From Rebel Political Observer

Get over it, America. Gays are long out of the closet and taking their rightful place in American society–except for the US military. (Note: I use ‘gay’ in this post to include homosexual men and women). The paranoia continues among senior military brass and many elected officials who cling to the misperception that having gays serving uniform somehow undermines the security of their country.

Lest you think that I’m a pissed-off gay male with an axe to grind, sorry. In fact, I’m a boring white middle-aged dude with four adult children and two grandkids, and married over 30 years. I’m straight as a two by four. But that doesn’t mean that’s how it should be. What makes the human race fascinating is its diversity, including watching the intolerant rant and rave.

Katherine Miller, however, may not be all that impressed with the human race. A top student at West Point, she recently resigned from the academy since she could no longer “lie” as she put it about being a lesbian. Operating by stealth, gay students at West Point use code names to communicate with one another. One senior male gay student referred to his newfound acting skills, required to maintain his cover, as his biggest achievement at the academy.

Something’s wrong with this picture. When bright, talented, eager, young Americans are excluded from serving their country in uniform, some soul searching is needed. Insisting that new West Point recruits sign a pledge on their first day acknowledging that homosexual behaviour can lead to dismissal, including showing a “propensity to engage in homosexual acts,” is anachronism in this day and age.

So some of you are probably saying at this point: “Yeah, yeah, but what about national security and the challenges of gay and straight soldiers serving together in combat?”

Good question. Let’s look around the world to see what’s happening.

Israel, a close ally of the United States and possessing a highly effective military, not to mention being under constant threat by certain Middle East countries, has allowed gays to openly serve in all branches of the military since 1993. Discrimination is against the law. Hmmmm.

How about Canada, my home country? Well, gays have been allowed to serve in the military since 1992. Indeed, 22 of the 26 NATA countries have legislation allowing gays to serve in their respective militaries.

Which brings me back to the paranoia about gays in America’s military. Get over it. Just look at your political system, from municipal to state to the national level, which is replete with gay politicians. Is this wrong? Of course not. For example, Barney Frank, a senior and very effective Congressman is gay. Has he jeopardized his country’s national interest, or undermined its well-being? Nope.

Continuing to cling to outdated notions and stereotypes weakens America’s capacity to move forward in the 21^st Century. Addressing how the country perceives the role of gays in the military would be a great place to start.

Rebel Political Observer