thomascwaters.com

The link below is to Edge, and well worth your time to read it, if you care about DADT and/or equality issues in general. I had hoped to read more and write something reasonable about what this means, but ran out of time yesterday, soi here is the original article.

Ruling on gay Air Force major creates dilemma :: EDGE on the Net.

The link below is to an post on the Economist. It is an excellent read, and I encourage everyone to dig into it. The piece uses a column by Bill Kristol and responds to the points of his argument. It is all good, but I want to focus on one small concept in it.

So what institution does the president want to subject to an untested, unnecessary, and probably unwise social experiment? The U.S. military.

Social experiment? Open and peaceful cohabitation with non-heterosexuals is a social experiment that has been going on for decades, with fairly good results.

We see this type of fear mongering language so often anytime issues surrounding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people are concerned. “Social Experiment, as if equality is an unknown adventure full of potential danger.

This is ludicrous for two reasons. First, a large number of other countries across our globe already allow openly Gay and Lesbians to serve in their military. Our soldiers have been fighting side by side with them for some time now. There is no experiment here, but there is a body of evidence that this works and works just fine.

The second point is possibly more subtle and potentially more important. Where are experiments done?  In Science. The far right and radical Christian movement is battling Science everywhere that it can. From claiming that dinosaurs were only 6000 years old and existed on the Ark with Noah and all the other animals, to the battles against contraception. These conservative and theocratic oppressors dictate that the Bible is to be taken as the literal word of God, but Science- especially experimentation- is scary and wrong.

Check out the entire post, and add your comments and ideas here.

Gays in the military: Fisking Bill Kristol | The Economist.

It was a real pleasure today to read Arlen Specter’s writing in the Huffington Post concerning a variety of legislation of interest to Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Americans. Follow the link below to read the whole thing, but here are the highlights:

• DOMA: The time has come to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act
• Hate Crimes: The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act (S 909), which I sponsored with the late Senator Kennedy, makes it a federal crime to target victims on the basis of disability, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
• ENDA: The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2009, of which I am an original cosponsor, was introduced on August 5, 2009 and is currently before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• DADT: the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy is outdated, and should be rescinded entirely.

Sen. Arlen Specter: Time to Repeal DOMA.

Of those discharged under the policy, 36 percent were women, although women make up only 14 percent of troops in the Army, the data showed.

Yesterday I posted about Mary Cheney, her new baby and some of the connections between class and the resistance to LGBT rights of any kind, but especially same-sex marriage. I received several very kind and meaningful compliments for the post, and thanks to those from whom I received the calls and comments. But re-reading the post, I’m not sure I did much other than lay out the questions. Don’t think I answered too many of them or illustrated the points all that well.

Today’s post may end up being similar, and if you have thoughts about the issues raised, please please chime in and share them with a comment. The linked CNN story is quite short and I’ll look for more to better explain this story, but basically it says that more women are discharged proportionately more than men using DADT. This was a big surprise for me, because most (all??) of the high profile cases I’m aware of, are men. Guys like Dan Choi for example. Racking my brain (although that rarely helps) I can’t remember a single high profile/publicized case of a woman being discharged for DADT. What’s up with that? There are probably a few good thesis projects in here, so if you use one of them, please give me an acknowledgement in your published thesis or dissertation.

One thing before I go on, the CNN title is a little misleading: “More women than men dismissed from military for being gay.” It isn’t true to say that of 100 discharges more of them are women. Women are 36% of the discharges. but given that women make up only 16% of the armed forces, this rate of 36% seems very high. It suggests a lesbian is twice as likely to get kicked out as her gay counterpart. Or is that four times as likely… I need a stats class!

Here are some of the questions raised for me:

• Are more women discharged because a disproportionately larger number of lesbians join the armed forces than men? For example, if 100 gays and lesbians join the armed forces, are 70 of them women? Probably no easy way to answer this given the nature of don’t ask, don’t tell. My reasoning here, is that if queer men and women are discharged at an equal rate, then the number of women discharged would be closer to 16% unless more women who enter are lesbians than the number of men who enter are gay. I would doubt this. My guess is that more gay men enter the armed forces than lesbians, or that the rate is closer to equal.
• Are gay men accepted by their colleagues more commonly than lesbians? In other words, while many good and qualified people are kicked out, it might be the case that a number of troops accept their gay and lesbian members, but especially their gay members. Perhaps a gay man is more accepted than his female counterpart and is less likely to be called into question.
• Do gay men, “hide” better in the military than gay women? Is the reason for the disproportionately higher rate among women because their gay counterparts are able to blend in easier than the women are, so that the women are found easier? This may be connected to the earlier question. Is it that they blend in and hide easier or just that others choose not to see them as readily?
• Are the methods for outing gay men and lesbian women the same or different in the military? In otherwords, how is it that most lesbians are discovered , and is that the same or different than for gay men?

I tend to think that there is a role for basic sexism in the equation. Women are a minority within the armed forces and still seen by some, as not belonging there. The levels of testosterone are high among the armed forces, and I would anticipate that many women struggle to be treated as equal, even without the marker of being a lesbian added to it. Straight men love the notion of lesbians as play toys for real men, but the notion that a woman as equal to them, that one is a stretch for many men. Gender roles and forced notions of what being Male and what being Female mean is still a prevailing dynamic in our society as a whole, and would most definitely be at play within a microcosmic and performance heightened arena of the military.

Add your thoughts- add a comment- let me know what you think!

via More women than men dismissed from military for being gay – CNN.com.

In Memphis, five billboards were put up, meant to be messages of hope and inclusion, before National Coming Out Day, October 11th. but at least one of these billboards was brutally vandalized. The link below is to the news story about it and the marine, who was pictured on the ad speaks out about it.

Gay Marine On Destroyed Billboard Speaks Out | AKA William .

Representative Patrick Murphy, the first Iraq War vet elected to Congress, will be here in Pittsburgh on August 13, 2009. I am just sick that due to a work commitment, I will be in California and unable to attend, so can you help me out and go in my place? Not only would I like to meet Patrick Murphy and thank him for his work on repealing Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, but joining him will be Lt Dan Choi, who has recently been profiled on a number of news shows.

WHAT A Summer Reception with Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-Bucks County)

WHERE Piatt Place, 301 Fifth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh

WHEN Thursday, August 13, 6:30 p.m.

Requested Contribution:

Host $100 (raise/write) still opportunities to be on the Host Committee

Guests $25

Please make your contribution online at: www.murphy08.com/Pittsburgh

Or make your check payable to: Patrick Murphy For Congress

Find the event on Facebook:

Who is Patrick Murphy?

Congressman Murphy was born in northeast Philadelphia, the son of a Philly police officer and a legal secretary. When he went to college he decided to follow the example set by his father, uncles, grandfather, and brother by signing up for ROTC.

His military career led him to a position as a professor of Constitutional Law at West Point. He volunteered for overseas deployment at 9/11, which sent him first to Bosnia, and then later to Iraq. He served in Baghdad, Iraq as a captain in the 82nd Airborne. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.

After returning from Iraq, Patrick decided to run for Congress in the hope that he would be able to change our country’s misguided foreign policy. He won in 2006 by one of the smallest margins in the country – only .6%. He is the first, and at that time the only, Iraq war veteran in Congress.

He has since made a name for himself both in the legislature and the national political scene. (One of the first bills he introduced was the Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007 with then-Senator Barack Obama in February, 2007)

His legislative priorities are focused on fiscal discipline, economic revitalization with an emphasis on Green Energy’s role in that process (he is the deputy-whip of the New Dems, and has been a leader in the fight to equip our nation with the skills and funding needed to convert to a Green Economy) and the modernization of our military (he is the chief sponsor of the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, the bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”).

Politically, he drew national attention as one of the first Congressmen to endorse Senator Obama’s presidential bid. He later served as the campaign’s Co-chair in Pennsylvania. He has now focused his efforts on winning tough challenger races around the country as the Chairman of the DCCC’s Red 2 Blue program.

Patrick also is the Congressman who is introducing legislation that would repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell!

The American Family Association of PA, run by Diane Gramley is at it again, this time attacking the first Iraq war veteran elected to the US Congress, Patrick Murphy. Murphy is the sponsor of legislation to overturn the military’s practice called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT). The legislation was originally meant to be a compromise between President Clinton and Congress, when he totally botched an attempt to repeal the military’s ban on allowing gay and lesbians to serve openly in the military. Theoretically, the plan looked feasible- men and women could serve without fear of witch hunts and court martial by not telling, and no one would ask. In other words, a commander might know that there is a gay or lesbian serving, but he, the commander doesn’t ask, and the serving officer doesn’t tell, and everything goes on just fine. That isn’t how the law has played out and as a result an alarming number of women and men have been removed from the military, including a high percentage of those with specific skills needed in our current military endeavors like the war in Iraq.

I know Gramely best for the AFAPA newsletter I receive which is always filled with stuff that range from misinformation to lies- anything that she feels will advance her personal war on gay and lesbian people. She has a tendency to state things as fact that are really just one person’s opinion, and often that opinion is based on nothing more than homophobia. Onenewsnow labels her as “pro-family” which may be true, but a more accurate label is anti-gay.

It is no surprise this story appears on onenesnow, and contains the same type of stuff from the newsletter. The article says:

Gramley admits she sent a letter to Murphy, pointing out the national security risks of changing the policy. “It’s a national defense issue, and we mentioned that in the letter. Because if you get homosexuals in the military, you are then putting additional pressure upon our troops because they’re being housed in very intimate situations with individuals who are sexually attracted to them,” she adds.

But who better than a veteran to know how much of an additional pressure that might be? Murphy has direct experience with it, yet Gramely is certain that she knows more than he? Gramely says:

she cannot understand why Congressman Murphy has ignored a letter sent to President Obama and every member of Congress from a group of more than 1,000 retired flag officers who support the 1993 law.

Most likely he didn’t ignore it, but recognizes that there are differing opinions on the issue. And rather than consider the opinion of 1000 retired guys the final word on the issue, it is important to examine the facts and make choices for the security of our country based upon facts and not irresponsible bull shit.

Many national militaries around the world allow gay and lesbians to serve openly, and yet the problems Gramely argues about, do not exist. Gays and lesbians already serve, and do so with honor, professionalism and courage. The first soldier wounded in Iraq is a gay man, and a long list of highly qualified and needed individuals can be made to demonstrate how this policy has harmed our ability to have a strong and successful military force.

It isn’t hard to find current news stories that address this issue. The easy ones to cite are those of courageous men and women like Dan Choi. But an other more morbid story is worth pointing out. A gay sailor, August Provost, was recently murdered and over the last few days his killer has committed suicide. His sexual orientation was known, yet, according to the military played no part in what happened. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and found himself in the way of a guy on a crime spree. Gay men and women , today, serve and serve our country well.

The military needs people. If she is so adamant about keeping gays out, I’d like to suggest that Gramely enlist, and then let’s talk.

The other day I posted about using the August Recess as a time to be an advocate for the issues important to you. For me these include a slate of LGBT/GLBTQ issues such as state-wide protection from discrimination, hate crimes protections, an end to Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) and stuff surrounding Marriage Equality. Of all my interests PA HB 300 is the top most priority, and my post the other day was focused on issue advocacy on the state level. That same day, HRC began the “No Excuses” campaign which is more about the national level.

On the one hand, I’m concerned and generally think it unwise to ask people to do too much. They will feel overwhelmed and most often, do nothing. On the other hand, there is a real battle going on that impacts everyone, straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender. any of us who want to see the Equality movement progress, must recognize that the time is now for concerted meaningful successes on every level from the local all the way up to the national. So, I urge you, to make Equality a major priority for you. Be involved at every level, from your local community all the way up. Be an active participant in bringing about the type of society where freedom and equality are had by all. Follow the link to do your part on the national level, for me may not have another opportunity for many years if we don’t make adequate progress now.

No Excuses: Demanding Equality Face to Face.

The appointment of Jared Polis to the Air Force Academy Board could signal  steps towards the end of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

First openly gay member joins AF Academy board | News Story on 365gay.com.

Awesome read about gays in the Brittish armed forces.

Jones joined the navy at 1989, eager for adventure, and got his wish. He intercepted drug dealers in the Caribbean, dropped from helicopters, served in the Shatt-al-Arab waterway dividing Iraq and Iran, tracked arms into Northern Ireland.

Then, at 25, he met Adam Mason, the man who would become his partner. Suddenly, he had something to hide.

Britain’s Out-Gay Military Tell Their Stories :: EDGE Washington.