Petrelis Files

(RIP: US Sailor Allen Schindler.)

Stripes: Gays in the Military = "Orgies on Demand"

Over the decades, I've heard many arguments from gays who've served in the USA military about why they joined the forces. Reasons ranged from proving their patriotism, to needing the educational benefits, and everything in between. Never has a gay veteran or community leader claimed that sexual gratification is a factor for lifting the ban on gays in the military.

Yet a recent letter in the Stars & Stripes made a number of outrageous claims, including group homo-sex at the snap of a finger:

After reading the latest pro-gay views, including "why not let them out of the closet" and "gays have and will continue to serve honorably" — not to mention "gays are like minorities," they deserve an open chance to serve — I would like to go on record as firmly opposing gay service in the U.S. military . . .

What if a gay soldier, sailor, Marine, airman or Coast Guard individual decides to flaunt his or her tell-it-to-the-world, everybody-out-of-the-closet lifestyle? Chaos. No barriers — right. Orgies on demand. Dream your own dream of wild sex on demand and homosexuals and the threat of homosexuals preying on friends and foes and casual acquaintances at sea.

And the backlash? Straight folks, in and around the military taking matters into their own hands to rid the environment of this deviant behavior. It would happen.
Homosexuals in the military. Sure, maybe in 50 or 150 years.

Lt. Cmdr. Jim Brady (retired)
Rota, Spain

Speaking of straight people taking gays in the military into their own hands to get us out of the forces, let us remember the tragic October 1992 murder of Navy recruit Allen Schindler. He was brutally murdered by another sailor, a straight one, because he came out of the closet and was seeking protection from hostile crewmen on his ship.

As tiresome and bigoted as that letter was, I'm glad it got into print, to remind gays of the mentality among some veterans opposed to open gays in the forces, and because it generated a great reply from a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan:

After reading "Against gays in military" I got a sick feeling in my stomach. The letter writer suggests that if homosexual sailors were allowed to be open with their sexual orientation, it would result in "homosexuals preying on friends, foes and casual acquaintances at sea." To suggest that homosexuals "prey" on others is absolutely ignorant . . .

He also states that if gay servicemembers were allowed to serve openly that there would be "orgies on demand" and "wild sex on demand." In my view, the discipline of a unit is a direct reflection of its leadership. As a company commander, I am responsible for everything my company does or fails to do. Perhaps the writer didn’t see leadership in the same way.

There are undoubtedly numerous gay soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen serving our country honorably. I understand the argument that if they were allowed to be open with their sexuality it would deteriorate morale. As leaders at war we are responsible for dealing with an adaptive and aggressive enemy, rugged terrain, extreme weather and rough living conditions. I think most leaders could handle someone coming out of the closet.

Why do we ask these young men and women to violate their integrity by hiding who they really are as they serve their country in the same honorable manner as every other servicemember? Why should we wait "50 or 150 years" to do what’s right?

Capt. Brian Waters
Forward Operating Base Fenty, Afghanistan

Thank you, Capt. Waters, for, um, setting things straight for readers of the Stars & Stripes. Your wise attitude of acceptance of the reality of gays in the military is a refreshing antidote to intolerant forces that favor the "don't ask, don't tell" fiasco.