the Navy and Army both lost a staggering number of career support officers and noncoms when they decided to oust the dykes immediately after the great patriotic war.
Barry Goldwater spoke out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell in his own non-PC way.
He said that anyone who could wrap their finger around a trigger and was willing to die for their country shouldn't be turned away because their wrist is limp.
While in advanced training, my sister witnessed, and was prepared to testify about, multiple instances of rampant sexual harassment and assault by her platoon's sergeant involving personnel under his direct supervision, so when investigators called her in to an office, she thought they'd be taking her statement about that.
Oh no. They told her they knew she was gay, that they knew she had "engaged in conduct" while in the military, and that, if she insisted on providing a statement, they'd pursue the charges against her and, at best, she'd be dishonorably discharged, but if she kept her mouth shut, she could leave the service with a medical discharge...but she had to decide RIGHT THEN.
I saw an article once about a gun manufacturer who started making a left-handed revolver. Being right-handed, it never occurred to me that revolvers were designed to be loaded by a right-handed person.
The M16 is designed for right-handed people. Which is why in the army, I always ended up with hot brass ejecting into the neck of my t-shirt when firing from the prone position.
Parris Glendening, the governor of Maryland from 1995 - 2003, fought hard and ultimately successfully to get sexual orientation discrimination banned in Maryland.
His reason was, in part, personal -- his brother was a gay veteran who had died from AIDS-related complications. He believed that, had his brother been able to serve openly as a gay man, he would have been able to form a stable relationship rather than seek out clandestine encounters, and would never have contracted HIV.
Now, it's of course true that Maryland law did not override military policy, even for service members in the state. But he still was able to protect LGBTQ+ civilians from discrimination, in a time when that was still a pretty liberal position.
A few years after that, I left a job in defense in part because, as I put it, I wanted to work somewhere I could have my boyfriend's picture on my desk. (I could have in theory at the defense job, but it would not have gone over well.) Glendening's work helped make that possible, and he gets my undying gratitude for that.
Just listened to a History On Fire podcast episode about sex in Roman times. Not nearly as fun as you might think and "homosexual" sex was not what you imagine from a modern perspective.
Without going into gory details, there was the penetrator and the penetratee, and a world of power difference between the two.
MY brother, a lawyer and closeted gay vet himself, did some pro bono work for vets trying to upgrade their discharges individually-their stories were heartbreaking and sometimes mind boggling. He's in his '70's now, HIV positive, but healthy and active, thanks to his VA meds. He's very happy about this decision, needless to say.
Srsly, when you're in the middle of a war, who gives a FUCK who your soldiers wanna sleep with? There's other priorities, you know.
To want to serve your nation, even knowing what a shitshow will result if anyone finds out about your 'problematic' sexuality, shows a love of country and bravery above and beyond.
Has that been trademarked yet? Because, if not, I certainly am going to file all the right forms to get that done. No way I am going to just leave that sitting on the table.
the Navy and Army both lost a staggering number of career support officers and noncoms when they decided to oust the dykes immediately after the great patriotic war.
Ta, Marcie. It's high time.
Barry Goldwater spoke out against Don't Ask, Don't Tell in his own non-PC way.
He said that anyone who could wrap their finger around a trigger and was willing to die for their country shouldn't be turned away because their wrist is limp.
While in advanced training, my sister witnessed, and was prepared to testify about, multiple instances of rampant sexual harassment and assault by her platoon's sergeant involving personnel under his direct supervision, so when investigators called her in to an office, she thought they'd be taking her statement about that.
Oh no. They told her they knew she was gay, that they knew she had "engaged in conduct" while in the military, and that, if she insisted on providing a statement, they'd pursue the charges against her and, at best, she'd be dishonorably discharged, but if she kept her mouth shut, she could leave the service with a medical discharge...but she had to decide RIGHT THEN.
Terrified, she took the deal.
We have left-handed scissors. Couldn't they just supply gay-handed rifles for the folks that need them?
As a lefty, I really hope that gay-handed rifles work better than those fucking left-handed scissors.
I saw an article once about a gun manufacturer who started making a left-handed revolver. Being right-handed, it never occurred to me that revolvers were designed to be loaded by a right-handed person.
The M16 is designed for right-handed people. Which is why in the army, I always ended up with hot brass ejecting into the neck of my t-shirt when firing from the prone position.
That'll wake you right up.
That's a lot of homoerotic recruitment posters for an anti-LGBTQ+ establishment.
You should see some of the Catholic Church's imagery.
Swing it, brothers!
Those pictures at the top are "woke"? Because I think they're DREAMY!
Parris Glendening, the governor of Maryland from 1995 - 2003, fought hard and ultimately successfully to get sexual orientation discrimination banned in Maryland.
His reason was, in part, personal -- his brother was a gay veteran who had died from AIDS-related complications. He believed that, had his brother been able to serve openly as a gay man, he would have been able to form a stable relationship rather than seek out clandestine encounters, and would never have contracted HIV.
Now, it's of course true that Maryland law did not override military policy, even for service members in the state. But he still was able to protect LGBTQ+ civilians from discrimination, in a time when that was still a pretty liberal position.
A few years after that, I left a job in defense in part because, as I put it, I wanted to work somewhere I could have my boyfriend's picture on my desk. (I could have in theory at the defense job, but it would not have gone over well.) Glendening's work helped make that possible, and he gets my undying gratitude for that.
They better hurry up
I don’t know why the "institutions" leave these things until the last second
Especially when they have MANY more things to concern themselves with that are almost just as urgent
https://youtu.be/dXfzU6tS-b4?si=rBbFf_6YhooNN0fg
It's almost like they trumpet these actions to distract the public from what they are NOT dealing with
The only institution I can think of that is worse in that regard is the so-called Justice Department
Won't you let me take you on a sea cruise
https://youtu.be/-EzBGs4Dy84?si=r9305BGG6k7xjsRL
This is good and hopefully this doesn't get undone later on in the upcoming maladministration.
The Roman Army didn't have this problem, hell, it was part of the program.
Just listened to a History On Fire podcast episode about sex in Roman times. Not nearly as fun as you might think and "homosexual" sex was not what you imagine from a modern perspective.
Without going into gory details, there was the penetrator and the penetratee, and a world of power difference between the two.
High ranking men, army: -tor. Women, boys, slaves: -tee.
Also, Roman army men almost exclusively fell into the former category.
MY brother, a lawyer and closeted gay vet himself, did some pro bono work for vets trying to upgrade their discharges individually-their stories were heartbreaking and sometimes mind boggling. He's in his '70's now, HIV positive, but healthy and active, thanks to his VA meds. He's very happy about this decision, needless to say.
Srsly, when you're in the middle of a war, who gives a FUCK who your soldiers wanna sleep with? There's other priorities, you know.
To want to serve your nation, even knowing what a shitshow will result if anyone finds out about your 'problematic' sexuality, shows a love of country and bravery above and beyond.
As somebody once said (and I believe it was a conservative who said it) you don't have to BE straight to shoot straight.
Goldwater, in his later years when he started disagreeing with the Republican Party.
"Grand Hysteria"?
Has that been trademarked yet? Because, if not, I certainly am going to file all the right forms to get that done. No way I am going to just leave that sitting on the table.