75% of Americans say gays should serve openly in military

I'm against this, as it's always been a reliable way to get out of the military; just say your gay.

I support this movement. Gays want equality well they just got it.

It's better than not knowing...right?

There are gay serial killers that have join the military and force molestation and sex on other men. What man is going to say he was overpowered by another man to have sex with them.

At least this way you have an issue with or fear of such you can just stay away from said person, right?

My problem has always been that if I can't take a shower with a bunch of women (because of separation of men and women) then why can a gay person get to shower with exactly what he/she wants to see? Don't even go with the "it's not sexual when in the locker room" sure...if a guy was in a woman's locker room he'd look and say he didn't. There is not a whole lot of difference with a gay guy in a guy locker room.

Yes showering with the women doesn't mean I'd get more of a chance, but I get to peek under the hood and that, for most, is good enough.

There's no equality there if a gay guy gets to shower with what he is attracted to and a straight guy has to shower with what he's not. Where's the fight for equality there?

Jammer,

That's the problem with most heterosexuals. We tend to assume that homos are always thinking about one thing, and it's how to get in your pants. They do think about other things. Wouldn't you rather know whose who? The most masculine guy you know whose been popping you with the towel is probably the one having fantasies about you. Just because he's gay, doesn't mean he wants to diddle ya. You might not be his type. Lol!

Gays should be able to serve in the military. If we can have the freedom of religion and freedom of speech, why can't we have freedom of sexuality?

The world is full of negative stereotypes of gender and sexual orientation. We need to better educate at all levels.

50% of Americans say they should serve whether they want to or not in a special "Cannon Fodder" squadron.

It's an interesting statistic, but I'd question the motives behind a minority.

Armies of both ancient Greek and Roman societies where mostly homosexual, were they not sufficient in doing their job?

Discriminating on sexual orientation grounds is just not smart. If somebody is just as qualified as the next person to do the job then that's as far as it should go.

What is that those who oppose the notion of homosexuals serving feel is the real issue? Is it that there's going to be rampant sexual happenings all over the show?

75%

was anyone asked here on current? I'm always mystified by statistics because I've never been asked and each time I hear a stat I ask everyone around me if they were asked. The answer is always no.

Was most of the voting done in California,Boston,NewYork...?

I think the only people who would oppose homosexuals in the military are the ones who are unsure about their own sexuality...

As a gay man, I kind of enjoyed the fact that homophobes were so keen on keeping us alive. Maybe they've smartened up?

Considering that Alexander the Great, one of history's best known warriors was gay, the whole idea of banning gays from serving is ludicrous.

Why shouldn't they is the question. A homosexual can serve just as competently as a heterosexual, it sounds like this is yet another case of people being uncomfortable with being confronted with it. Still, 75% is a high number, so I guess that is good. However it is still disappointing that this is even an issue...

Before I start I want to try to avoid the stereotyping that will inevitably come my way.

I think all hsexuals should be allowed civil union, tax benefits, social security etc... I have gay friends, close to 30 at one time, and my current roommate is gay. I hear a lot about penises, ass, and all of that - gay men in showers with straight men? - sounds like a dream come true, oh, by the way that comes from my gay friends mouths. But this isn't just limited to gays, it's human nature. Why is it that on current everyone acts like everyone is a robot and completely avoids the reality that surrounds us? "it's not a big deal that gay men might be barracked with other gay men" or "it's not a big deal that gay men are taking showers with straight men" and then going to sleep next to them. Maybe there's some a-sexuals and Utopian views being represented on this post but when I parallel what's being said with women and men in the same fashion then what do I get? human nature in all of it's scandalous glory. The military is set up in such a strict way to avoid these human faults and look what we still hear and know about the military, so why open the flood gates? I don't think it's discrimination as much as it's preventing discrimination.

There might be bigger issues as you see them, but I'm worried about the decaying from within.

Hey, let's finally give the gays a break, huh?

I've never really understood this issue to be honest. How does one serve "openly gay"? I can see where that may cause a few issues at some point. Ones sexual preferences don't usually come up in the normal course of business. Why are conservatives always worried about what others do on their own time?

to claim that gay people are at some sexual advantage in the military is ridiculous. you're hyper-sexualizing gay people. gay people bleed, cry, hurt and feel just like straight people. they drink and do drugs just like straight people. they have sex, just as straight people do. just because they're gay doesn't mean they'll be getting it on while ignoring their jobs or duties.

do you people really think enlisted people are any different than civilians? i'd agree to the point that they're non-civilian, but if you think sex, drugs, alcoholism, abuse, etc don't happen in the service, you're nuts. some of my (straight) friends who served have shared with me how there were giant orgies, drug parties, drug rings, and even prostitution. (all the while, they seemed to be getting their jobs done.)

the military is no more or less a cross section of our society. if you think gay people shouldn't be in our society or military, well, its too late.

So gays can serve in the military they just can't marry or be practicing Catholics? Who makes these rules?

Of course gay and lesbian people should be allowed to serve openly in the armed forces if they so choose. It's ridiculous that this is even still an issue.

If they do serve, you will find them in countries where there is peace and harmony, just as you see with the British military. You find the "real" men in areas that require combat. If they do serve, then they are closeted and that is what keeps them appearing and looking straight acting. Once the person is out, by his/her own mouth, they have labeled themselves and define their own actions. I have learned that these people are of a depraved mind.

That is coming from someone who does not define himself as homosexual/heterosexual/or bisexual. One must first be of a sexual nature to be able to justifiably classify oneself truthfully.

This is just common sense. No other developed nation has this ban, and with the government begging for new recruits to go fight for our oil interests, why shoudn't gays have the right to protect our SUVs, too? This ban not only hurts the 'armed' forces, but it also bans top linguists, engineers, etc-- skilled people who are hard to come by... oh, and incidentally never get to shower with members of the same sex.
Darn, guess we can't use the nympho/all gays are sex-crazed fiends excuse.

The shower excuse being peddled is straight ludicrous in my opinion.

People seem to have forgotten that gay people ALREADY serve in the military

You guys are acting like getting rid of DADT is going to make gays prance around in rainbow uniforms. Trust me, most of them have no interest in flaunting their sexuality, especially since most people in the military are going to be hostile towards them.

You guys are ignoring that this is about ending job discrimination, not making the army gay.

But to address the shower point, it really doesn't matter. There are two unspoken arguments in the shower idea and I'm going to identify and address both of them. 1. Those crazy gays are gonna get off to dudes in the shower (notice how lesbians are ignored) and 2. it's going to hurt morale and make straight people uncomfortable and lead to sexual harassment.

Well first off, a naked human body is not necessarily a sexual turn on. I know this is a shock to most Americans, but a naked human body by itself is no big deal. And last time I checked, even if someone did get off, it wasn't a crime to be turned on. Also, you gotta be consistent with this argument. If gays in showers is such a horrible thing, you gotta ban it from schools, sports and spas too. Also, if the issue is attraction, shouldn't women essentially be banned as well? To be honest, this argument perplexes me. So someone is attracted by someone else. So what? What's the big deal about someone liking someone else, not like it's perverted. Which of course is the real issue that leads me nicely to point two.

This is really about people being irrationally uncomfortable with gay people liking them. First off, like I said earlier, most gays have no interest in flaunting their sexuality in the military. They catch a lot of shit for it as it is, revealing that you're gay likely leaves you open to being ridicules by other uneducated and unsavory comrades, if not outright fragged. Second, it is really of no consequence whether or not gay people make you uncomfortable. No offense, but that argument is stupidly selfish and bigoted. You couldn't argue black people out of the military if they made you uncomfortable, why should you argue out a sexual preference? It's absurd. Too bad, deal with it. It's also funny that people are so worried about making straight people uncomfortable and not at all worried about making gay people comfortable in the military. It's also funny considering that we're talking about training people to go into combat zones to get blown apart and shot, and people are worried about gay people making straight people uncomfortable. I think soldiers have other worries.

And the morale argument is the same closeted bigot argument, you could make the same point about racial tensions. It's also stupid because gay people ALREADY serve. And to bring it up again, why haven't people brought up how having to hide your sexual preference lowers morale? We can leave morale improvement to the officers, if there even is a hit in the morale.

In case you were wondering, I am for taking it one step further. Unisex showers in the military makes perfect sense. If women want to be treated like equals, then they don't get to latch onto the positive aspects of sexism.

in all honesty, why does it matter if they're gay or not? they're putting their life on the line just like the rest of the soldiers. quit focusing on the little things and look at the big picture. they're volunteering to serve, and possibly give up their life, for us. so, let's give them the respect they deserve.

First of all, what was the ACTUAL question in the poll. The head line says "serve openly" the first sentence says "gays should be allowed to serve". I think there is a big difference. I have no problem with gays serving. But even heteros can't OPENLY serve, depending on what OPENLY means. Walking around holding hands, skipping, tongue swabbing each others tonsils? Nether side can do that. Before anyone gets all worked up either way, lets find out what we are actually talking about. All i'm saying...

J_Jammer:
you are obviously homophobic and have some internal dealing to do. You sound a bit self conscious and insecure about your body image, and your sexuality. You may be in high school and still struggling with these sort of things. Hopefully in time you will realize that not all gay men want to get in your pants. Good luck "peeking under hoods" if thats what you call it.

I totally think gay should not have to hide who they are to be in the military. The whole "don't ask, don't tell" thing is BS. I think people need to be more appecting to gays. They are people just like you and me, it is just that they like the same gender is all. I can't understand how people can take gays as a whole different race of human beings, when they are not. If people choise to be gay, so let them be. I though this was a free country at one time, what happened to that?

There's a difference between openly serving and openly serving in a combat arms MOS. The reasons are primarily psychological. I don't think it's going to happen any time soon.

yeah..let's see them be openly gay in the U.S. infantry..see how long they survive that.....stateside

Do straight people have to make it known that they are straight? Of course not! It's not only irrelevant but personal and the same respect and acknowledgment should be given to gays and lesbians.

I have no