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December 19, 2010
Straight Troops Must Shower With Gays, Says DOD Working Group
Straight Troops Must Shower With Gays, Says DOD Working Group--‘Gay Men Have Learned to Avoid Making Heterosexuals Feel Uncomfortable or Threatened in Situations Such as This’
Saturday, December 18, 2010
By Terence P. Jeffrey
A special Defense Department working group appointed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates has recommended that the military should “expressly prohibit” heterosexuals from using separate showers, bathrooms and bunking facilities from homosexuals when the repeal of the law banning homosexuals from the military goes into effect.
The working group has also recommended that commanding officers be left with the authority to exempt individuals from using the same showers, bathrooms and living facilities as homosexuals, but only on a “case-by-case” basis.
The House voted earlier this week and the Senate voted this afternoon to repeal the military ban on homosexuals, which has often been referred to as “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
The working group’s Nov. 30 report—“Report of the Comprehensive Review of the Issues Associated with a Repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’”–concluded that permitting heterosexuals to use separate showers, bathrooms and bunking facilities from homosexuals of the same gender would “stigmatize” homosexuals and be “reminiscent of ‘separate but equal’ facilities for blacks prior to the 1960s.”
“In the course of our review we heard from a very large number of Service members about their discomfort with sharing bathroom facilities or living quarters with those they know to be gay or lesbian,” said the report. “Some went so far to suggest that a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell may even require separate bathroom and shower facilities for gay men and lesbians. We disagree, and recommend against separate facilities. Though many regard the very discussion of this topic as offensive, given the number of Service members who raised it, we are obliged to address it.”
The working group was co-chaired by Jeh Charles Johnson, the Defense Department’s general counsel, and U.S. Army Gen. Carter F. Ham.
“The creation of a third and possibly fourth category of bathroom facilities and living quarters, whether at bases or forward deployed areas, would be a logistical nightmare, expensive, and impossible to administer,” said the report.
“And, even if it could be achieved and administered, separate facilities would, in our view, stigmatize gay and lesbian Service members in a manner reminiscent of ‘separate but equal' facilities for blacks prior to the 1960s,” said the report.
“Accordingly,” the report concluded, “we recommend that the Department of Defense expressly prohibit berthing or billeting assignments or the designation of bathroom facilities based on sexual orientation. At the same time, commanders would retain the authority they currently have to alter berthing or billeting assignments or accommodate privacy concerns on an individualized, case-by-case basis, in the interests of morale, good order and discipline, and consistent with performance of mission. It should also be recognized that commanders already have the tools—from counseling, to non-judicial punishment, to UCMJ prosecution—to deal with misbehavior in either living quarters or showers, whether the person who engages in the misconduct is gay or straight.”
The report quoted the adverse sentiments of a number of service members who participated in focus groups where they indicated they did not want to have to shower, use the bathroom or roommate with homosexuals.
“I live in the barracks and I don’t think that it would go over well in that kind of environment,” one service member told a DOD focus group. “I’m concerned about how people would treat that individual.”
“In the privacy side of the thing, they’ll have to make some changes to the current infrastructure, [for example] privacy stalls in the bathrooms,” said another service member.
“I do not have to shower or sleep in a room with men so I do not want to shower or sleep in the same room as a woman who is homosexual,” said a female service member. “I would feel uncomfortable changing and sleeping as I would if it was a man in the room. I should not have to accept this.”
“Tell him if he hits on me I will kick his - - -!” said another service member who participated in a DOD focus group.
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Wild Thing's comment.......
This has everything to do with weakening our military by lawsuits, threats of lawsuits, and creating discomfortable situations within our uniformed services, and inviting good Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to leave and be replaced by...(use your imagination).
It also has to do with destroying the military traditions and culture.
What is next? Sensitivity training and indoctrination seminars?
Posted by Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 02:55 AM
Comments
I'm glad I joined up and I'm proud of my service in the U.S. Army. But unless this BS is reversed retention can kiss my ass.
By the way if the %@&^*#$ can shower with us, I ought to sue so we straight guys can shower with the females, it's only fair. I mean what's wrong with that? We're all soldiers, right?
Posted by: JohnE at December 19, 2010 04:42 AM
I can see the sexual harassment complaints now.
A bunch of GI's are in the shower and remarks are being asked if anyone is getting sexually excited. If there is a gay person there, he'll make a complaint to Social Actions for harassment.
Congress has opened up a nightmare for the military.
Posted by: BobF at December 19, 2010 09:49 AM
I guess next on the OK list will be cross dressing. And lesbians will be allowed to wear strap ons in the shower rooms.
Congress imposes so damn many laws and regulations on us that freedom has lost much of it's meaning in America. They have told us what water capacity our toilets must have to what type light bulbs we must use. And yet, Congress has exempted itsself from much of it's own rulings. Hence, the birth of Tea Party movement.
Posted by: TomR,armed in Texas at December 19, 2010 10:33 AM
This is the biggest mistake this government has ever made.
obama says, we can survive a Nuclear Attack, obviously he's not planning to defend the country against one, anyways we'll be defenseless , the sodomites will be too busy chasing each other...
Posted by: Mark at December 19, 2010 10:52 AM
I predict a mass exodus of people; whereupon Charlie Rangel gets the draft reinstated that he so desperately wants.
Posted by: Rick at December 19, 2010 03:36 PM
That means females have to let straight males shower with them, too... it's the same logic, fair's fair.
Posted by: Anonymous at December 19, 2010 06:54 PM
Gay's aside the Draft should have never been stopped..The military saved many a young man
myself included..The America male has been
sissified to where Girls and young women are
doing better in High School and College. Also
they are starting to out earn Men in Engineering,
Science and the Medical proffesion. The Alpha Male has been neutered in America
Posted by: gator at December 19, 2010 09:41 PM
JohnE., good point about the showers and girls with the showers. This whole thing will be making the whole thing look stupid too unless they make it across the board.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:42 PM
Bob, I bet your right. "sexual harassment complaints" will be happening more then ever before.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:44 PM
Tom, well said!
It would be even worse if the Tea Party movement did not exist. I honestly think it stopped a lot just by getting these new people elected for the coming year.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:49 PM
Mark, good point! This being done by our gov. will have so many tangents of nightmares we are looking at the tip of the iceberg about it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:52 PM
Rick I bet your right. He has wanted the draft back for a long time.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:55 PM
Anonymous, exactly.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 19, 2010 11:56 PM
Gator, you bring up something really important. Notice how the tv commercials too put men down, and put down the head of the home the father. Or even between a husband and wife in tv commercials, they always try to make the man look like the dumb one the lazy one etc.
You are right and the progressives are doing all they can to break down the male leadership in the home. I did a post about this a couple of years ago.
Thanks for bringing that up about, the military now no thanks to the gov. wants to weaken the male leadership even more.
The other thing too is they are making our military politics and not what it has been about. Keep politicians out of the military they do not belong there.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 20, 2010 12:01 AM
