Coming Out of the Closet While Serving in Iraq

Watching the Democratic debates very closely, two issues were brought up: "War in Iraq" and "Gays in the Military". The two of them have gone hand to hand within the last few years. They had even talked about doing away with the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military and allowing people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and so forth serve openly. Joe Biden had said that you do not have to be straight to shoot straight which has made perfect sense. You can be straight and not be able to fire a weapon straight, does that make you gay? No, it doesn't. But it shouldn't matter what ones sexuality should be in the United States Military.

Biden had also made another valid point if you're all in a fox hole for cover; nobody is going to ask who is gay and who is straight. It wouldn't matter in combat about one's religion, sexuality, or ethnicity. All that matters in combat is carrying out the mission and most importantly trying to survive. If you let differences affect you in battle, you all are going to die. That's the cold reality of battle. The enemy isn't going to care if you're gay or straight in the heat of battle. All the enemy will care about is capturing you. If the enemy can't capture you, then that person will try to kill you instead.

They also brought up how gays were allowed to temporarily serve in the military during a time of battle. As soon as the battle was over, they were discharged just like that. Ironically, the same crowd that supports the War in Iraq is usually the same crowd that does not support gay rights such as marriage, civil unions, or adoptions. Plus, they seemed to be the same ones that do not support gays serving in the military at all. At the same time, the military still has a strict policy about gays and lesbians being open about their sexuality. There looks to be ungratefulness from the both the military higher ups and the pro-Iraq War.