force, they can serve and they can parade around with a sign on, for all I care. But, if they detract from morale, if other soldiers' effectiveness and safety is compromised, sorry, son, you're out.

Just because someone swings one way doesn't mean they are not human. If you cut someone who is gay they will bleed. They have all the rights that straight people have. And if they want to serve their country, all the more power to them.

To assume homosexuals are inherently prone to fornication with their comrades is about as silly as saying no sailor has ever visited a hooker and no male and female officer have ever had a secret tryst. Then there's the They'll get victimized by those who don't like it argument, by the same logic civil rights should have never been passed and women should have been denied the vote. No logic justifies inequality of opportunity.

definitely not. the military is not an office where people have to share working space. anything that could cause disorder and uneasiness must be stopped or removed if possible. there are probably homosexuals who have served their country with honor and distinction, but their sexual orientation is really nobody else's business.

The real question is, would some want to? they are people just like us and in the end it should be their desision. This is like saying Should people with red hair serve in the military? I depends on who does and who dosn't, they aren't one group, they are just people.

There really is no should or shouldn't here folks...they already do and have been since time in memoriam. I don't think it has affected much over the last several thousand years. Personally, I don't want to hear the details of anyone's sex life gay, straight or Michael Jackson and don't see any reason to bring the subject up when it comes to the military or any other job.

I concur completely with Andrew Scott's comment. Don't Ask, Don't Tell has its flaws. Of course, sexual orientation should not matter to begin with. Homosexual activity should not take place in the military, but there is no reason for a man that serves his country ably to be dismissed simply because he discloses his sexual orientation. Of course, in most places, individuals would keep that kind of information private, but sometimes rumors are spread, and as a result, careers are destroyed. If an individual, gay or straight, wants to serve their country, then let them serve. UPDATE: With all due respect to Goneaway, there are many gays in the different branches of the military. It's rather ironic that those you call perverts are actually fighting every day for your right to call them perverts.

Sure, why not. Any able-bodied American citizen that wants to serve should be able to, but if they try anything with any fellow soldiers then they should be handed over to the enemy.

On rare occassions, I will allow myself to get into this particular discussion, and almost everytime I get annoyed and just end the discussion. In my experience when I am talking to people about this, and the ones that disagree with allowing gays in the military tell me the reason why is that they feel the gays will be trying to have sex with the other guys all the time. Now, if there was ever a time to call something homophobic rot, that would be in this case. Not only did I have an exboyfriend that was very high up in the ranks in the navy, but I know he would never have hit on another guy while on duty, or even in the navy for that matter. I mean, come on, homosexual men are no different from straight people when it comes to sex except for they are attracted to people of the same sex. It does not mean they are going to smack that bootie everytime they see it naked in the locker room ! Good grief ! (this isn't the only time homophobics think gay guys constantly hit on straight men, I mean some do hit on straight guys, but it is a small minority. I mean come on, I think some of you are just pure egomaniacs if you think I am going to hit on you..lol. Get real...not only do you have to be gay, but you need to be highly ambitious, have good self esteem, have a great attitude about life, but you better have respect for me if I am ever going to hit on you, and I certainly would never belittle myself and hit on a straight man in a way that he would actually think that I would want him...lmao ! I mean I have some straight guy friends that love to flirt with me, but only then would I flirt back..but in a joking way. But flirting is totally different from HITTING on someone.) I think it is a complete insult and very embarrassing of people to insult our gay soldiers, past and present, and even the ones that will be in the military in the future. They serve our country just as good as any straight person does. I love and respect all of our soldiers. Keep up the good work guys and gals ! PS- if you want to throw in the 'sin' factor...please don't forget that murdering people in a war is just as sinful as being gay...so don't throw that card at me and then call yourself a Christian...

What exactly do you mean by the phrase serve openly? If you mean should they be allowed to serve, of course. Any citizen should have that opportunity if he/she is able. But if you mean should they be allowed to openly practice homosexual behavior in the military, then of course not.

Of course they should. If an American citizen and taxpayer has the pride and courage to fight and possibly die for their country, who would have the right to say they can't?

Alexander the Great didn't do too badly.

Why not? Might improve the decor and get rid of that ugly grey all over the fleet.

Much Ado About Nothing. Who cares? Basis of evaluation for soldiers should be basd on the code as it has always been. Sexuality should be a non-issue.

I can't think of any reason why they shouldn't... and I suggest reading StanUzbeck's perfect assessment of the issue. I couldn't say it better.